When you stop exercising and lead a sedentary lifestyle, you damage all areas of the brain that are responsible for memory, in addition to the negative physical consequences.
Most people have a job that makes them sit still for hours. However, when they stop doing sports in their free time, a sedentary lifestyle really starts to hurt.
Your body needs movement and exercise. It is not natural to always sit. Therefore, many experts recommend exercising for at least 30 minutes – 1 hour a day.
However, it is difficult.
Usually, people stop exercising because they feel tired after work, too lazy to get up early, or just used to doing nothing.
However, a completely sedentary lifestyle not only harms your health but also causes changes in the brain that you may not be aware of.
When you stop exercising, your blood flow decreases
When you exercise, it increases blood flow in your body, not just during exercise, but throughout the day.
However, it does not help if you exercise one day and then spend a whole week on the couch. It is important to exercise for a few days a week. Increased blood flow is very good for the brain.
If you stop training for a long time, you may have the following consequences:
- Your memory will start to deteriorate. Then you will start to forget what you needed to do because the reduction in blood flow to the brain leads to a decrease in nerve connections.
- You will be more likely to have a stroke because it can cause what is called ischemia.
- When blood flow to the brain gradually decreases, it can cause irreparable damage.
These are just some of the effects that occur when blood flow decreases because you stop exercising.
Now that you know this, we must point out that you do not need to go to the gym to avoid all these complications that arise due to a lack of exercise.
Walking (preferably outdoors) for at least an hour a day is considered physical exercise if it becomes a daily habit that you do not avoid.
Also, remember that when you stop exercising, you may experience stress, anxiety, and other health problems in your life.
If all this can be avoided, why not do it?
Sport is good for your brain
In addition to the effects of neglecting sports on your brain, it is important to remember another type of change that will occur if you lead a sedentary lifestyle.
One of them is that the hippocampus, one of the areas of your brain that is responsible for memory.
Changes can also occur in the lower parietal lobe, an area of the brain that displays emotions on other people’s faces and conveys how you feel. This means that your ability to empathize and other instincts can decline dramatically if you stop training.
In addition, your lower temporal lobe, which is fundamental to recognizing faces, numbers, and objects, can be affected by a sedentary lifestyle.
At this point, you should already understand that exercise is a very good practice for your brain, and that its health does not require much effort.
As we mentioned, moderate physical activity can prevent the brain from passing through certain negative changes. Many of these changes are irreversible and can greatly affect you.
All you need to do is make sure you exercise on a regular basis. Just a few minutes a day will be enough to keep fit and enjoy better physical and mental health.
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