Evidence-Based Balanced Lifestyle

13 Mar Evidence-Based Balanced Lifestyle

We’ve all heard of a balanced lifestyle yet most of us find it difficult to live that exact lifestyle. Why is it so? Before getting further into this let’s first figure out what does it mean to have a balanced lifestyle. Several lifestyle factors can contribute to this model and make up the “self” segmental division including physical, social, psychological, environmental and not to be forgotten spiritual. To experience and sustain that feeling of “well-being”, we must consider focusing on short term goals and the subcategories of each of these segments rather than on the delusional image of “self”. Let’s take the first one for example: physical being. To most of us being physically fit and active is an important component of feeling good. We are satisfied with one “self” if we reach certain fitness goals and embrace that feeling. We also understand through research that certain elements of a regular physical workout regime are beneficial for our health. What we must comprehend however is the fact that health and fitness is not a continuum.

Many aerobic training methodologies have a positive effect on our health. Although when challenged with a physical task, the human body can respond through most of the physiological systems, a quintessential example of the effect aerobic training has on our health is through cardiorespiratory adaptations. While movement requires activation and control of the musculoskeletal system, it is the responsibility of the cardiorespiratory system to be able to sustain movement through extended period of time. Although people with the highest fitness levels are less likely to develop hypertension, according to new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association (1), the more fit we become generally does not always translate to us being healthier. In fact there is a point of diminishing return, where chronic stress from overtraining may be linked to problems in the adrenal gland. There seems to be a direct link between stress and the adrenal glands and the physical stress of overtraining may cause the hormones produced in these glands to become depleted (2). The recovery time sometimes isn’t enough for the adrenals to properly function again. However, of interesting note, overtraining can still be part of healthy training if only done for a short period of time without extra burden of stress. Training alone is seldom the primary cause of adrenal insufficiency. In most cases, the total amount of stress on the athlete exceeds their capacity to cope. A triggering stressful event, along with the chronic physical overtraining is what is pushing the athlete to start developing symptoms such as persistent fatigue, muscle soreness, elevated resting heart rate and dehydration. Subsequently, when there is such imbalance between training and competitions versus recovery time, serious health risks such as adrenal insufficiency are poised. Thus, one can see how an optimal level of health comes not only from the precise quality of training but also from the right quantity.

By: Dr. Vadim Farian

1. Juraschek S, Blaha M, Whelton S et al, Physical Fitness and Hypertension in a population at risk for cardiovascular disease, Journal of the American Heart Association, October 28^th, 2014, http://jaha.ahajournals.org/content/3/6/e001268.full
2. Brooks KA, Carter JG, Overtraining, Exercise and Adrenal Insufficiency, Journal of Novel Physiotherapies, Feb 16^th, 2013, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3648788/