Picture “health.” Health often makes us think of the absence of disease. This means fewer trips to the doctor, no medications, no aches and pains. For most of us, feeling good and looking good is easier when we’re young. However, we all age. And for some who haven’t taken proper care of their bodies, they feel the effects of age as their health fails.

Many end up at the doctor’s office with various complaints. Typically, we become “medicated,” sometimes we’re sent to a “specialist,” who in turn sends us to another “specialist.” For those who have been active and relatively pain-free most of their lives, this can be very frustrating. If we’re lucky, our healthcare provider recommends that we partake in regular exercise to strengthen our heart, lungs and skeletal muscles. Chances are, if we had done so in a preventative fashion, we wouldn’t be having the discussion with our doctor at all!

More research is pointing to the correlation between regular exercise and health. A recent report from the Surgeon General stated “…Americans can substantially improve their health and quality of life by including moderate amounts of physical activity into their daily lives.”

Moderate exercise means a 30 minute brisk walk, 30 minutes of lawn mowing or raking leaves, a 15 minute run or 45 minutes of playing volleyball 4 or 5 days a week. We all appreciate the obvious benefits of regular exercise: a lean body, firm muscles, and greater mobility for everyday tasks. Looking great is always a plus, but the most profound effects of exercise take place on the inside.

According to the Surgeon General’s Report and The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion you can reduce the risk of developing the following common diseases by performing moderate exercise:

• coronary heart disease
• high blood pressure (exercise reduces blood pressure in people with hypertension)
• colon cancer
• non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
• osteoporosis
• obesity and its related diseases
• depression

   Additionally, for those already diagnosed with diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, obesity and depression regular exercise offers a drug-free way to return to a positive state of health. Exercise, combined with a controlled diet and weight loss can help diabetics improve their insulin utilization and sometimes even eliminate their need for medication. Patients on blood pressure medications are becoming able to reduce or eliminate their need for their regulating drugs. We know that exercise helps normalize weight and stave off joint aches due to arthritis.

Data are emerging now regarding the rehabilitative effects of exercise, as well. Individuals coming back from knee, back, shoulder and various surgeries are realizing much quicker recoveries by performing light resistant exercise.

People commonly say they don’t have time to exercise. Apparently they have time to lay around when they get sick or become stricken with a preventable disease. I guess they have time to recover from bypass surgery or walk slower, feel lousy and nurse aching joints back to health because they’re not physically fit.

It boils down to the choices you make. I urge you to take time for yourself and improve your health. Choose exercise, choose health, choose YOU!

(Editor’s Note: Andrea Regal is the manager of Olympic Fitness in Port orchard and a personal trainer. She may be reached at 360-871-3433 or aregal@web-o.net.).