If I don't exercise what can happen?

*The views on here are personal and never meant to offend anyone*

I believe it to be shocking that people consider exercise to be 'too much effort' or they would rather be doing better things. Frankly I cannot see how you could consider to have better things to do than to save your own life. I appreciate the whole ethos of leading an exciting life and living to the full, but this should not come at the expense of your own health.

So what can really happen if you don't exercise or worse, don't exercise properly?
There are numerous diseases that can result from not exercising regularly. Namely that of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). CHD is caused by the build up of cholesterol and fat deposits in the blood vessels. These fatty deposits line the wall of your blood vessels and largely stop the flow of blood through the vessels, resulting in a lack of oxygen rich blood being available leading to Heart Attacks. You may have heard the term Atherosclerosis in relation to CHD and this is because CHD is caused by Atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the term used for the depositing of the fatty tissue within the arteries walls and the stiffening of the arteries. When the arteries become stiff they are not able to provide vital functions such as the contraction to pump the blood around to organs. This lack of vital function can also lead to an Aneurysm which is a rupture of a vessel such as the artery. This rupture is usually caused by too much pressure being developed due to the high density of fatty deposits. CHD is the number one Cardiovascular Disease killer in the United States and we certainly do not want it to figure into our lives in such a heavy way.

However, it doesn't stop there. Hypertension, Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis are all major factors that result from a lack of Physical Activity. Hypertension is the scientific term for high blood pressure and this can be eradicated by getting your five-a-day and exercising regularly. A recent study stated that Kiwi fruit is a great contributor to lower blood pressure (http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00948363) as well as apples. You know that old saying, an apple a day keeps the doctor away? Maybe it wasn't such a myth after all!

Osteoarthritis is the term used for swelling of joints. People who live a sedentary lifestyle where sitting around is a daily activity will find themselves 'seizing up'. As the joints inflame it puts pressure on the bones and the joints in particular. This can lead to the breaking down of cartilage between bones. Cartilage is vital as it allows for a smooth cushion in between bones and allows for ease of movement. Whereas Osteoporosis is the term used for the degeneration of bones. Whilst this is more prevalent in the older generations this is only because the symptoms are difficult to identify until such an age. So how can you avoid Osteoporosis? Well bones are strengthened by calcium which can be found in milk, yoghurt and cheeses.

If you read my previous post entitled 'Is Obesity a myth?' I have outlined ways in which you can exercise to alleviate such diseases being prevalent. But in reality, five-a-day fruit and vegetables and some moderate to intense exercise 5 days a week is all you need to avoid the aforementioned diseases.

*If you have symptoms such as stabbing pains in your chest, a tight chest or excessively stiff joints then it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible *