How to handle stress, cure depression, anxiety, and mental distress (and stay alive)

The prescribed medications in Australia are given to patients with high cholesterol. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are crucial for maintaining a normal lipid profile and reducing cardiovascular risk.

3 of the 5 prescribed medicines in Australia are prescribed to patients with high blood pressure. Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (e.g. brisk walking) has been to prevent hypertension and help manage stage 1 hypertension.

In 2020 became the first antidepressant to enter Australia’s top 10 prescribed medications. 1 in 7 Australians are taking antidepressants, and prescriptions are increasing. A recent evaluating over 125,000 patients revealed that exercise is 1.5 times more effective in treating mild to moderate depression, anxiety and psychological distress than counselling or top medications.

If you are interested in why GPs prescribe medication over exercise despite the existing evidence, read on , but this is not the focus of this blog. The focus here is to remind you that exercise is a basic need for your body to function well and thrive.

Insufficiently physically active people have a 20% to 30% increased risk of all-cause mortality compared to those who engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week. Regular exercise significantly suicide attempts.

You do not have to love sports or gyms to be active: the above is achievable with regular moderate aerobic exercise (e.g. brisk walking). There is even that 11 minutes of walking per day can significantly improve your health.

The message here is simple: move daily, and your body will thrive. You would never get a dog and not walk it and expect it to be healthy? Become more active and get the benefits!

Originally published at https://www.myhealthscript.com on August 7, 2023.