Psychoneuroendocrinology and Physical Activity

Author(s):  
Anthony C. Hackney ◽  
Eser Ağgön

Stress is encountered by every individual on a daily basis. Such encounters can be of a negative (distress) or a positive (eustress) nature. Excessive and chronic distress exposure is associated with numerous health problems affecting both physiological and psychological components of a person’s well-being. One mediating aspect of these occurrences is the responses of the neuroendocrine system with the body. Physical activity (i.e., exercise) produces large and dramatic changes in the neuroendocrine system as it serves as a “stressor” to the system. To this end, though, chronic engagement in physical activity leads to exercise training-induced adaptations within the neuroendocrine system that potentiate an individual’s ability to deal with distressful experiences and exposures. Therefore, becoming more physically fit and exercise trained is one potential adjunctive therapy available for clinicians to recommend in the treatment of health problems associated with chronic exposure to distress.

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 132-138
Author(s):  
Anastasiya A. Khablova ◽  
Galina N. Bondar’ ◽  
Pavel F. Kiku ◽  
Natal’ya S. Tumanova ◽  
Valentina N. Rasskazova ◽  
...  

Human health, in addition to social and spiritual well-being, is determined by its physical condition, which reflects the functional capabilities of the body, features of physical development and ensures working capacity in any activity, including academic workload, which is extremely important for students in higher educational institutions. The purpose of the study is to assess the health status of students at the School of Biomedicine of the Far Eastern Federal University. Material and methods. The health status of 184 medical students (147 young women and 37 young men) was assessed using a sociological survey (questionnaire) and a study of the component composition of the body using bioimpedancemetry. Results. The low physical activity, detected in 68% of students and bad habits (smoking tobacco) have been established to negatively affect students’ health. Among smokers, 75% of students live in dormitories on the university campus. According to the results of bioimpedancemetry, significant deviations from the age norm were noted in terms of body mass index (BMI) (50% of cases) and fat mass (FM) (71% of cases). Significant gender differences in the individual components of the body were not identified. Discussion. The most aggressive factors that significantly affect the health of students are unbalanced nutrition, lack of compliance with the regime of study and rest, lack of sleep and stay in the fresh air, lack of physical activity, lack of motivation for a healthy lifestyle. Significant deviations in BMI and FM, identified by bioimpedancemetry, indicate the risks of developing arterial hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and nutritional status disorders. Medical students need to give recommendations for increasing motor activity and changing diet. Conclusion. The results of the study can be used in the future to determine the functional state of students and develop preventive measures to preserve the health of medical students.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (118) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
Laura Daniusevičiūtė-Brazaitė ◽  
Rūta Beistarytė

Background. A review of the health and physical activity of children and teenagers in Lithuania over the last twenty years has shown that many aspects of pupil physical capacity have deteriorated between 1992 and 2012 (Venckunas, Emeljanovas, Mieziene, & Volbekiene, 2017). Also research has shown that musculoskeletal disorders were most commonly found in children aged 4 to 6 years (Daniusevičiutė-Brazaitė & Grėbliauskienė, 2019). Therefore, if these negative trends continue, the growing health problems will pose a greater threat to human well-being and become a serious financial burden for the state and society. Currently technologies are an integral part of everyday life, so the need for interactive games or animated programs cannot be doubted. Research (Lobel, Engels, Stone, Burk, & Granic, 2017) has shown that the use of play-based intervention for children significantly improves fine and visual motor performance. Hence, it is important to identify the possible factors affecting pre-school children’s irregular posture formation. Methods. The study included 377 preschool children from 4 to 6 years old. Three evaluations were performed in the study: posture (using W. K. Hoeger posture assessment methodology), abdominal and back muscle endurance, and balance (Arcinavičius,, Kesminas, & Milčarek, 2004). Results. Assessing the results of the shoulder position of 5-year-old children, results showed that only 16% had good shoulder posture, satisfactory – 74%, bad – 10%. Age was found to have no effect on posture assessment results. According to the study, balance, back, and abdominal functional capacity were better in 6-year-old children. Conclusion. After analyzing 4-year old children group torso, abdomen, lower spine and legs, we can see that a higher percentage of children had a satisfactory posture in the aforementioned body parts. According to the posture results, the most abnormal part of the body was the abdomen. The study data showed that 6-year-old subjects’ balance, lower spine and abdominal performance were better compared to other age groups. Keywords: preschool child, physical activity, posture.


2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (08) ◽  
pp. 6556-2021
Author(s):  
MARCJANNA M. RATZ ◽  
BEATA KACZMAREK ◽  
ELŻBIETA WNUK-PAWLAK ◽  
WIKTORIA JANICKA ◽  
IWONA JANCZAREK

Geriatric horses, like other animals (and humans), suffer from various diseases called old-age diseases. This publication has been developed in response to the needs of owners and caretakers of a growing number of geriatric horses. Since the horse has a long life span, the geriatric stage can encompass up to 1/3 of the animal’s lifetime and can quite often last more than 10 years. This paper aims at systematizing the information of the most prevalent geriatric diseases in horses which inhibit their performance and considerably lower their quality of life. Knowledge of these diseases can help to avoid mistakes when keeping and managing such horses and may provide guidelines for maintaining welfare and preventive treatments. This article reviews the most prevalent old age health problems, their origin, diagnostics, course and effects for the body. Information about the most common diseases of old age in horses is found in 119 references. The nine sub-chapters include the diseases of the digestive system, especially the oral cavity, the stomach and bowels’ diseases, the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, dysfunctions of the locomotor system, eye diseases, endocrine and neuroendocrine diseases as well as the immune system, neoplasms and general body condition. It should be emphasized that there is the possibility to maintain the well-being of geriatric horses through progress in veterinary medicine and sharing knowledge of equine functioning and health protection. Preventive health care should include regular blood testing, regular dental check-ups and adequate nutrition adapted to the overall condition, dental condition, physical activity and comorbidities. Adequate individual supplementation recommended by a nutrition specialist and a veterinarian is also essential.


Author(s):  
M. Yachnyk ◽  
I. Iachniuk ◽  
I. Iachniuk

The article focuses on the fact that the leading condition for the physical development of a human is to achieve success in a healthy lifestyle. Healthy living is a practical action aimed at preventing diseases, strengthening all systems of the body and improving the overall well-being of the person. Optimal motor activity basis of the method of formation of healthy lifestyle, which influences different spheres of modern human life. Its need is determined by the patterns of normal growth and body development. It provides for the development and improvement of various processes of vital activity, support and promotion of health. Human physical activity with harmonious combination exercise, are indispensable means of preventing diseases, important factors for promoting human health and maintaining its efficiency. According to the definition of the World Health Organization, daily motor activity includes types of movements aimed at meeting the natural human needs (sleep, personal hygiene, eating, efforts spent on its preparation, purchase of products), as well as training and production activities, and specially organized physical activity combines various forms of exercise in its structure. The uniqueness of cycling is that during training you not only imitate mountain biking, but also exercise, and all this is done under pleasant music and under the guidance of an experienced trainer and lasts 45-55 minutes. During the exercise, almost all skeletal muscles are activated, and the load is distributed almost evenly into the upper and lower body. Variety of physical exercises, accuracy of dosing of loads, make the exercise on bikes accessible to people of different age categories. One of the main conditions for the physical development of young people, achieving success in a healthy life is health itself. Human health depends on the lifestyle that characterizes the conditions and features of daily life. Lifestyles cover different spheres: work, study, life, social life, culture, people's behavior and their spiritual values.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-65
Author(s):  
Pamela Guggina

Purpose An area of workplace well-being, and thus performance, which is now being recognized more widely is the mental health of employees. Research today demonstrates that exercise is good for the body and dramatically affects the brain. While it is widely accepted that regular exercise can promote weight loss, lower blood pressure and decrease the risks of diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers, it is also becoming clear that exercise can improve mood, coping skills and even treat clinical depression and anxiety. These findings further support the upward trend of companies offering a wider range of health benefits to their employees. Design/methodology/approach One example of the combined research, Rethorst et al., published a large meta-analysis exploring the interaction between physical activity and depression. They examined 58 randomized trails and found that participants in the studies who had been randomized to use exercise as a treatment for depression had significantly lower depression scores than participants who had been randomized to the non-exercise or “control” group. Both clinically depressed and non-clinically depressed individuals reported lower depression scores if they participated in the exercise group. Findings Exercise can be as effective as medication in treating depression. Regular exercise can decrease the symptoms of clinical anxiety. Employers who incentivize physical activity can dramatically lower healthcare costs. Benefits packages which promote physical activity can increase productivity and decrease absenteeism. Originality/value There will always be people with an illness which requires medication, but there appears to be a group that will benefit greatly from getting out and moving with regular exercise. The hope is that physicians with patients who have symptoms of depression and anxiety will encourage their patients to get some exercise to see if it helps. This can be something that is done alone or as an adjunct to talk therapy and/or pharmacologic treatment. Exercise is not likely to change the circumstances that make life challenging, but it can help all humans cope better with these challenges.


1983 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 88-92
Author(s):  
T. D. Noakes

The effects of exercise on aging are discussed under 4 headings viz. whether there is evidence that exercise might delay aging, the physiological and biochemical factors that alter with age, how exercise training influences these factors and ends with advice on how to start exercising at an older age. The author concludes that regular exercise is of great benefit to preserve physical well-being into old age.


Author(s):  
Mercy Ngosa Mumba ◽  
Alexandria Nancarrow ◽  
Jessica L. Jaiswal ◽  
Erika Hocchaus ◽  
Madelyn H. Campbell ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Each year about one in five adults experiences mental illness. Although the independent physical and mental health consequences of alcohol misuse and cigarette smoking are well documented, little is known on how substance use moderates the relationship between physical and mental well-being. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether substance use moderates the relationship between physical activity and mental health in adults. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of data provided by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). RESULTS: Participants ( N = 450,016) were adults who completed the BRFSS in 2017. Those who did not drink alcohol had fewer mental health problems when they indicated greater amounts of time spent doing physical activities each week. Last, smokers’ number of mental health problems decreased as they engaged in more physical activity, whereas nonsmokers’ number of mental health problems increased as they engaged in more physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between physical activity and mental health outcomes is well established and cannot be overemphasized. Nonetheless, substance abuse can moderate this relationship and should be routinely screened for by health care providers regardless of treatment setting.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisette Burrows ◽  
Jan Wright ◽  
Justine Jungersen-Smith

The expansion of health as a concept, repeated expressions of nationwide concerns about young people’s health, and the accompanying information explosion about health and fitness have worked together to support versions of physical education that explicitly address health issues. The conflation of health with physical education, however, is not without problems. This paper explores some consequences of the relationship between health, fitness, and physical activity through an examination of students’ responses to questions relating to health and fitness in the New Zealand National Education Monitoring Project. The children responding to the NEMP tasks were very familiar with the relationship between physical activity, fitness, and health. While this seems to point to the efficacy of physical and health education programs, the ways in which these children seem to have accepted this relationship with a great deal of certainty does not necessarily contribute to their health and well-being but rather suggests an acceptance of discourses that are associated with guilt, the self-monitoring of the body, and which seem to deny the pleasure that can be associated with physical activity.


Author(s):  
S. Duditska ◽  
A. Hakman ◽  
A. Medvid

The research examines the problem of the impact of health and recreational physical activity on the body of the elderly by means of fitness. It is established that regular physical activity, clearly dosed and carefully selected by means, methods and interests, increases the level of efficiency, motor training, morphofunctional state of the elderly. The purpose of the study - based on the analysis of scientific and methodological literature to substantiate the theoretical and methodological support of health and recreational motor activity and to identify its impact on the body of the elderly. Research methods: theoretical analysis of special scientific and methodical literature, documentary materials, abstraction, logical-theoretical analysis, method of synthesis, method of systematization. Results. It is determined that physical activity is the first factor of longevity, prolongation of life expectancy. Health and recreational motor activity improve well-being, delay the aging of the body due to organized activities, improve the functional and psychophysiological state of the body. During the scientific research the peculiarities of the influence of health and recreational physical activity on the body of the elderly were singled out. The positive effect of dosed classes of health and recreational motor activity can be traced to all the main functions of the aging organism. The main tasks of using the means of health and recreational physical activity in old age are identified. In the course of the research, the basic rules that should be followed during health fitness training with the elderly are highlighted.


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