2023-05-16 09:37:36
By Lidia Barrajón Blanco, pharmacist-orthopedist, nutritionist.
We dedicate a large part of our daily work in the pharmacy to prescribing Health. We are capable of creating awareness, educating and empowering people who request our advice, but specifically in relation to physical activity: What weight do we give it in our pharmaceutical advice? Do we encourage it by exposing its great benefits? Do we know what the recommendations are?
The WHO defines physical activity “like any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles, with the consequent consumption of energy”. So, practicing sports, walking, riding a bicycle or doing recreational activities, among others, are considered physical activity. The physical-sports practice brings us benefits for physical health and, in addition, there is sufficient theoretical evidence about its benefits in emotional variables and cognitive abilities, increasing the longevity of our brain.
The recommendations for time, intensity and type of physical activity that allow us to obtain these benefits vary depending on the stage of life (age range, pregnancy and postpartum situation), if there is any chronic illness or disability. Likewise, nutrition and sport go hand in hand, since physical-sports practice requires greater energy needs, more vitamins and minerals and adequate hydration. In fact, hydration in sports is a fundamental pillar to achieve optimal performance and avoid health problems that possible dehydration can cause, and this is something that we can report from the pharmacy.
Benefits of physical activity
for physical health
The practice of physical activity reports benefits in adiposity, insulin sensitivity, glycemic control, blood pressure and the functionality of the immune system, which is why it is a protective factor against cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, obesity and some types of cancer (breast, endometrial and colon, among others). We also know that low physical activity and increased adiposity are strong predictors of premature death.
On the other hand, in terms of bone density, regular exercise programs are especially important in women with osteopenia in the early postmenopause stage, since they can improve strength and endurance, as well as reduce bone loss and pain in the neck. back.
for mental health
Physical activity is a great ally in the treatment of stress, anxiety and depression, since it produces the release of endorphins that act directly on the brain, producing relaxation, analgesia, sedation and a feeling of well-being. Likewise, regular exercise stimulates the release of dopamine and serotonin, improving mood. It is also capable of increasing self-confidence, self-esteem and social skills.
Likewise, its preventive role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and its ability to improve walking efficiency in elderly people suffering from dementia are noteworthy. The improvements produced by physical activity in cognitive functions are due to the production of structural changes in the brain (mainly in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex) and by increasing its oxygenation.
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