Hello fredboy~
Almost all doctors seem to believe that exercise reduces both stress
and depression. Cautious doctors think that exercise should be used
alongside therapy and medication, in cases of severe depression. For
milder depression, exercise may be the only ?prescription? needed.
?Exercise also has a significant role to play: It can complement
traditional treatments in those who are clinically depressed and help
prevent depression in those who do not have the illness.? (?Exercise
Against Depression,? Michal Artal, MD, with Carl Sherman, Sports
Medicine: http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1998/10Oct/artal.htm )
90% of studies done on depression and exercise show that physical
activity does have the effect of an antidepressant. Most studies
looked specifically at aerobic exercise.
Doctors aren?t entirely certain why exercise helps. Some say it gives
a person a sense of mastery, or a better feeling of being alive.
Exercise may also change a person?s metabolism and the availability of
central neurotransmitters, which can better a person?s mood. Exercise
also increases beta-endorphins, which are linked to a feeling of well
being.
Some studies show that even if used without therapy and drugs,
exercise can greatly reduce depression. ?Studies show that jogging for
30 minutes three times a week can be as effective as psychotherapy in
treating depression. Any exercise is fine; the more energetic and
aerobic, the better?researchers have found that exercise works at
least as well as Zoloft, a popular prescription drug, in treating
clinical depression and keeping the condition from returning.?
(?Depression: Exercise,? Holistic Online:
http://holisticonline.com/Remedies/Depression/dep_exercise.htm )
?One of the main advantages of using exercise to boost your mood is
that the effect is instant. Antidepressants usually take between two
and three weeks to kick in, which can be a long time if you're feeling
really blue. And exercise, unlike antidepressants, is also not
chemically addictive.? (?Exercise Lifts Depression,? Anne Collins:
http://www.annecollins.com/weight_health/exercise-depression.htm )
Kristien Vickers-Douglas, PhD at the Mayo Clinic states: "[Exercise
is] not a magic bullet, but increasing physical activity is a positive
and active strategy to help manage depression?There's substantial
evidence that exercise can enhance mood and reduce symptoms of
depression.? (?Exercise eases symptoms of anxiety and depression,? The
Mayo Clinic, CNN: http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/MH/00043.html )
Certainly, antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs will lower the
libido, so the problem may be solved simply by no longer taking drugs.
However, according to HealthScout, exercise reduces a man?s risk for
impotence, and ?the same things that are good for your heart will also
be good for erections, or vice versa.? (?Working out is good medicine
for avoiding impotence, study shows,? by Adam Marcus, Medical and
Health Advice for Men:
http://www.homeworkersexpats.com/mens/impotence.htm )
However, I could not find any medical studies that directly linked
libido and exercise. Possibly the reason exercise is thought to help,
however, is that serotonin (a chemical in the brain) is directly
linked to both depression and libido. (?Depression and Exercise,?
Better Health Channel:
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Depression_and_exercise?OpenDocument
)
In addition, one article on MSN states: ?General lack of fitness, and
specifically lack of exercise can reduce libido via effects on hormone
balance and metabolism. Regular, moderately energetic exercise for
around 30 minutes a day can help to increase sex drive. The endorphin
rush and energized feeling immediately after exercising can be used to
good effect (if the time and place are suitable), but longer term
effects of regular exercise are thought to be due to creating a
beneficial hormone balance. But beware of over-exercising. This can be
counterproductive by lowering testosterone levels.? (?Boost Your
Sexual Energy,? by Dr. Chris Brown, MSN:
http://www.msn.handbag.com/healthfit/health/sexualenergy/ ) Like many
other doctors, Brown also sees a link between self image and libido.
Regards,
Kriswrite
KEYWORDS USED:
exercise depression
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exercise libido study
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