Depletion Of An Inactive Central Nervous System example essay topic

Inactivity, not exercising or stimulating your body, is among many very large and common health risks suffered by Americans. The majority of people who do not exercise believe that inactivity will not affect them very much in the future. However, this attitude that Americans take might lead them to experience health problems when they are older. It has been proven by many health organizations that inactivity can lead to heart risks, hypertension, lung issues, and sleep deficiencies, not to mention a faster decline of the central nervous system or early death. Inactivity is not as problematic in young people, however as a person begins to age significantly inactivity will start to decay ones body. Among the most prominent risks in inactivity is the heart, lungs and the central nervous system.

The central nervous system is known to decline with age, evidenced by slower reaction times and muscles that do not move as rapidly. However, exercise stimulates the brain and slows it down and can even prevent this decline. With this knowledge and through many studies, it has been proven that an older person who is active is often more likely to have faster muscle movements and reaction times than a person who is in their twenties who is not active. Along with the depletion of an inactive central nervous system, is the pumping capacity of the heart. As a person grows older, their heart output naturally declines at an average of 1% to 2% a year beginning at the age of forty. Yet a person who is active during their forties not only keeps their heart rate down but they can increase their hearts capacity by 25% to 30% of that of a sedentary person.

By having a healthy heart, a person is able to give more to their lungs thus improving their capabilities. At around the age of twenty-five, one's lungs are at their peak efficiency. After their mid-twenties, their lung's oxygen uptake levels rapidly decline. For example, if a person is inactive, from the age of twenty-five to the age of forty-five, their lungs are down about 82% of their peak levels and by the age of sixty-five their lung's peak uptake level is down about 62%. Whereas a sixty-five year old person who is still active will contain a higher oxygen uptake level then a twenty year old who is not active. Inactivity greatly affects the cardiovascular system, as discussed above.

Other risks or poor cardiovascular habits include hypertension and high cholesterol levels. Children and teenagers have no need to concern themselves with these troubles. However, adults and seniors are very likely to have hypertension and / or high cholesterol levels. Hypertension (elevated blood pressure), is very common in adults because they are not active and they tend to have poor habits like not eating healthy, smoking and drinking. These habits contribute not only to hypertension but also to higher cholesterol levels which, in time, can lead to coronary artery disease, strokes, kidney disease and blindness. It is recommended that adults have their cholesterol and blood pressure measured every year or two.

Insomnia and sleep deprivation are commonly connected to inactivity and is currently a very big controversy among researchers. It's believed that people who have insomnia are those who are inactive (for the most part). This is believed to be true, as studies have shown, because out of 13,000 people (over the age of 65), 86% of them had insomnia while only 12% of the 86% did daily volunteer work, gardening, running, or some type of aerobic exercise. This study is to prove that seniors who are active during the day, or are outside everyday, do not have insomnia resulting in a healthier body. The people who are not active suffer from sleep deprivation and / or insomnia. It is clearly evident that lack of inactivity in adults and seniors is very unhealthy; inactivity can lead to heart risks, hypertension, lung issues, sleep deficiencies, and a faster decline of the central nervous system.

These risks are deadly to anyone's body. Lack of exercise is a contributing factor to killing your body. Being active keeps you healthy, happy, fit, and makes you feel better about yourself and your body. For teenagers, like myself, exercise is also very good for your sleep; it gives you a better chance at a better nights sleep and revitalizes your body for the next day.