Exercise Improves Brain Inflammation

Exercise Reduces Neurological Inflammation and Improves Mental Health

Exercise reduces levels of brain inflammation (IL6) in people with schizophrenia in a dose dependent way.

Interestingly higher IL6 is associated with so many other problems also and drives CRP (c-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker).

This is just one example of exercise helping chronic disease.

Could exercise really help chronic disease?

It seems pretty clear exercise does help many chronic health problems, including many mental health problems, if done properly in the right amount.

This study finds that exercise improves levels of inflammation in people suffering with first schizophrenic psychotic episode.

This is just one example and possible mechanism showing exercise benefits in a non-musculoskeletal disease.

Interestingly higher IL6 is associated with several other problems including:

• impulsivity,
• depression,
• feelings of hopelessness,
• cognitive decline,
• pain,
• diabetes/blood sugar elevations,
• asthma,
• fibromyalgia,
• arthritis,
• gut problems (IBS),
• autoimmunity,
• allergies,
• food sensitivities,
• suicide,
• and much more.

This is interesting for several reasons…

Many mental health (brain based problems) are associated with higher levels of inflammation. This includes depression, autoimmune conditions (including Multiple Sclerosis (MS)), and more.

Reducing higher levels of neurological inflammation will have positive health benefits and likely reduce the chances of future problems.

We often believe that the only treatments for mental health problems are medications. Clearly there are many other lifestyle changes that people can do on their own that can have a big impact on mental health… including exercise.

Unlike medications for mental health problems, exercise is generally without side effects if done in a reasonable manner that is slowly increased over time.

In fact, exercise has other very positive effects on health beyond mental health improvement including reducing cardiovascular risks, weight loss, improved blood sugar/insulin sensitivity, and much more.

Starting An Exercise Program Safely In Texarkana.

If you need help getting started on an exercise program safely or want to make sure that you are not at serious risk of injury from starting an exercise program, come see us.

We’re here to help and can check you out for potential problems that put you at risk as well as give you advice about how to get started exercising safely in Texarkana.

Hagebusch Chiropractic, Texarkana Chiropractor

Reference: Exercise Cuts Brain Inflammation in First-Episode Psychosis – Medscape – Apr 16, 2019.