How Exercise Helps Fight Stress
Stress has been linked to illnesses and a range of other health conditions. It has been proven to accelerate the aging process and can affect a person’s overall mental health. Research shows that exercise can be beneficial to those prone to stress.
If you’re feeling the burden of stress, come to Zero Gravity Fitness in Orlando, and our team of personal trainers will help you exercise your stress away. We offer a variety of services and classes from personal training and Pilates to group fitness and body shock training. Contact Zero Gravity Fitness today to schedule your next session.
Exercise helps restructure the brain
Physical activity has been shown to control the body’s response to stress in a way that reduces anxiety. Researchers at Princeton University published their findings in the Journal of Neuroscience. The mice were exposed to cold water as a part of the study. Physical activity reorganizes the brain so that its response to stress is reduced and anxiety is less likely to interfere with normal brain function, according to a research team based at Princeton University. Since the mice were permitted to exercise regularly, the anxiety levels were better controlled when an event occurred causing a spike in neuronal activity.
Exercise as a coping mechanism for anxiety
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Public Health studied the impact of moderate exercise on the body’s capacity to manage anxiety levels over a prolonged period of time. Researchers discovered that exercise can help counter the effects of stress for a longer period of time in addition to reducing anxiety in the immediate future. In the study, some participants rested for 30 minutes while others participated in moderate cycling. Their anxiety levels were measured before and after the session. All were exposed to photographs and their anxiety levels were evaluated. Those who simply rested saw their anxiety levels increase while others who had exercised exhibited better control over their anxiety systems as time wore on.
How exercises reduces impact of stress on the heart
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that those diagnosed with heart disease in the past showed improvements in blood vessel dilation. In a group of 134 men and women between 40 and 84, medical care was provided. Some patients were assigned an aerobic exercise program while others attended a stress management class. One group only received medical care. Those who received only medical care showed the least improvement in their heart disease markers while those were required to attend a class or take a stress management showed better improvement.
Exercise dramatically improves the body’s overall response to stressors. Exercise reorganizes the brain. It also acts as a coping mechanism for anxiety. Exercise also improves the heart’s response to stress. It appears that exercise is essential to controlling stress levels and enhances the body’s capacity to respond appropriately to stressors.