Exercise Is A Prescription for Health is a concept I have believed in for a long time.
I regularly post on social media about my daily boot camp commitment in the hope that it will inspire others to make exercise part of their daily prescription for health.
A New Study Showing Exercise Is A Prescription for Health
A new study showed how physical inactivity is associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes.
It was a study of 48 440 adult patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis from 1 January 2020 to 21 October 2020, with at least three exercise vital sign measurements from 19 March 2018 to 18 March 2020.
The study looked at records from patients in the Kaiser healthcare system in California, in part because Kaiser doctors ask patients questions about how much they have exercised recently during each visit.
Here is the conclusion of the study: ”
Consistently meeting physical activity guidelines was strongly associated with a reduced risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes among infected adults. We recommend efforts to promote physical activity be prioritized by public health agencies and incorporated into routine medical care.”
Why Is Exercise So Good?
- Improves mood.
- Supports restorative sleep.
- Helps balance blood sugar
- Strengthens bones and muscles.
- We know from decades of research that exercise promotes better immune function in numerous ways.
and so much more!!!
Exercise As a Public Health Message
Last year we needed public health campaigns to remind people how to support a healthy immune system.
This would include
- Exercise
- Maintaining optimal vitamin D levels
- How to maintain a healthy weight
- Staying connected with meaningful relationships
- Eating whole foods and reducing processed foods
All we heard was the “avoidance” strategies such as wearing masks, physical distancing and staying at home!!
This was a missed public health opportunity.
OTHER BLOGS ON THIS TOPIC
Top Ten Ways to Incorporate Exercise into your Day
Sitting May Sabotage the Benefits of Exercise
Can Exercise Help Us Think Better?
