To determine how exercise might bring about its mental health benefits, some researchers are looking at possible links between exercise and brain chemicals associated with stress, anxiety and depression. But little work has focused on why that is. Preliminary evidence suggests that physically active people have lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary people. Many experts believe routine exercise is as powerful in treating anxiety and mood disorders as antidepressants. Exercise can boost mental healthĪlong with mitigating the negative effects of chronic stress on the mind and body, habitual exercise can improve mental health. This workout of the body's communication system may be the true value of exercise the more sedentary we get, the less efficient our bodies are in responding to stress. And all of these are controlled by the central and sympathetic nervous systems, which also must communicate with each other. It forces the body's physiological systems - all of which are involved in the stress response - to communicate much more closely than usual: The cardiovascular system communicates with the renal system, which communicates with the muscular system. The chemical is thought to play a major role in modulating the action of other, more prevalent neurotransmitters that play a direct role in the stress response.īiologically, exercise seems to give the body a chance to practice dealing with stress.
Norepinephrine is particularly interesting to researchers because 50% of the brain's supply is produced in the locus coeruleus, a brain area that connects most of the brain regions involved in emotional and stress responses. Research in animals since the late 1980s has found that exercise increases brain concentrations of norepinephrine in brain regions involved in the body's stress response. Rather, one line of research points to the less familiar neuromodulator norepinephrine, which may help the brain deal with stress more efficiently. So far, there's little evidence for the popular theory that exercise causes a rush of endorphins. Research shows that while exercise initially spikes the stress response in the body, people experience lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine after bouts of physical activity.
But the right kind of stress can actually make the body more resilient. It may seem counterintuitive that exercise, a form of physical stress, can help the body manage general stress levels. Exercise fuels the brain's stress buffersĮxposure to long-term stress can be toxic to multiple systems in the body, even leading to medical concerns like high blood pressure and a weakened immune system, along with mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. But did you know breaking a sweat can also strengthen the brain?Ī growing body of research suggests physical fitness is one way to boost brain health - and that a regular exercise routine can decrease the effects of stress on the body, improve mental health and mood, and even enhance memory and cognition. Research shows routine physical activity can improve cardiovascular health, strengthen bones and muscles, and even reduce the risk of certain cancers. It’s no secret that regular exercise promotes health throughout the body.