Living with chronic conditions can be troubling as they usually cause pain that was never an issue. Regardless of the chronic condition you are suffering from and always look for ways to get better. Sometimes, you might want to get rid of what causes discomfort due to chronic conditions. For example, those with irritable bowel movements often want to eliminate bloating, which is the main cause of discomfort.
However, people with chronic conditions hardly think about exercise as a way to manage chronic diseases. Though it can be challenging because some of these conditions are painful and exercising can be exhausting, it is worth trying because, without exercise, you can develop weak muscles and joints.
The common chronic conditions are heart disease, back pain, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, etc. let’s look at some of the effects of exercising on these chronic conditions.
Effects of exercising while living with chronic conditions
Heart disease
Heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases can be very dangerous when you have them. Living with someone having one of these conditions requires you have BLS CPR certification to help them during emergencies.
Exercising can help with cardiovascular conditions as it improves heart health. Exercise enhances blood circulation making the heart stronger to pump more blood and boosting cardiovascular fitness.
Diabetes
Exercise helps effectively release insulin in the bloodstream, thus lowering the blood sugar level and helping fight diabetes. Exercise also helps you manage weight and boost your energy.
Back pain
Focusing on core exercises to strengthen your back muscles can help with back pain as your spine improves. You can also engage in low-impact aerobics activities to increase your back endurance and strength.
Asthma
To control the severity and frequency of asthma attacks, try exercise. This has been proven to work on asthma patients, and doctors recommend it.
HIV
HIV is one of the common STDs, and it has become a chronic disease. HIV damages the immune system allowing opportunistic infections to attack the body that can deteriorate your body.
Exercising can help improve your muscle mass and improve your immune system.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition affecting the joints, which exercising can help with as it helps build muscles supporting the joints. With strong joints, you can move easily.
Healthy exercise to help with chronic conditions
Weight lifting
Most people think that weightlifting is only for bodybuilders; this is not true, as it can also help with some symptoms of chronic diseases. Weightlifting can help you burn more calories, lose body fat, gain strength, reduce stress, improve posture, and enhance mood, which can help you manage chronic illnesses like diabetes.
Before you start weightlifting exercises, consult with your doctor.
Brisk walking or cycling
Walking might seem easy, but it has many benefits that can help with chronic conditions. It can boost your energy, provide your muscles with oxygen, and reduce stiffness.
Cycling can help you warm up your joints and muscles and increase their strength. It can also improve your flexibility and joint mobility.
Swimming
Swimming is an aerobics that does wonders on the body. It can help you build strength and cardiovascular stamina and relax your muscles. You should do water aerobics in warm water as cold one could tense the muscles.
Yoga
Yoga has many health benefits that can help manage chronic illness. Depending on the type of yoga, it can help improve your respiration and energy, increase muscle strength and flexibility, and weight reduction.
Women with fibromyalgia usually engage in Hatha yoga, which helps them reduce the physical and psychological symptoms of chronic pain.
Aerial yoga can improve flexibility and help with physical pain and trauma.
Pilates
Pilate helps the core muscle of the body, that is, the lower back, hips, abdominal muscles, and glutes. This exercise helps improve the flexibility of these areas.
Stretching
Stretching helps with conditions that impair your mobility by making your muscles stiff, increasing flexibility, and loosening stiff muscles.
Conclusion
It is difficult to live with chronic disease because of pain and frequent sickness. Most of these chronic diseases are incurable, and therefore managing them is all we can do. Exercise is the best way to manage these chronic diseases. The most effective exercises are swimming, weightlifting, yoga, Pilates, stretching and walking.
