Eulalee ThompsonYOU CAN'T truly say that you are living a healthy lifestyle until you acknowledge your spiritual side, take adequate nutrition, get regular medical check-ups and of course, exercise consistently.
Regular exercise and physical activity have been credited with many health benefits. For example, health experts say that simply walking regularly can prolong life in the elderly, improve cardiovascular health (heart disease and stroke), assist in controlling diabetes and managing high blood pressure and boost weight loss.
More studies are indicating that exercise impact other aspects of the body and health such as the central nervous system and the immune system (including susceptibility to colds and flu). Exercise also assist in the prevention of lung disease and cancer (especially colon, breast, prostate cancers) and strengthen bones and joints.
Dr. Knox Hagley, endocrinologist and chairman of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, said that a good proof of the value of exercise in improving physiological performance is that usually the athlete's heart beats 40 to 50 times per minute compared to the 70 to 80 times per minute heart beat of non-athletes. The athlete's heart is a more efficient organ.
"Regular exercise makes you feel good, so there is this psychological aspect to exercise as well... and exercise doesn't necessarily mean you have to go to the gym and lift weights because in your daily living you should be cognisant of the value of activities such as gardening, climbing the stairs or walking a few blocks down the road rather than driving," he said.
Obesity is now the most widespread, major risk factor for so many other health concerns. If we look at the three leading causes of death heart disease, malignancies, cerebrovascular disease (strokes) obesity is a risk factor for all these. Diabetes is also more common in people who are overweight.
Data out of the cancer registry for Jamaica indicate that cancer of the body of the uterus (associated with obesity) has been rapidly increasing over the last decade.
Cancer of the breast, Dr. Hagley said, is more common among overweight women. Both cancer of the breast and of the uterus is related to the hormone oestrogen and it is believed that body fat retains a lot of hormone.
