Chapter 4 The health benefits of physical activity

5. RPA and other causes of heart attack

• Improvment of corronary circulation
• People who perform RPA have half the risk of heart attack
• The active person has more profuse distribution of arteries fig 5
• Physical activity may promote the growth of extra blood vessels (coronary collateral circulation)

• Resistance to stress: high heart rate, blood pressure and excessive stimulation
• RPA leads to the dominance of parasympathetic nervous system
• RPA decreases sympathetic dominance
• RPA helps the heart rate to return to normal rate faster after after emotional storm
• RPA strengthens the heart muscle
• PA reduces hormonal effects
• PA reduces the risk of sudden death
• RPA is an effective means of rehabilitation for people with coronary diseases

• 6. RPA and hypertension (high blood pressure) Table 2
• It can be raised with stress and high-salt diet
• RPA is one effective method of reducing blood pressure by reducing the resistance to blood flow (dilatation of BV)
• RPA enhance the dilation of blood vessels

7. RPA and stroke

• People with high blood pressure and atherosclerosis are susceptible to stroke
• RPA are helpful in the prevention of stroke

8. RPA reduce the risk of some form of cancer

• Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by an uncontrollable growth and spread of abnormal cells table 3
• Theory: a hormonal link between PA and breast cancer
• Theory: the faster transit time for both colon and rectal cancer
• Theory: Rectal cancer is associated with inactivity
• 1/3 reduction-risk of breast cancers among active people
• 50 to 250% of inactive people are having greater risk of getting colon cancer

9. RPA can manage and treat type II diabetes(noninsulin-dependent)

• Diabetes results when there is too much sugar in the blood
• PA is not an effective treatment for type I(insulin-dependent)
• RPA can help reduce:
• * Body fatness
• * Decrease insulin resistance
• * Improve insulin sensitivity
• * Improve the body’s ability to clear the sugar From the blood

10. RPA maintains bone density and decreases risk of osteoporosis

• Excessive bed and setting rest lead to calcium lose osteoporosis (porous and fragile)
• Bones are strengthened by bearing weight and the pulling of active muscles
• RPA can help in:
• *increases your peak bone mass(early life)
• *maintains bone density over the lifespan
• * See guidelines page 58

11. RPA and obesity

• Obesity is not a disease but a hypokinetic condition
• High fatness, combined with high blood fat, sugar, pressure, and insulin resistance is associated with risk for heart diseases
• RPA and sound nutrition lower the body fat

12. RPA and back pain

• It’s a result of poor muscle strength, endurance and flexibility
• Increased by poor posture, improper lifting and work habits, heredity, scoliosis and arthritis

13. RPA can help in mental disorder

• reducing the risk of mental diseases
• - PA combined with other therapy can be effective for some depression
• - Anxiety can be reduced with RPA
• - Insomnia (not vigorous and just before going to bed)
• - Improvement in fitness and appearance can improve self-confidence and self-esteem

• 14. PA can help ther immune system fight illness
• Infections: PA can enhance quality of life for people with HIV avoid heavy PA when you are ill (colds, flu)

15. PA and Aging

• The inability to function effectively as you grow older is associated with lack of fitness and inactive lifestyles
• Acquired aging/time dependent aging
• The amount of PA performed must be adapted as people grow older
• PA enhace cognitive fuctioning and perhaps reduce risk for dementia
• RPA can compress illness into a shorter period of life (76.1, 12 years)

16. RPA and non-hypokinetic conditions

• Arthritis (infection of joints) choose appropriate PA
• Asthma : choose appropriate PA but not in cold weather
• Chronic pain: aerobic activity and resistance training
• Premenstrual syndrom
• PA may decrease impotence

Health, Fitness and Wellness promotion

• PA enhances metabolic fitness that can reduce risk of a variety of hypokinetic diseases (healthy blood fat, blood sugar, blood pressure and insulin level) table 4
• Good health-related fitness can help you feel good, look good, and enjoy life (table 3)
• Enjoying your leisure may not add years to your life, but can add life to your years.
• PA can help you to work productively and have energy left over at the end of the day
• There are many economic benefits associated with employee physical activity

Hypokinetic diseases risk factors

• *Positive lifestyle can reduce the risk of diseases (table 5)
• * Too much PA can lead to hyperkinetic diseases: overuse injury to muscles, bone…
• * Reducing risk alters the probability of diseases, but does not assure disease immunity