You’ve probably heard that cardiovascular fitness is important for our physical health. Our hearts get stronger and the risk of developing several diseases decreases.
But did you know that cardiovascular fitness also affects our mental health?
Research shows that good cardiovascular fitness reduces the risk of being negatively affected by high stress levels, to the extent that it protects us from symptoms of depression and burnout. Being in good physical shape thus seems to provide protection against developing mental health issues among individuals who report high stress.
Completely avoiding stress is almost impossible. Therefore, it is of great value to work on improving your cardiovascular fitness.
”It is more important to be fit than to be stress-free. You can experience stress, but if you improve your physical fitness, there is a good chance that you will experience fewer negative effects from it.”
Says Mats Börjesson, professor and chief physician at Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset.
So, how do you improve your cardiovascular fitness?
To improve cardiovascular fitness, you need to regularly challenge your heart rate, preferably several times a week. Running, brisk walking, cycling, dancing – the possibilities are endless.
Choose what feels easiest and most fun for you!
Source:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0738399113001304?via%3Dihub