The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) said that studies have demonstrated the importance of regular physical activity in maintaining a healthy body weight and preventing obesity.
Exercise can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke by up to 35%, reduce the risk of early death by 30%, in addition to 50% less risk of developing type 2 diabetes, 50% less risk of colon cancer and 20% of breast cancer.
On the occasion of the National Sports Day, the corporation stated that exercise and physical activity have an important role in preventing and handling chronic diseases, besides it helps to prevent high blood pressure, improve mental health, quality of life and well-being. Physical activity and exercise also help reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis by 83%, hip fractures by 68%, the risk of falls among the elderly by 30%. It also reduces the risk of depression, dementia and Alzheimer's by 30%.
Head of Wellness for Community Interventions at PHCC Abdul Hamid al-Khanji said that exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, by strengthening its muscles and improving blood circulation as the increased blood flow raises the oxygen levels in the human body, which helps reducing the risk of high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, and heart attacks. It can also lower triglyceride and maintain insulin levels, helps the body to control blood sugar and helps quit smoking by reducing cravings besides other health benefits such as mood improvement, stress control, reduce the risk of depression and improve thinking and learning skills.
He noted that regular exercise also helps children and teens build strong bones. As for the elderly, research has shown that it helps them with balance and muscle strengthening activities, while aerobic activity is of moderate intensity helps in reducing the risk of falls, improving sleep and reduce the risk of early death because of heart disease and some types of cancer. He pointed out that exercise and aerobic activities such as walking and cycling can be part of most people's daily routine.
On the other hand, the PHCC provided awareness tips for a healthy sleep as it is an essential part of daily life.
For his part, Head of the Wellness Center at Leabaib Center and a community medicine consultant at PHCC Dr Anees al-Yafei said that persons spend more than a third of their life asleep, the matter that makes sleep part of the vital requirements of the body to renew and maintain the functions of the body's organs.
He reviewed the importance of sleep for general health, including building a healthy body and positive mental health, as studies have shown, in this regard, that people who maintain enough sleep at night enjoy general health free from chronic physical and psychological diseases, compared to their peers of the same gender and age who get less sleep.
Dr al-Yafei also reviewed the importance of sleep quality for immunity, the relationship between sleep and obesity as well as sleep and some chronic, nervous and psychological diseases.
