from coronary heart diseaseReduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetesHelps prevent and treat high blood pressureReduces the risk of developing colon cancerReduces feelings of depression and anxiety, while improving mood state and self- esteemHelps control body weight Helps build and maintain healthy bones and muscles, and improves heart and lung fitnessImproves the life quality of older adults, patients with disease, and people of all ages And also states that moderate exercise during pregnancy serves to maintain the fitness of the mother and has been associated with several favorable pregnancy outcomes. (Nieman 601-3) These benefits may accrue to male and females of all races across all age spans. You are never too young or too old to reap the health benefits of exercise (Williams 3) Psychological effects of physical exercise can be divided into two general categories: Short term effects, ones that occur while people are exercising or shortly after, and long term effects, those that span interpersonal relationships and individual success. (Toporowski 90)M Wing 5 The short-term effects of exercise may reduce stress by producing a tranquilizing effect on a persons mind. Aerobic exercise research has shown that even mild, continuous exercise is at least as effective in reducing muscular tension as tranquilizing drugs. (Tomporowski 51) The long-term effects of exercise can improve a person’s ability to adapt to stress, due to an increase of adrenalin activity that results from repeated exercise. The body has an increase reserve in the steroids that are available to counter stress. Research shows that when a person exercises, particularly with aerobics they are developing a method of biofeedback, so they can control changes in heart rate and respiration. When they do endurance type activity they stay in a target heart rate range. They will be able to maintain their heart rate at an elevated level, but ...
