5 sure signs that you are not moving enough. Don’t ignore them

Have you ever noticed that if you don’t use a foreign language for a long time, you forget it? Most likely, you will hardly remember even simple formulas from the school program. All because our brain has an amazing ability: information and skills that have not been used for a long time, it displaces more relevant.

The brain does the same thing with our body. If some organs and systems are rarely used, the brain sends a signal that the person does not need them much. It gradually shuts down these systems “for lack of need”. Therefore, a person who is not used to sports has a feeling of “cotton” or “wooden” body, clumsy and disobedient. Check yourself for signs of sedentary lifestyle.

Candidate of Medical Sciences, Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics SITILAB

Tells you how to determine if you are moving enough.

Shortness of breath

If you notice that you start panting after a few minutes of walking, you should be alert. A sedentary lifestyle leads to shallow breathing, hence shortness of breath. This, in turn, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity.

Constant weakness

Irina: Another set of symptoms of sedentary lifestyle is related to lack of oxygen. Blood accelerates through the body weaker, carrying oxygen worse. In addition, a person breathes less actively and passes less air (and with it oxygen) through the lungs. All this leads to constant lethargy, fatigue, lack of energy, dizziness. Depressive states are possible, memory deteriorates. Oxygen deprivation affects the appearance: the skin becomes dull, pale.

Poor sleep

Difficulty falling asleep can also indicate a lack of physical activity. Studies show that sport improves sleep quality. Those who exercise regularly sleep better than those who lead a sedentary lifestyle. So add exercise to your routine and you’ll sleep better. Otherwise – sleep deficiency can lead to increased levels of ghrelin, the hunger hormone, increasing the risk of overeating.

Overweight

Irina: Overweight is the most common symptom of sedentary behavior. First, the body does not have time to spend all the energy it gets from food, and the rest is stored in fat deposits. Secondly, without sport and movement, metabolism slows down, which aggravates the situation. It is true that metabolism slows down with age, but this process can be brought under control if you lead a sufficiently active lifestyle.

By “enough activity” we mean a daily walk, morning exercises, swimming in the pool a couple times a week, yoga, dancing. Even active housecleaning and gardening can be considered physical activity. Not everyone can and needs to visit the gym, work with heavy weights or do sports professionally. But light aerobic exercise is suitable for almost everyone.