• About Us
  • Blogs & Vlogs
  • Newsletters
  • The Purple Tent
  • Contact Us
  • Log In/Register
  • Patrons
Global Women Connected
  • Women’s Health
    • Puberty
    • Menstrual Cycle
    • Female Disorders
      • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
      • Endometriosis
      • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
      • Pelvic organ prolapse
      • Fibroids
      • Ovarian Cysts
      • Urinary Incontinence
    • Cancer
      • Symptoms
      • Preventation
      • Breast
      • Cervical
      • Ovarian
    • Menopause
  • Sex
    • Sex introduction
      • Sex Education Guide For Parents
      • Masturbation & Orgasms
      • Sex During & After Pregnancy
      • Sex In Older Age
      • Porn
    • Contraception
      • Condoms
      • Pill
      • Implant/injection
      • Patch/ring
      • IUD
      • Diaphragm/cap
      • Permanent
      • Natural
      • Emergency
      • Young adults
      • 40s and 50s
    • Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  • Pregnancy
    • Preconception Care
    • Tests During Pregnancy
    • Birth
    • Teenage Pregnancy
    • Ectopic Pregnancy
    • Miscarriages
    • Termination Of Pregnancy
    • Maternal Mortality
    • Cancer During Pregnancy
    • Value Of Female Children
  • Wellbeing
    • Energy Management
    • Exercise
    • Sleep
    • Burnout
    • Body Image
    • Eating Disorders
    • Plastic / Cosmetic Surgery

The health benefits of exercise – do you manage to find the time?

Author: Professor Joyce Harper

4 years ago 0
Share this:

Lack of physical exercise is one of the leading risk factors of death worldwide and is on the rise in many countries.   If you are not active enough, you have a 20-30% increase risk of death compared to people who are active.

Regular exercise can reduce your risk of numerous diseases including hypertension, coronary heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes, various types of cancer (including breast cancer and colon cancer), stress, anxiety and depression.  Exercising can boost your energy levels, increase your self esteem and confidence, and if done with friends, can prevent loneliness.

Globally cardiovascular disease accounts for a third of deaths among women and in women over 50 this rises to half of the deaths of women in developing countries. Diabetes affects 70 million women globally. Osteoporosis will affect 1 in 4 women. Globally breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.  Women report almost double the rates of depression. All of this can be reduced by regular physical activity.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that for all countries, women do less physical activity than men, and 84% of adolescent girls are not meeting the recommended physical activity levels. WHO are running a campaign for all countries to make efforts to improve provision and encouragement of physical activity. The UK have a scheme directly aimed at women called This Girl Can.  Check out their web site for some inspiring videos and information.

WHO recommends that adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity throughout the week which can be increased to 300 minutes of moderate activity for additional health benefits.   I personally would recommend that women try to spread this out during the week and do at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day.

There are certain key goals we should try to meet when exercising. We need to increase our heart rate which will increase blood flow to our whole body, including our brain. We need to work our lungs, ensuring that we are taking in enough breathes to oxygenate our blood. We need to work each major muscle group to improve their strength and stretch each major muscle group. We need to look after the health of our bones.   Weight bearing and resistance exercise should be done regularly to help our muscles and bones but are especially important after the menopause. We need to ensure we keep our balance as this can deteriorate with age and a significant number of deaths in older people are caused by falls.

Do you manage to find the time to do enough exercise?

0 0
Previous Post

Do you think about your breathing?

Next Post

What issues affecting women globally concerns you the most?

Cancel Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Menopause and your menstrual cycle

2 years ago 0
From puberty to the menopause, most of our lives will be governed by our monthly cycles of periods, ovulation and often premenstrual tension. After the menopause we are free of our menstrual...

Urinary incontinence in women – do not suffer in...

2 years ago 0
Urinary incontinence is the accidental leakage of urine. It affects up to 1 in 3 women at some point in their lives, although it is more common after the menopause due to lack of oestrogen,...
  • Recent
  • Popular
  • Comments

How Can Sexually Transmitted Infections Affect Fertility?

6 days ago 0

If You Do Not Want to Become Pregnant, How Do You Prevent It?

2 weeks ago 0

Everything you should know about sex

3 weeks ago 0

Your Fertile Years; what you need to know to make informed choices

3 weeks ago 0

Race and reproduction

3 weeks ago 0

What is in a tampon?

5 years ago 6

Sometimes I get lonely…

5 years ago 6

Do not believe everything you read

5 years ago 6

The Babypod

5 years ago 5

How many women breast feed?

5 years ago 4

Newsletter Sign-up

Twitter Feed

  • Listen to @timspector and Caroline Ovadia talk about how your #microbiome can affect your own health and your baby'… https://t.co/hmtdlxMpjh
    April 25th, 2018
  • Join @DrAndyChilds and @davide_danovi to talk about #eggs, #infertility and #stemcells at @pintofscience and be in… https://t.co/GoNIIc2EVz
    April 19th, 2018
  • RT @DrHelenONeill: More communication between clinicians and scientists is essential in this #genomic era. Thanks for the invite to be inte…
    March 15th, 2018

Instagram Feed

Load More…Follow on Instagram

Disclaimer

On all of our platforms, Global Women Connected does not provide professional medical advice. For any health issues, please contact your health care provider. All comments and discussions are provided by any person registered with Global Women Connected. Global Women Connected does not accept responsibility for any advice given and the advice given may not be the views of the staff of Global Women Connected.
© Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.