26/04/2020
COVID19 Lockdown, what impact will it have on health and wellbeing?
Research shows that being sedentary is bad for your physical and mental health, so staying active during this difficult time is important. Being physically active helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol and can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. It also helps maintain muscle mass and bone density, reducing the risk of developing sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass) and osteoporosis (loss of bone density).
Physical activity also helps to keep your immune system working effectively as it flushes bacteria from the lungs and airways, increases white blood cell circulation and raises body temperature, all of which help the body fight infection.
What can we do to ensure we make the most of the situation and keep ourselves fit and healthy?
First, if you are not in self-isolation and are allowed to venture outside, then regular walking, running or cycling is a great way to stay active. Just be sure to keep a distance of one to two metres away from other people.
Improvise
Try walking briskly around the house or up and down the stairs. And stand or walk around when you’re on the phone, rather than sitting down. Dancing is also a great way to keep active, especially with children, so putting on some music for ten to 15 minutes, two or three times each day can really contribute to the daily exercise quota.
Alternatively, use skipping rope or use the many apps and YouTube videos promoting physical activity.
Squats or sit-to-stands from a study chair, push-ups against a wall or the kitchen counter, and or single-leg step-ups on stairs are all great for those new to these kinds of exercises.
