Health

When exercise works as well as medication...

Exercise can help ease the symptoms of a number of conditions
Exercise can help ease the symptoms of a number of conditions Exercise can help ease the symptoms of a number of conditions

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: Exercise was found to be as good as drugs at cutting high blood pressure in a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2018.

There are two mechanisms at play, explains Professor Ian Swaine, a sport and exercise scientist at the University of Greenwich.

"First, by causing gentle, repeated challenges to the cardiovascular system, exercise encourages the blood-pumping network to adapt and strengthen, so it copes better under stress — maintaining lower pressure even in moments of high anxiety.

"Second, exercise helps increase 'good' cholesterol in the blood — which counters 'bad' cholesterol, which would form plaque on artery walls and could increase blood pressure."

DEPRESSION: An analysis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in March found moderate exercise (150 minutes per week) was as effective as antidepressants for treating mild to moderate depression. Another new study in the Journal of Affective Disorders found antidepressants and running equally effective for moderate depression. The authors said exercise should be considered a standard treatment option. It’s thought exercise leads to the release of endorphins, hormones that improve mood.

TYPE 2 DIABETES: In a 2017 Copenhagen University study, more than half of adults were able to stop taking their type 2 diabetes medication within a year of starting 30 minutes’ aerobic exercise five times a week. The theory is that regular exercise increases the sensitivity of cells to insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels.

IMPOTENCE: A review of existing studies in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2016 found that regular exercise improved erectile function similar to that seen with medication such as Viagra. Prof Swaine says: "We know exercise can redistribute blood flow around the body, so it’s possible it could send more blood to the genitals and boost erectile function."

OSTEOARTHRITIS: Studies show the effect of training on arthritic knee and hip joints is comparable to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Exercise builds stronger muscles, which better support sore joints. There’s also evidence it triggers the release of myokines that reduce the inflammatory response in osteoarthritis.

© Solo dmg media