Being physically active reduces the risk of heart-related problems, including heart attack. Physical activity can improve cholesterol levels, help control high blood pressure and diabetes, and manage weight. It also increases physical fitness, promotes psychological well-being and self-esteem, and reduces depression and anxiety.
Surgery to relieve chronic lower back pain is no better than intensive rehabilitation and nearly twice as expensive, researchers said. Low back pain is one of the world’s most common complaints. In the 25-nation European Union, it affects over 40 million workers and accounts for nearly half of all sick days.
Pilates – A body conditioning system created over eighty years ago by Joseph H. Pilates. Initially popular with dancers and other performers, the Pilates method has become popular in the fitness world. Exercises performed on the floor, or on specialized equipment, Pilates coordinates mind, body and breath to develop sleek and functionally strong abdominal muscles, a strong and supple back, and aligns the shoulder girdle.
Numerous studies have indicated that psychological distress, including anxiety, is a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD).
People who are highly stressed have 89 per cent more risk of dying after having a stroke compared to those who feel stress-free, according to a report published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
* The positive dimension of mental health is stressed in WHO’s definition of health as contained in its constitution: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” WHO’s 191 member states have endorsed this sweeping statement.