If that be the state of affairs in an apparent physically active nation, it is anybody s guess as to what may be happening in our own country. A look at the playgrounds of the educational institutes, including the Panjab University, and other sport activities in Chandigarh itself, does not make for a very encouraging observation. We have recently celebrated the achievement of a lone bronze medal won by a lady in the Olympics Games at Sydney. We need to develop the awareness for this physical culture like the developing countries. The Royal College of Physicians of Britain, the American College of Sports Medicine and the Centre for Disease Control have published long guidelines for physical activities for the citizens and emphasised its benefits.
Exercise has far-reaching consequences on the human body.
Without any investment on any equipment or costly gyms, full benefit can be attained by anybody interested in it. Physical exercise activates the sympathetic nervous system and thus puts the whole body on the alert, increases muscle activities which is very obvious, increases the cardiac activity and cardiac output, increases oxygen supply and there are physiological adaptations which make more oxygen available to the muscles and also greater extraction of oxygen at the peripheral level. Blood pressure increases during the exercise but in the long run it decreases the blood pressure. Now it is recognised that that wonderful feeling of wellbeing after a game or a relaxing exercise is due to production of endorphines by the brain which are nature s own opiates. Benefits Exercise benefits virtually every system and cell of the body.