Health Care and Physical Stamina

How is your physical stamina? In other words, when you exercise or are engaged in any physical acitivity, are you breathless and exhausted within a few minutes, or can you keep going until the task is finished? Do you look for ways to help improve your physical stamina? Stamina means having the strength and energy to endure an activity, illness or stressful situation for an extended period of time.

People most commonly use the word stamina when referring to exercise, sports and other physical activities of the body or cognitive exercises of the brain. Generally, however, increasing stamina means decreasing fatigue when performing the activity. There are several ways to accomplish this task, according to health care writer Claire Walters:

Increased Physical Stamina is Beneficial for All Aspects of Health:

There are many aspects to a healthy lifestyle, and while the majority of the focus seems to be on diet and mental agility, it’s important not to underestimate the long term health benefits of maintaining a good level of physical stamina. Physical exercise has been proven to kick start the body’s basic systems into action and this is something that is particularly important as we grow older. Those who remain physically active for the longest tend to be much healthier in old age than those who have been very unfit for large portions of their later life, and there are many different reasons for this.

Fighting Obesity:

Obesity is one of the largest health issues in the US today, and again, while much of the blame is placed (rightly so) on the worsening standard American diet, a large portion of the blame can also be placed on the reduced amount of physical exercise that the average person is now engaged in. According to the American Health Rankings, two thirds of Americans are considered to be overweight or morbidly obese. The problem often stems from poor diet and lifestyle, both of which are controllable factors, however in most circumstances once a person becomes overweight , exercise becomes more difficult and the rate of exercise decreases with an increase in size. In essence, the bigger people get the less exercise they do, which is a vicious circle. Obesity is known to play a big role in the development of serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, and diabetes, so it’s vital for overall health to ensure that you are physically fit and active.

Positive Effects of Increased Physical Stamina:

Breaking the cycle of obesity begins with a change of diet and an increase in exercise. When increased physical stamina is the goal, and an exercise plan geared towards this is undertaken, the results can become exponentially positive. Not only does increased physical stamina result in weight loss, it also has numerous other health benefits. Exercise increases endorphin levels in the body, and this is has a positive effect on mood and motivation, and lowers stress. While working hard to increase your physical stamina, your body goes through a range of physical changes, both during and after the exercise, all of which promote a much better level of overall health. One of the reasons that many people opt to conduct exercise in the morning is that it leaves them feeling energized, and in good spirits, ready to take on the day with a positive attitude. This is down the ‘endorphin rush’ that is produced after exercise, and it not only improves mood but also many physical symptoms.

Lack of Physical Stamina can have Adverse Effects:

Many people feel lethargic and struggle with finding motivation and energy, and these are all things which can benefit immensely from an increased level of physical stamina. When a person is extremely unfit, it can affect all areas of their life as it can become extremely de-motivating to struggle to complete basic physical tasks such as walking up hills, running, climbing large flights of stairs, and even engaging in sexual activity. An increase in physical endurance will benefit not only the physical aspect of being able to complete these tasks, but also the mental effects of feeling able and capable once more. The human body was designed to be physical strong and active, and as such, all aspects of it work best when you are having enough exercise. Many people experience health problems which they do not attribute to poor physical fitness, but when exercise levels are increased, the health problems desist.

How to Increase Physical Stamina:

The good news is that there are plenty of different ways to increase physical stamina, and it can be and fun and interesting as you want it to be. The main concept is to increase your heart rate through physical activity for a sustained period of time. It’s a good idea to start off at a level that you are comfortable with and work up the intensity and time period from there. Don’t push yourself too hard at the beginning, but gradually increase over time as your body begins to get fitter. Activities which are beneficial for your physical stamina include strenuous walking, running, football, tennis, swimming, aerobics, cycling, or just about any other physical activity imaginable! 

Also, according to VibrantLife.com, twenty-five push-ups a day do not an athlete make, but combine those exercises you do for strength and endurance with a nutritious diet, aerobic conditioning, weight training, and a healthy lifestyle, and you can be at the top of your form-whatever your sport. Consider these 50 suggestions on their website; you may be in for a few surprises: http://www.vibrantlife.com/?p=152.

Here are some additional tips when you are participating in a program to increase physical stamina:

• Motivate yourself to exercise every day, even when you are not feeling very energetic.
• Increase training time by a few minutes each day.
• Give yourself plenty of physical or cognitive breaks: Switch between the two to avoid fatigue.
• Take daily relaxation breaks to help lower stress levels.
• Eat fruits every day.
• Practice meditation and breathing exercises daily.

Also, consider these warnings during any exercise program:

• Don't drink caffeinated drinks such as coffee or energy drinks before aerobic exercise. They speed up your heart rate; and once you start exercising, your heart may be beat too fast, putting you in danger.
• Keep a steady pace and don't break your routine. Taking a day off from the activity may be a helpful break, but allowing yourself to skip your routine for days at a time will make it much harder to get back in the routine.
• Energy drinks are not healthy when consumed on a daily basis. Avoid overuse if you want a strong, healthy body with plenty of stamina.

Improving your physical stamina is a good thing. However, make sure that you consult your doctor or health care specialist for any programs that involve strenuous activities related to exercise. Also, remember the motto: “All things in moderation.” Don’t try to overdo it just to show off or prove something to yourself. Recovering from injury due to overzealous physical activity definitely puts a crimp into your style.

Until next time.