Major depression is the No.1 psychological (mental) disorder in the western world. It is growing in all age groups with up to 20% of people experiencing it. At the rate of increase by 2020 it will be the 2nd most disabling condition in the world. Today over 17 million people in the US, which includes 13% of teenagers and 3% of children under thirteen, are currently on Prozac, the second most commonly prescribed drug.
Depression is a huge problem and the burden on society is incredible with an estimated cost in the US alone of more than $40 billion dollars per year, and an annual loss of two hundred million work hours. The human cost is high too with suicide being the 8th leading cause of death.
Depression is a universally understood condition of sadness and low spirits, life has lost its luster and doom and gloom prevails. We all experience some sadness as part of weathering life's misfortunes and have periods of being down in the dumps. Most people normally recover from such low points and carry on, however, some people don't recover from life's setbacks.
It is only recently that research has begun to uncover the link and the importance between physical activity and mental health with inactive or sedentary people having twice the risk of becoming depressed. We all know that exercising routinely provides a number of important benefits like promoting cardiovascular (heart/lung) health, lowering blood pressure, keeping bones strong, improving muscle tone and strength, and of course, a proper exercise regimen can energize you and help reduce excess body fat.
But did you know that exercise has yet another benefit that can make your life a whole lot better? Several hundred studies have analyzed the effect of exercise on depression and found that exercise can increase self-esteem, improve mood, reduce anxiety levels, increase the ability to handle stress, and improve sleep patterns.
A proper exercise program that includes strength training exercise provides similar improvements in depression as anti-depressant medications but without negative side effects. Strength training can be very therapeutic providing a very useful treatment for depression. Newly released studies show that after a strength training session, endorphin levels (feel good hormones) are increased by more than 60 percent leaving you feeling rejuvenated and even euphoric, keeping your mind trouble-free.
When people suffering from depression participate in strength training programs, their self-confidence and self-esteem improve, which has a strong impact on their overall quality of life If you have never exercised before, learning an exercise program can be considered a new skill. Many people experience a mood boost and increased energy levels when they've mastered a new skill or talent. This can provide a sense of accomplishment and achievement which counters the effect of depression.
Even a modest exercise program of 30 minutes a day, three days a week is an effective weapon for combating depression and the benefits of such a program are likely to be permanent for individuals who adopt exercise as a regular, ongoing life activity.
Just as you get more energy exercising you also get happier, have a better outlook on life, have more vitality and enjoy life more. You will feel good and have an effective weapon to fight the blues.
Are we settling for less than we should with our health? For the vast majority of us health is quite literally defined as the "absence of disease". If we get to the fifth or sixth decade of life without a major disease or illness should we relax and consider ourselves fortunate "so far so good" we might say with a sense of relief. But what else could there be? Something you may not have considered is our level of strength throughout our life.
Being strong and fit means being able to do the things that you want and need to do every single day. Your level of strength is the foundation of your life and equals your level of health. Being strong enables you to do more, and be more, which means more of everything - more vitality, more energy and more out of your life. It will take you beyond the goal of simply "not being sick".
Although Father Time takes its toll on a body, we don't have to sit back and let the effects of aging take place without a fight. It is important that our health span is equal to our life span. Wellness living requires taking personal responsibility for our health and implementing positive programs to improve health and quality of life, and achieve total wellbeing.
This approach to life-long health begins with healthy actions to prevent and manage the many health conditions that can affect you. The normal process of aging if left undirected results in a reduction of muscle mass, bone density, and a reduced ability to perform life's activities. If you stay sedentary, you will lose about 300 -500 grams of muscle issue every year. Decreased muscle tissue also means less heat and fat burning potential, fatigue problems, immune weakness and a susceptibility to injury.
An exercise program that includes at least 60% strength training exercise will help you hold the line against this loss retaining muscle strength and power as one grows older rather than losing it. Strength training is often referred to as the Fountain of Youth. When you become stronger your energy, stamina and vitality is boosted, you will feel better, healthier and have new found self confidence and happiness.
You will even notice that you look trimmer, tighter, and firmer than you have for years. If you are carrying excess baggage from years of good cooking and not enough exercise, you will see this excess body fat vanish.
With a basic strength training program, exercises done in less than an hour a day, twice or three times a week, can turn back the clock. If you are not involved in a strength training program now go along to your local gym or fitness center and get started. In a few short weeks you will feel better, have more energy, be stronger, and healthier.
Strength training is a risk free anti-depressant, guaranteed to lift the spirits and put a smile on your face as you watch your strength and muscle tone grow and your flabby, weak body become firm and trim.
We can control our present and future health in lots of ways, but using a proper exercise program will rejuvenate virtually every organ in your body, adding energy to your days and years to your life.
Gen Wright has sinced written about articles on various topics from Terrier Dogs, Acne Treatment and Lose Weight. Do you want to discover the secret to rejuvenating your body and improving the quality of your life? Download my free ebook "I've Found the Fountain of Youth- Let Me Show You Too!" here:. Gen Wright's top article generates over 1220000 views. to your Favourites.