Health Benefits of Exercise and Positive Attitude

There are two central components to good health in everyday living: the physical and the emotional. But in addressing either of those aspects of health, it can be helpful to understand that they each feed into the other.

A positive approach to physical health and a positive attitude in mental health are both important aspects of life, and in fact, they encourage each other. Working toward better physical fitness leads to more than just weight loss. It also leads to a more positive attitude, and better mental health, in turn, actually encourages improvements in physical health.

There are a number of causes for the benefits that improvements in both can provide, including both physiological changes and benefits coming from social implications of each.

How Exercise Encourages Better Mental Health

Exercise is obviously a major component of good physical health. What goes underappreciated, however, is the great benefit that exercise can provide for mental and emotional health.

Scientifically speaking, exercise has a number of positive effects that lead to improvements in mood and outlook. When the body exerts itself, it releases chemicals called endorphins, which provide positive feelings to combat strain on the muscles. In addition, exercise causes the release of immune system chemicals that add to good feelings, and the higher body temperature that results from exercise also has a calming effect.

In addition to the physiological effects, the physical benefits of exercise can lead to improvements in mental outlook. Increased levels of exercise lead to improvements in body image and higher confidence. Because exercise, such as running or working out at a gym, frequently takes place in a social atmosphere, it can facilitate more social interaction and further positive feelings. Running and other forms of exercise also offer a good way to deal with mental stress, as well as an opportunity for quiet thought.

Attitude and Physical Health

The benefits of exercise on mental health are clear, but it’s also the case that improved mental health and a more positive attitude can also have a variety of beneficial effects for physical health.

A positive attitude provides the foundation for better total health. At a chemical level, a positive outlook allows less stress and lower blood pressure. People with an optimistic outlook tend to deal with stress in healthier ways and overcome setbacks more quickly, helping them avoid the negative health effects that can pile up as a result of depression and mental strain. Whereas depression can have a variety of negative physical effects, from changes in sleeping and eating habits to greater fatigue, a positive attitude allows people to function at their highest level.

Along with lower blood pressure, positive thinkers tend to exhibit healthier amounts of chemicals that are important to the immune system, thereby improving resistance to illness and allowing people to get over such sickness faster.

Studies show that optimism and positive thinking has a very real effect on prevention and recovery rates for even severe conditions. The numbers show that the immune system is more effective in fighting off the common cold, but the benefits extend much further. Patients with an optimistic outlook tend to recover better and faster from diseases like cancer, heart disease, and even AIDS and are far less likely to exhibit symptoms of hypertension or diabetes.

Thus, having a positive attitude can have a significantly beneficial effect on physical health, as well. The two work in tandem: Just as exercise can help prevent high blood pressure, arthritis, and worse, mental health can facilitate the same kind of improvements simply through a positive attitude. The two are important for each other, so don’t forget about either.

Valerie Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions of one day running a marathon, writing for Healthline.com ensures she keeps up-to-date on all of the latest health and fitness news.