Climbing Stairs Daily May Improve Your Mental Health Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Climbing stairs more often may improve your mental health, researchers suggest.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, strong restrictions on public and social contacts were implemented. It might adversely impact your physical and mental health. 

Having regular exercise is a well-known way to keep the body strong and healthy and improving mental health by reducing depression, anxiety and boosting self-esteem.

Even if it's not inclined with your exercise routine, it is advised to climb stairs every day as it can significantly enhance your physical well-being and mental health, especially those susceptible to mental conditions, a new study revealed. 

According to The Health Site, climbing stairs may help you feel awake and full of energy that could enhance your well-being, the authors of the study published in the journal of Science Advances wrote. 

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH) researchers in Germany also identified the brain parts which play the central role in this process. They learned that the 'subgenual cingulate cortex' is essential for everyday activity and significant well-being. The 'subgenual cingulate cortex' is a section of the cerebral cortex that controls emotions and resistance to psychiatric disorders.

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Those with a smaller gray brain matter volume in this region and who had a higher risk of mental conditions felt less energy when physically inactive. But after everyday activity, these people will feel more filled with energy than those with larger brain volume. Therefore, the results suggest that daily physical activity is beneficial to well-being, particularly to those susceptible to mental disorders, authors claim.

Tips for having a healthy mental health

Aside from making it a habit to climb stairs, there are various ways to keep yourself mentally healthy. Here are some helpful tips to stay in good mental health, according to The Health Site:

• Get enough sleep- having adequate sleep is crucial for both physical and mental health. Sleep helps regulate chemicals in our brain, which are important in managing our emotions and moods. Lack of sleep could make a person anxious or depressed.
• Take a balanced diet- eating plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can boost your mental health. Meanwhile, green leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts, and legumes are excellent brain foods. Limiting or cutting out caffeine can make you feel more anxious if you are stressed.
• Avoid alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes- Excessive alcohol consumption can cause thiamine deficiency, which is crucial for brain function. Thiamine deficiency can also lead to severe motor, eye, and memory problems. At the same time, cigarettes and drugs can leave you in withdrawal, which will make you feel irritable, low, and anxious. Due could also lead to more severe effects like delusions, paranoia, and mental disorders like schizophrenia.
• A daily dose of sunlight is good for the brain- sunlight is the number one source of vitamin D, which is essential to the body and minds. Vitamin D stimulates the release of chemicals that improve endorphins and serotonin, substances needed to improve mood. Staying in the sun for 30 minutes to two hours a day every day is recommended. 

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