by Dr Chen Man Hin
It is commonly known that exercise has beneficial effects on the human body, especially the heart, lungs, kidneys, bones and muscles.
It also help patients to control their hypertension, diabetes, and mood disorders like stress and depression.
There is increasing evidence that exercise is also beneficial for mental health. Many discoveries have been made
Professor Arthur Krammer from the Beckman Institute in Illinois, USA found clear evidence that aerobic exercise boost performance in key areas of the brain and that exercise could improve ‘decision making’. The research team scanned thousands of rains of voluneers using the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Next, a neuroscientist, Professor Comon at University of California Irvine has found that during exercise, the nerve cells release chemicals (neurotrophic factors) which protect nerve cells from injury and prompt nerve cells to multiply and grow. The frontal lobes have shown to increase in size by MRI scanning.
Other neuroscientists also claim that exercises delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer disease, prevent Parkinsonism and help spinal cord injuries.
More good news. Neuroscientists from Brunel university, UK have evidence to show that exercise induced secretion of Human Growth Hormone. This is a hormone secreted in large amounts during youth and is responsible to maintain the body healthy and young.
This is important as there is an aging problem in the world, as people live longer. exercise will generate the exercise induced growth hormone response (EIGR) and keep the older generation healthy.
Thus there is mounting evidence that exercise has become the most effective form of preventive medicine for the people.
There is a need to have a national awareness and campaign to promote the importance of taking exercise as a daily habit like eating and sleeping.