Physical activity can help treat depression. Research
Mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress (problems adjusting to stress) can be alleviated with physical activity. According to researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA), exercise should be the main treatment for depression and other common mental disorders, reports The Science Alert. A group of researchers analyzed the data of 128,000 people suffering from anxiety, stress and depression. The research team analyzed all studies published up to 2022 from 12 electronic databases. Photo: pixelaway/Depositphotos Comparing the effects of exercise with usual care in all population groups, scientists found that physical activity reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological distress 1.5 times better than talk therapy or drug treatment. A study found that being physically active for about 12 weeks can improve psychological well-being. Researchers have found that patients suffering from depression, anxiety or other psychological disorders can benefit as much from physical activity as from psychotherapy or medication. “Physical activity helps improve mental health,” says Ben Singh, “but despite the evidence, it has not been widely adopted as a treatment method.” The scientists also found that all types of physical activity and exercise were beneficial. In particular, aerobics, walking, Pilates or yoga. Scientists claim that the types of exercises helped in different ways. For example, yoga and mind-body exercise were the most effective in reducing anxiety. At the same time, weight-bearing exercises helped to cope with depression the most. They add that while the study findings do not deny that medication and psychotherapy are important treatments for many mental disorders, the evidence suggests that exercise is also an important treatment that deserves attention. “Physical activity is very useful for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress in adults,” the authors of the study conclude. It will be recalled that scientists found that people who suffer from insomnia have a 69% higher risk of having a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Read also: Medical masks make people more attractive in the eyes of others. Research
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