- A reduction in stress-related brain activity may be behind some of exercise’s heart health benefits
- People with higher levels of physical activity had lower stress-related activity in the brain and a 23% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to those who didn’t exercise regularly
- Stress signals in the brain are linked to inflammation, hardening or thickening of the arteries, increased blood pressure and higher sympathetic nervous system activity
- Exercise was about twice as effective in lowering cardiovascular disease risk among people with depression
- If you’re middle-aged or beyond, focus on fun, social and moderate-intensity exercise; too much vigorous exercise can backfire
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2024/05/24/exercise-lowering-stress.aspx