Dr Rufai Ahmad, Chairman, Education Committee, Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy, on Wednesday said regular exercise could improve sleep, sex life, reduce depression, anxiety and prevent diseases.
Ahmad told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that 150 minutes of exercise in a week was necessary to stay healthy.
According to him, exercise helps to manage body weight as it helps in burning calories and reduces body fat when done adequately.
“Exercise will also reduce depression and anxiety, as it helps in the release of chemicals such as endorphin that helps with relaxation and makes the individual happy.
“Regular exercise can help you to manage or prevent diseases and health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and stroke.
“It increases the amount of blood circulating throughout the body and improves coronary artery flexibility, preventing inadequate blood flow to the heart that causes heart attacks.
“Short bursts of exercise in the morning or afternoon can help regulate sleep pattern; an increase in core body temperature that results from exercise increases slow wave sleep which enhances sleep quality.
“Exercise improves sex life, because it causes the release of endorphins which stimulates the release of sex hormones; it gives a positive image for better sexual performance.
“Sex itself is a physical activity and burns calories and increases fitness,’’ he said.
Ahmad identified lack of time due to work, support, motivation and ignorance as some of the reasons why many people did not exercise regularly.
According to him, such people will have the tendency to remain physically inactive and that can pose serious health risks.
“People do not exercise due to the nature of their jobs or other responsibilities and also lack of support from family members and friends can make people not to exercise.
“Some people have cultural beliefs that attribute exercise to signs of problems in their lives and so they do not attempt to exercise.
“Other challenges deterring people from exercise are lack of safe neighbourhood to exercise, access to facilities for exercise and health conditions,’’ Ahmad said.
He said that there was need to educate members of the public on the importance and benefits of exercise to health.
The expert urged government at all levels to provide adequate recreational and sport facilities in different local governments to encourage more people to exercise.
“The governments and heads of schools need to lay more emphasis on physical and health educations in both primary and secondary school curriculums.
“The government need to construct roads in such a way that they will be safe for pedestrians and cyclists as obtained in developed countries.
“Also, we need to encourage different workplaces to have exercise facilities for their employees,’’ Ahmad said. (NAN)