Poorva Chavan
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Written By: Poorva Chavan | Updated : January 3, 2015 5:05 PM IST
London, Jan 2: Do you like spending time on your couch? A new study says that being inactive or couch bound for five days in a row can be harmful for your health. (Read: Young couch potatoes at the risk of heart disease)
How important is physical activity?
According to the researchers, lack of physical activity for a few days damages blood vessels which take time to heal and it results in weight gain and insulin resistance, leading to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. (Read: 3 reasons lack of exercise is making your bones fragile)
How much physical activity is enough?
The study says that the body requires physical activity like climbing or walking at least 10,000 steps per day. Fewer than 5,000 steps a day is considered low physical activity and is half the recommended amount for good health. (Read: Physical activity earlier in life can lead to stronger bones in old age)
What are the benefits of daily physical activity ?
Counting steps and daily physical activity cannot be a defined exercise like going to the gym but, Paul Fadel, associate professor at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, said that daily physical activity can reverse the negative consequences and it has been proved that at any stage of a disease and at any time in a person s life, getting active could prolong his/her life.
Daily physical activity is must to maintain a healthy heart. As regular exercise reduces bad cholesterol, maintains a proper blood pressure, improves blood circulation and prevents many cardiovascular diseases. It is also known to reduce the risk of developing site specific cancers like colon and breast cancer. Moreover, it helps in post treatment management of cancer, reducing the chances of cancer recurrence and improving the quality of life.
It is also known to reduce blood sugar levels and thus helps in preventing lifestyle diseases like type 2 diabetes and obesity. Physical activities like swimming, jogging or brisk walking also helps change certain lifestyle habits like smoking.
Thus the importance of daily physical activity can t be stressed enough!
With inputs from ANI
Image source: Getty Images
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