Stress and Exercise

As young adults enter and continue their academic career in college, how much a student exercises begins to decrease. While studies continuously show that brain health such as memory, use of logic, and other cognitive abilities are enhanced through exercise, statistics show that students tend to decrease the amount of physical activity they perform in a week as they enter college.A decline in weekly physical activity plays a direct role in a decline in cognitive functions critical to college students.

Weekly Exercise Requirements:

As college students, you may be aware of how crucial physical activity and exercise are to living a healthy and illness-free life. According to the American Heart Association, the average adult should get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, 75 minutes of intense activity, or a combination of both each week. At least two days of the week should include resistance or heavier weights incorporated into exercise.

These guidelines are set in place to promote better heart-health and aid in preventing obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Physical activity plays a key role in stress release, as it produces endorphins, or chemicals in the brain which naturally reduce pain and aid in the ability to fall asleep.