The stress of modern living is believed to be the major cause of physiological changes in man. This lifestyle, in turn, produces all kinds of degenerative diseases like high blood pressure, hearts attacks, diabetes, ulcers, cancer and premature aging. Despite our vaunted medical and scientific discoveries, we are still far from totally eliminating these scourges of civilization.
Is it perhaps because our medical scientists concentrate more on the
cure rather than in the
prevention of such diseases that we still have them?
Who was it who said that "Prevention is better than cure"?
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There is a sector led by nutritional experts who maintain that good health habits, correct diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep and mental equilibrium can, and do, extend man's life and retard the aging process.
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Physiologists and psychologists have observed for years that, in general, persons who exercise and are physically fit have a more positive mental attitude than unfit sedentary persons. Two common explanations for this phenomenon are that individuals free of tension and physically fit simply feel better---they have less reason to be depressed or mentally sluggish---and, persons who have self-discipline necessary to follow an exercise program are achievers and already possess high morale.
Studies suggest that exercise causes chemical changes in the brain which alters its thinking process. The changes in attitude and morale are therefore effects directly related to exercise.
To be effective, exercise must be regular and be continued over a long period of time. The length of time needed to attain good fitness varies: some effects may occur after a few weeks, or several years may be required depending on the initial level of fitness and the number of years of inactivity that have preceded the activity program.
It has been demonstrated that distributed involvement in exercise is better than massed involvement. Thus, it is better to exercise four times a week for half an hour each time, than to exercise for two consecutive hours in one day except, perhaps, when the exercise is very light.
In general, long frequent periods at low intensity are preferable to short periods at high intensity. Of course, the nature of the desired results of exercise will determine the distribution of work and of the program intensity.
Dr. Robert B. Taylor, author of
Feeling Alive After 65, notes that we begin our physical aging process at birth, and it follows a fairly orderly course---or it would, if the body was not so greatly influenced by the mind.
Research suggests that 25 percent, or less, of the illnesses we suffer are of a purely organic origin, and our emotional behavior is the cause for or, at least, a contributing factor in all the other disorders. While this information is rather new to modern medicine, it has been the crux of primitive medicine since the dawn of history.
In other words, if you think you are sick, it won't be long until you are sick---the reality of health often breaks down to: "As a man thinketh, so is he."
If you think the human body is destined to become decrepit after 65 years and you are in your 66th summer, you won't be out jogging, or even walking, you'll be home rocking. And because you are not getting proper exercise, your heart will become less efficient, your muscles will wither, the capacity of your lungs will depreciate, and you will become decrepit.
