The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-06-05
Effect of Exercise


promotes the exchange Of gases
and chemicals in the body. 1t in
creases appetite; it promotes
good sleep; it improves posture.
All Of which things tend to make
life more worth living and to make
US feel better and happier.
As with all things, / think 1t is
valuable, as a preliminary, to
understand the physiology OF ex-
ercise.
Exercise involves the use of the
muscles, joints and bones Of the
body, but, secondarily, it has an
effect on the circulation, the heart
muscle, the blood pressure and the
distribution Of blood masses in the
body.
When a muscle contracts, it re-
leases energy. This energy comes
from the burning, usually Of glu-
cose, form of sugar which is de-
rived from the starches and sugars
in the diet. Glucose Is always
present in the blood and in the
muscles and when a muscle con-
tracts, it unites with oxygen to
release heat and energy. In the
chemical exchange that occurs,
there is also released some water
and some Tactic acid. This is the
temporary reaction.
There is also a permanent ef-
feet on the muscle fbers in that
they increase in size with repeated
activity, become tougher and bet
ter able to endure fatigue. and
longer work. Undoubtedly dur
ing the burning or oxidation OF
glucose, they also burn up trace
elements or by-products of vari-
Gus indiscretions Of over-eating
and drinking, etc. In othss words,
the process destroys poisons that
lave accumulated.
Oxygen and Glucose
Because the blood is the only
thing which contains the oxygen
and new supplies Of glucose for
this process, more blood must
come to the muscle during exer-
else and the blood vessels dilate.
This means the heart muscle has
TO do more work and it gets ex-
ercised also.
This burning process creates
more heat in the body so in order
to dissipate this, the blood vessels
of the skin dilate, the sweat glands
are activated, great deal of
water is lost through the skin,
Kidneys and lungs. 1t is an old
idea, which has no foundation
however, that the increased flow
of perspiration carries off ae-
eumulated poisons.
The pulse rate is increased our
ing and after exercise and the
blood pressure temporarily rises.
They usually return to normal
shortly after the exercise stops.
| think the warnings Of the ply
steal culture experts, that after
strenuous exercise you should
rest a while before taking a cold
shower, are good. But the cold
shower is not the least important
part of a good workout. II stimu-
lates the skin and creates pleasur-
able refexes in the nervous sys-
tenn. 1t is no wonder that exercise,
therefore, increases appetite and
promotes pleasant sleeping.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
+. K.:-"Please advise me
through your column which eli
mate would be beneficial to sinus
and rheumatism. Would the high
elevation Of the mountains in
Pennsylvania be helpful?"
Answer-For rheumatism and
sinus trouble it, is generally ad-
vised that warm, dry climate is
best. Altitude is Of some impor-
lance, so the mountain regions Of
Pennsylvania may be beneficial,
The ideal climate, however, for
both sinusitis and rheumatism is
the desert region Of Arizona and
New Mexico.
derful as a generalizer. On the SUBJ
ject Of gencralities he's eloquent
and he's forceful. 1t thrills you to
hear him. But he's allergic to brass
tacks. Show him a brass tack and