What are the Effects of Exercise on Depression
You all know that exercise has several health benefits. It strengthens your muscles, bones, heart, and lungs and ultimately saves your body from potential diseases.
But do you know that physical activity also benefits your mental health? Well, let’s see.
The highly prevalent mental health issues such as anxiety and depression can be treated through exercises. Some studies show the benefit of physical activities for anxiety and depression.
Moreover, in this blog, we will discuss the effects of exercise on depression. So, keep reading to learn more.
Exercise and depression
As we have already discussed, studies talk about the effectiveness of exercise for depression.
For example, a study done by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health noticed that if someone runs for 15 minutes a day or walks for an hour, it reduces the risk of major depression by 26%.
In addition, if an individual follows an exercise schedule, it helps prevent relapsing.
Further, there are many reasons why exercise is considered a great tool to fight depression. For instance, regular exercise enhances your brain power through neural growth and reduces inflammation.
Besides this, exercise helps you release endorphins, a powerful chemical that elevates your mood and triggers your spirits. Overall, exercise is a helpful tool to improve your overall well-being.
This is what you need to know about the effects of exercise on depression.
Some exercises that ease depression
There are some physical activities you can perform to ease your depression. Try the following exercises:
Boost your mood naturally by running
According to a psychiatrist named David Muzina, MD, “the most tangible example of exercise stimulating certain brain chemicals is the runner’s high that many athletes report experiencing once crossing a certain threshold of exertion.”
As said by Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, a brain chemical called endorphins, triggers a positive feeling in your body by reducing the perception of pain.
After all, you can perform workouts like swimming, running, walking, and hiking to get yourself ready to fight depression.
Lift some weights to boost your mood
Do you know that you can boost your mood by lifting some weights? Well, it works. Lifting weights is one of the strengthening exercises that work effectively in reducing symptoms of depression.
Try yoga with other treatments
Do you practice yoga to keep your mind balanced? Well, it is recommended to try yoga for depression because it works. You can get more benefits by combining yoga with other treatment options, including cognitive behavioral therapy.
After all, much evidence shows improved benefits of yoga when combined with other treatments. You can consult a professional if you are not knowledgeable in performing yoga. They will guide you with the correct exercises to improve your mental health.
Don’t ignore the power of sunlight
Due to your busy life, you may forget to go outdoors and experience the weather. But it can impact your overall health negatively if you avoid going outdoors and getting sunlight and fresh air.
That is why spending time outdoors as much as possible is good. Also, you can get involved in outdoor activities like gardening or other activities while getting sunlight and fresh air simultaneously.
After all, you should not forget that nature has the power that can help you deal with challenges you face in your daily life. To get that power, you need to spend time with nature.
Final Word
This is what you need to know about the effects of exercise on depression.
After all, doing physical activities is always beneficial for both your physical and mental health. You can consult a professional to learn more about how exercises work to ease depression.
Here is Medicine in Motion, your partner to make your fitness journey successful. Visit our website to learn more.
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