Why Exercise is Important for Health?

Dr. S. P. Pradhan 26th September, 2025

Exercise helps to grow strong bones, improves blood flow, metabolic function along with inducing sound sleep.

Exercise maintain healthy bone and muscle:

1. It helps in strengthening bones by stimulating bone tissue growth by increasing osteoblastic activity and subsequently increasing bone density.
2. Specially weight bearing and resistance exercises, like walking, running, lifting weights, and resistance training, create mechanical stress on bones.
3. This process helps increase bone mass, reduce the risk of osteoporosis, and improve overall bone strength and health. Regular exercise is important to prevent bone density loss or osteoporosis.
4. Regular walking, which is frequently prescribed to prevent osteoporosis, also has little or no effect on prevention of bone loss.
5. Exercise also helps in reducing body fat and maintaining a body shape.

Exercise on metabolic diseases like Diabetes

• Exercise has a tremendous role in diabetes management by improving insulin sensitivity, which allows the body to use blood sugar effectively.

• It also aids in weight control, reduces blood sugar levels by increasing the action of insulin

• It lowers the risk of cardiovascular complications and sudden cardiac death.

• Regular physical activity is an essential part of a comprehensive approach to managing Type 2 diabetes.

Exercise in controlling Blood Pressure

•  Physical activities increases the pumping action of heart enhancing cardiac output.
• It reduces the resistance of blood vessels.
• Aerobic exercises like cycling, swimming ; resistance exercises like weight lifting and also isometric exercises increase cardiac output and control BP.

Exercise induces Sound Sleep

1. Regular exercise releases endorphins which stabilizes stress and anxiety.
2. Sleep regulates the biological or circadian rhythm.
3. It reduces the chances of insomnia or sleeplessness and increases the quality of sleep.

What are the added benefits of Exercise in sunlight?

Sunlight is the rich source of vitamin D. Vitamin D helps in calcium absorption inducing strong bones and muscles. vitamin d also aids in immunity and neurological development. daily at least we should spend 20 minutes in sun light for proper functioning of our body.

Exercise  effects in Depression:

• Regular exercise releases the happy hormone serotonin.  Serotonin receives anxiety and depression; elevating our mood.
• Relaxation exercises like Yoga, Pranayam have numerous health benefits in our body especially mental health issues. 

Exercise in metabolism and Inflammation

It induces metabolism and clearing of toxins from our body.  It helps in metabolic markers in check and reduces inflammatory markers in our body.

How much exercise is needed daily?

Daily at least 20 to 30 minutes moderate exercise is needed or weekly 150 minutes.