What Happens To The Body When It Doesn't Get Enough Exercise

When it doesn't get enough exercise, the body goes through a number of different changes. Unfortunately, it involves much more than simply putting on weight. It is essential to keep in mind that any amount of physical activity, even a very small amount, is preferable than none at all. Keep reading to gain further insight into the risks associated with inactivity. Nobody is safe from it!

Energy Levels

Within the cells of the body's tissues, organs, and muscles are structures called mitochondria, which are responsible for manufacturing energy. In order to function properly, these incredible little structures require carbs and oxygen. Because mitochondria are necessary for all of the functions and movements that take place in the body, it is safe to say that you cannot survive without them.

When you don't get enough exercise, your heart doesn't perform up to its full ability, and as a result, your oxygen levels drop, which leads to a decrease in the number of mitochondria in your cells. Fatigue happens when the body's ability to produce energy decreases yet it still requires the same amount of energy to perform the same amount of labor.

Bone Issues

Bones enjoy resistance training almost as much as they enjoy calcium supplementation. Bones lose their density and their capacity to effectively retain calcium when they are not subjected to weight-bearing activity on a regular basis. When there is less calcium in your bones, there is a greater risk of mineral accumulation in organs like your kidneys, which can lead to the formation of kidney stones.

If the period of inactivity is prolonged enough, eventually the bones will begin to become more fragile. In many cases, this results in osteoporosis, which in turn leads to a significantly increased risk of experiencing painful bone fractures.

Muscle Problems

A vigorous workout is beneficial to the muscles, just as it is to the bones. Loss of strength and muscle tone is one of the first symptoms that someone is out of shape due to inactivity. This loss of strength and muscle tone can occur quite quickly. When muscles are not being actively used, there is a decrease in both the rate of blood flow and the rate at which waste products and nutrients are exchanged. When there are fewer mitochondria, coordination in the muscles is impaired.

If you don't move your muscles and nerves often, the "electrical" connection between them will be spotty at best. In what ways does this impact you? In most cases, you won't be able to maneuver with the same dexterity as you formerly had, and this can make it more difficult to move around. As a result of a decrease in muscle mass, this can also result in a reduction in strength as well as an increased likelihood of sustaining an injury to the muscles.

Problems Associated with the Heart

It doesn't matter how old you are, you should always do everything you can to keep your heart in the best possible health. Even though the muscles in your heart are different from the muscles in your skeleton, the same principles relating to your health still apply. If it is not properly exercised, the heart muscle will become smaller. This makes it difficult to distribute blood sufficiently throughout the body and requires the heart to work much harder to deliver the blood to where it actually needs to go, especially in your hands and feet. This makes it difficult to appropriately distribute blood throughout the body.

Plaque development in the blood arteries can be brought on by blood flow that is too slow. This can, in turn, result in symptoms such as high blood pressure, lightheadedness, and issues with circulation. If treatment is not sought, each of these disorders can lead to serious consequences.

As you can see, a sedentary lifestyle wreaks havoc on your body and causes harm to it. This is especially important to keep in mind for people who are already coping with chronic conditions, as stress tends to make things even more difficult.

In many contexts, it is impossible to avoid stretches of idleness. However, the sooner you can start exercising, even if it's just walking around the block, the more beneficial it will be for both your mind and your body.