Like us and Learn "Spark" Post #10

Chapter 8 discusses hormonal changes and the impact on women's brain health.  We know hormones have a powerful influence on our brains, as well as on our feelings, behaviors and personality traits.  Throughout our lives, hormone levels remain fairly steady in men, but in women, they fluctuate like clockwork.  Exercise is particularly important for women because it tones down the negative consequences of hormonal changes.  Overall, exercise balances the system, on a monthly basis as well as during pregnancy and menopause.  The average woman has 400-500 menstrual cycles in her lifetime, each lasting 4-7 days.  If you add them all up, it comes to more than 9 years.  It is estimated that 75% of women experience premenstrual distress, physical and/or emotional also known as P.M.S., pre-menstrual syndrome.  There are about 150 various symptoms possible with P.M.S.  One study of more than 1800 women found that at least half of them use exercise to alleviate the symptoms of P.M.S. In addition to reporting less pain, the women who exercised scored better on evaluations of concentration, mood and erratic behavior.

"Spark" Post #9

Experts estimate that just over 4% of American adults, 13 million people, have ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).  Scientists have proven that ADHD stems from a biological irregularity in the brain.  The manifestation of symptoms associated with ADHD in children, especially boys, can be disruptive to the family unit.  Finding an activity that challenges the body and brain can have a very positive impact on behavior control.
Studies have found that boys diagnosed with ADHD, between the ages of 8-11, that participated in Martial Arts, twice a week improved their behavior and performance on a number of measures, most notable, self control and in school work.

"Spark" Post #8

Depression is due to a physical change in the brain.  Certain areas of the brain shrink and stop functioning, which effects learning, attention, energy and motivation.  Some neuroscientists call this the Hibernation Effect. One of the significant studies to correlate the benefits of exercise and depression found that  for every 50 minutes of weekly exercise there is a 50% drop in the odds of being depressed.  Human beings are social animals, so to fight depression, it is best to choose and exercise with others to make connections.  Also being outside helps to further stimulate the senses.

Spark: Post #7

According to the World Health Organization (W.H.O.), depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States and Canada.  About 17% of American adults experience depression costing over 26 BILLION dollars each year.  Every 17 minutes in the Unites States someone commits suicide.  There are different kinds of depression and the full range of emotional reactions that can manifest.  There is no blood test for depression nor is there a fail proof psychological test.  Of course, hormonal imbalances can be detected in some people, but not the majority of those with depression.  Many studies, around the world, have looked at the correlation of exercise and depression, and all of them came to the same conclusion: Those who exercise, 2-3 times per week, experience significantly less depression.

"Spark" Post #6

The fact that aerobic exercise works immediately to fend off the state of anxiety has been well established for many, many years.  Here is how it works:
1). It distracts your mind
2). It reduces muscle tension
3). It increases body hormones that nourish the brain
4). The brain associates increased heart and breathing rates as a good thing.
5). The brain establishes electrical circuits around the established anxiety pathways
6). It builds confidence
7). It "sets you free" by getting outside and exercising you break the cycle of feeling trapped, held down and restricted.

Spark Post: #5

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, and whom the Hippocratic Oath was named and recited by all medical doctors, had a simple health theory.  That health and emotions came from the heart, and that is where treatment should start for maladies of mood.  Of course, Hippocrates lived 2400 years ago and could not have known that a naturally occurring hormone is produced in the heart.  During exercise, increased heart rate releases this hormone, called Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP), into the blood stream.  Once in the brain it blunts stress and anxiety and helps to regulate mood.

Spark Post #4:

Studies have shown, both stress and inactivity play big roles in the development of many autoimmune diseases and conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.  The more stress you have the more your body needs you to move to keep your brain happy!  The office or work place, is often the primary source of stress for a lot of people, and a good place to look for the benefits of exercise.  Employees who regularly exercise are shown to be more productive and have less absenteeism.