The consequences mentioned here are only an excerpt. In case of too little physical activity our whole organism suffers. The probability of contracting a chronic non-curable disease at some point in life increases. We need exercise to stay vital and healthy.
Muscle loss
Our body behaves economically. If it is not sufficiently challenged, it loses efficiency. Muscles that we do not use are degraded.
We are no longer able to keep our spine upright for long periods of time, the stability of our joints is impaired, our risk of injury increases and our untrained heart muscle increases the risk of heart attacks.
All organs of the body need strain and movement to remain efficient. If we only move a little, this efficiency decreases dramatically and the risk of contracting a chronic disease increases significantly.
Back pain
During sedentary activities, we often remain in the same position for long periods of time. This leads to tension.
Our atrophied muscles can no longer optimally support our spine and keep it upright. The consequences are bad posture. A hunched back increases the strain on our spine and intervertebral discs. Back pain occurs. In the worst case to a slipped disc.
Trained muscles are the best prevention against back pain. The abdominal muscles are just as important as the back muscles.
Back pain often also has psychological causes and can be triggered by stress and tension. Here, too, exercise is an effective means of reducing them.
Headaches
There are many causes of headaches. Prolonged sitting with little movement often leads to tension in the neck and throat area. These tensions can extend into the head and trigger headaches. Short breaks in movement provide our brain with fresh oxygen. Increase our ability to concentrate. Ideally, we provide fresh air by opening the window or going for a walk.
Cardiovascular diseases
Lack of exercise leads to our heart no longer being adequately loaded. It is underused. Our heart muscle loses its efficiency.
If it now comes to a load, for example climbing stairs or doing sports, an untrained heart is often overtaxed. You can feel yourself exerting yourself. The risk of heart attacks increases.
There is a clear connection between cardiovascular diseases and exercise. Our heart also needs to be exercised. Moderate exercise is sufficient, the important thing is regularity.
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High blood prere
A common cause of high blood prere is a disorder of the cardiovascular system. High blood prere is one of the major risk factors for heart attack and stroke.
Regular physical activity even at low intensity lowers blood prere. Another means is to avoid stress. Incorporating small relaxation breaks into the day.
Digestive problems
For our organs to function smoothly, they need movement. You need to be adequately loaded and need the traction and prere triggered by movement, as well as good blood circulation.
Sitting also causes our organs to be compressed. Our stomach and intestines are compressed and cannot develop freely.
The result can be digestive problems that few of us would suspect are caused by lack of exercise and sitting.
Overweight
Overweight is an increasing health risk in our society. Many sufferers try various diets. However, we can only avoid obesity if we take action on both fronts: Diet and exercise.
Our sedentary lifestyle means that the ratio of energy intake to energy demand is no longer correct. We eat more than our body needs.
For a healthy metabolism our body needs movement. Moderate but regular exercise, for example walking every day, combined with an eating pattern that is appropriate for the load, is sufficient in this respect.
Diabetes type 2
Diabetes type 2 ("diabetes") is a disease of civilization that no longer affects only older people, but increasingly younger people as well. Overweight is considered to be the main cause. Thus also lack of movement. Type 2 diabetes begins insidiously. Is often detected late.
In addition to adapted nutrition, studies show that exercise prevents metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis ("bone loss") is a disease that leads to a decrease in bone density and degradation of bone substance. The whole skeleton becomes more susceptible to fractures. Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease in old age. Affects mainly women after menopause. However, osteoporosis has been on the rise for several years, even among younger people.
The best way to counteract bone loss is exercise, because bones build up substance where they are subjected to tensile stress by the muscles. Physical activity and sufficient sunlight, for example a walk during the lunch break, as well as a calcium-rich diet are the best protection against osteoporosis.
Osteoarthritis
Lack of exercise can lead to osteoarthritis (wear and tear of joints). The nutrition of the cartilage suffers due to a lack of movement. Metabolic products are not removed from the joint. Cartilage degeneration. Arthrosis is thereby favored.
Exercise with moderate load is an effective prevention against osteoarthritis.
Susceptibility to infections
Too little exercise weakens our immune system, because physical activity produces more immune cells.
The following applies: less is more. Moderate exercise strengthens the immune system; if we overdo it, we weaken it.
Stress diseases
Stress is a natural reaction to stressful situations. Released stress hormones put the body on alert. Raise its performance limits for a short time.
If our ancestors were faced with a wild animal in the past, there were two options: Fight or flight. In both cases, the released stress hormones are reduced again.
Today, deadline prere, overwork and excessive demands put us in stressful situations without the stress hormones released being released again. A permanent stress situation arises, which sooner or later leads to a disease.
Exercise provides an important outlet. Physical activity reduces stress hormones, makes us more balanced and satisfied. Regular exercise also increases our resilience and we become more stress resistant.