The Exercise Experience: A Prescription for Enhanced Quality of Life

The shift in today's society has leaned more towards a lifestyle that is more involved with
technological advancements that often lead to a more stationary lifestyle, the significance of
exercise cannot be overstated. Despite the convenience of modern amenities, the detrimental
effects of physician inactivity on health and well-being are well-documented. The benefits of
exercise advocate for more than a hobby, it is an implementation that can be seen in the form of a
prescription. A form of medicine that can augment the quality of life, focusing on the
sustainability of health maintenance and enhancement. Scientific literature and empirical
evidence have proved exercise is a component that serves as a potent therapeutic modality,
offering a plethora of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. An individual who is capable of
committing thirty minutes to an hour of their day to exercise is a person that cares for the well
being of their health. Urgent attention is needed, to increase the livelihood of individuals long
term health conditions and moreso to encourage one another that exercise is much more of a
treatment for the body than prescribed medicines.
Thompson et al. (2020) assert that exercise can be conceptualized as a form of medicine,

capable of mitigating the public health risks associated with physical inactivity. Through a

method of quantitative data of scientific and medical literature, the authors examine exercise to

be a supportive treatment in treating and preventing chronic conditions. This perspective

emphasizes the need for healthcare providers to push for the importance of exercise into routine

health management practices. Exercise transcends its traditional perception as a recreational

activity and emerges as a fundamental pillar of preventive medicine. In, Exercise Sustains the

Hallmarks of Health, Qui et al. (2023) unveil exercising benefits the physical and mental aspects

of the body, keeping an individual in homeostasis. Moreover, the authors go in depth with the

long term effects of exercise and how it can be a movement to push one another to breach

unhealthy traits. The article states, “ According to data from the World Health Organization, in

2016, more than one-quarter of adults worldwide were physically inactive. The worldwide

pandemic of physical inactivity should be a public health priority. It is well-known that a healthy

lifestyle is associated with a significantly lower risk of total mortality and a longer life
expectancy”(Li Y, Pan A, Wang DD, et al. 2018) To emphasize on the authors claim, exercise is

meant to target a multitude of health factors with ones mental sustainability and physcial

capabilities. Preserving and making sure the body is receiving its appropriate mobility and

adequate stretching can improve the way an individual perceives their day to day life. For

example, the research eludes on the idea of positioning the benefits of exercise as more than just

a training regima many people follow, it is a lifestyle that should be promoted more in schools,

hospitals, and community outreach. A lifestyle rich in physical activity correlates with

decrerased morality rates and promotes longer life expectancy, eluding that exercise addresses a

wide range of health benefits, adopting to mental resiliance and physcial vatility. The research of

Vina et al. (2012) further indicates the positive results of exercise, posting it as a

pharmacological intervention due to its myriad health enhacning effects. Throough a

comprehensive review of exercise’s impact on health and lifespan, the authors draw parallels

between exercise and traditional pharmacological drugs. The article reframes exercise as a

fundamental every person should be acceptable to apply within their day to day interactions.

Additionally, Ross et al. (2023) reiterates exercise’s potential as an alternative treatment for

depression, eludicating its profound impact on both physical and mental well-being. The

conclusing variables from the study modulated neurotransmitter levels and immune mechanisms

associated with depression, exercise emerges as a effective intervention targeting the intricate

balance between body and mind.

While the benefits of exercise are undeniable, challenges in its implementation persist.

Ifcher et al. (2018) shed light on the cons surrounding exercise interventions, acknoeledhing the

variability in individual responsesand contextual factors. The author’s analysis stands in

opposition to the notion of exercise as an obligatory endeavor, accepting that exercise may not be
a priority for everyone and that there are alternative ways individual can maintain their physical

well-being. Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting the benefits of exercise, including its

positive impact on physical health, mental well-being and longevity, the reality is that not

everyone may readily embrace it as a task or duty. Factors such as time constraints, competing

priorities, and personal preferences may influence individuals’ willingness or ability to engage in

regular exercise. Furthermore, societal norms and cultural attitudes towards physical activity

vary, complicating the narrative of exercise beeing seen as a universal prescription for health.

The research conduce by Ifcher et al. offers valuable variables into the channels through which

neighbors’income may impact subjective well-being (SWB). In communities with lower median

incomes, residents may confront a barrage of socioeconomic barriers, ranging from limited

access to health and educational resources to higher rates of crime and enviromental hazards. In

contrast, affluent neighborhoods may grapple with distinct issues such as social isolation,

pressure to maintain materialistic lifestyles, and heightened expectation for success. The author

argues that attention for exercise is widely noticed as a beneficial practice for physical and

mental health, but its uptake and efficacy does not reflect upon everyone the same. Therefore,

promoting exercise as a universal solution to enhance well-being may overlook the unique

circumstances and contexts present in diverse neighborhoods. Kawamura and Muraoka (2018)

caution against overloloking the physiological effects of exercise-induce oxidative stress. Their

research targets the physiological effects of exercising being a variable for increased stress than

relief. On the contrary, in Health Benefits of Physical Exercise for Children and Adolescents,

Archer (2014) recommends that children engage in physical activity at an early age to build a

great foundation for stabilizing a healthy lifestyle. Reviewing the inverse manifestation of

exercise benefits, including effects on physical health parameters and mental well-being, the
article connects with research on the early stages of physical activity. It provides insights into

why children and adolescents should include physical activity in their lifestyles, contributing to

discussions on influencing exercise for youth health. The article can be summarized as the focus

of establishing healthy habits early in life, with exercise playing a vital role in overall physical

and mental development.

In conclusision, exercise is a controversial topic that can be seen as a positive to many

and a negative to others. Nonetheless, exercise serves as a vital prescription for enhancing

quality of life, offering enhancing and natural physical, mental, and emotional benefits, From

mitigating publkic health risks to embracing longeity and resilience, data and statistics support

exercise in alignment with being a preventive medicine. Despite the controversy of “pushing the

agenda” with exercise and not focusing on the bigger picture of disparities, the need to spread

physical activity has no barriers. Ultimately, the positives of exercise cannot be overstated or be

overstated. The implementation of exercise is meant to be a balance of ones lifestyle, balancing

out the body to be fluid with its movement, train the mind to be disciplined in times of

uncertainty, and build a strong foundation for one’s long term health.
 Citation

Archer T (2014) Health Benefits of Physical Exercise for Children and Adolescents. J Nov
Physiother 4: 203

Blumenthal, J. A., & Rozanski, A. (2023). Exercise as a therapeutic modality for the prevention
and treatment of depression. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 77, 50-58.

Ifcher, J., Zarghamee, H., & Graham, C. (2018). Local neighbors as positives, regional neighbors
as negatives: Competing channels in the relationship between others’ income, health, and
happiness. Journal of Health Economics, 57, 263-276.

Kawamura, T., & Muraoka, I. (2018). Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress and the Effects of
Antioxidant Intake from a Physiological Viewpoint. Antioxidants, 7(9), 119.

Qiu, Y., Fernández-García, B., Lehmann, H. I., Li, G., Kroemer, G., López-Otín, C., & Xiao, J.
(2023). Exercise sustains the hallmarks of health. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 12(1), 8-
35.

Ross, R. E., VanDerwerker, C. J., Saladin, M. E., & Gregory, C. M. (2023). The role of exercise
in the treatment of depression: Biological underpinnings and clinical outcomes. Molecular
Psychiatry, 28(1), 298-328.

Thompson, W. R., Sallis, R., Joy, E., Jaworski, C. A., Stuhr, R. M., & Trilk, J. L. (2020).
Exercise Is Medicine. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.

Vina, J., Sanchis-Gomar, F., Martinez-Bello, V., & Gomez-Cabrera, M. (2012). Exercise acts as
a drug; the pharmacological benefits of exercise. British Journal of Pharmacology, 167(1), 1-12.
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