Professional Documents
Culture Documents
QUALITY OF LIFE
Henny Kumala Sari1, Linda Riana Putri2, Fitria Mega Wardani3, Ebtabes Fianfi4
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University Semarang
Indonesia
INTRODUCTION
Physical activity (PA) is one of the most important things that can do
for human health. It can prevent many of the health problems that seem to come
with age. Studies have shown that physical activity provides many health benefits
and that older adults can gain a lot by staying physically active. Even physical
activity can improve the health of people who are frail or who have diseases that
accompany aging (Maciel, et all, 2016).
PA is associated with reduced risk for health conditions including
coronary heart disease, cancers, diabetes, and stroke (NICE, 2008). Despite
interventions to increase PA in the English general population, the Health Survey
for England (HSE) (2008) showed that only 39% of men and 29% of women in
England are meeting the recommended level to be considered physically active
as defined by guidance from the Chief Medical Officer; only 6% of men and 4%
of women, however, met the recommended level when PA was objectively
measured (Craig, et all, 2009).
A survey of adults in Germany revealed that 72.8% of adult women and
6.3% of adult men did not reach the recommended amount of at least 2.5 hours
per week of moderate-intensity physical activity. Additionally, one put of two
respondents (women: 48,2%, men 52.8%) stated that they did not engage in any
aporting activities. Within the adult group of participants, well-being without
physical activity (40%) was most frequently stated. Over one-third of participants
(36.4%) did not exercise for health reasons. Further barriers were : enough other
hobbies (34.3%), too exhausting (30.0%), risk of injury too high (28.6%), lack of
interest (25.7%), dislike of unfamiliar groups (22.9%), lack of company (20.0%),
no knowledge of opportunities (18.6%), attitude that physical activity are only for
younger people (15.7%), no time (13.6%), fear of inability (12.1%), and financial
reasons (10.0%) (Moschny, 2011).
Quality of life (QOL) is a broad multidimensional concept that usually
includes subjective evaluations of both positive and negative aspects of life. What
makes it challenging to measure is that, although the term quality of life has
meaning for nearly everyone and every academic discipline, individuals and
groups can define it differently. Although health is one of the important domains
of overall quality of life, there are other domains as wellfor instance, jobs,
housing, schools, the neighborhood. Aspects of culture, values, and spirituality are
also key aspects of overall quality of life that add to the complexity of its
measurement. Nevertheless, researchers have developed useful techniques that
have helped to conceptualize and measure these multiple domains and how they to
each other.
This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of physical activity to
improve the quality of life.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Physical activity is defined as bodily movement that is produced by the
contraction of skeletal muscle and that substantially increases energy expenditure
(US Department of Health and Human Services 1996). Physical activity can be
further categorised in terms of the frequency, duration and intensity of the activity.
Frequency and duration refer to how often and how long an activity is performed.
Intensity refers to how hard a person is working or the rate of energy expenditure
that an activity demands (Miles, 2007).
Physical activity can reduce resting blood pressure and increase capacity
to carry blood in the coronary arteries. Beneficial changes also occur in the lining
of blood vessels which help direct the appropriate distribution of blood in the
body. Regular physical activity can also exert beneficial effects on the bodys
capacity for forming and breaking down blood clots, and produces favourable
changes in plasma lipid profile. Physical activity is known to improve blood
glucose handling and is also associated with beneficial immunological (with the
and that these effects emerge in childhood and cascade throughout life to foster
cumulative advantage or disadvantage in health (Umberson, 2010).
Relationship with the environment
Nearly everything that a human does is in response to the environment.
Our lives are defined by what is around us and what we find in front of us,
whether this means accepting, dealing with or changing it. The shape of the land
affected where humans moved. Weather was something with which to contend.
Fire affected humans until they conquered it and herein lies the core of the
relationship. The earth affects humans, and humans affect it back, viewing
characteristics and patterns as problems and challenges, and finding a solution.
THE EFECTIVENESS BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND QUALITY
OF LIVE
Engaging in activity has been linked to health promotion and cited as a
key factor in improving quality of life. Participation in sport by groups of people
of different ages is increasing, as well as the search for different types of physical
activity. Regular physical activity has been seen as one of the most effective
initiatives to promote quality of life in populations in marked contrast to the
sedentary lifestyle that represents an important risk factor for the development of
chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The regular practice of moderate
and high levels of physical activity is positively correlated with disease prevention
and control and health promotion and is often prescribed in association with diet
and medication to treat NCDs, assisting in the motivation and adoption of healthy
habits and behaviour . Other evidence suggests that low levels of physical activity,
coupled with a modern lifestyle, is a risk factor that is as important as a poor diet
in the etiology of obesity, regardless of the body mass index or family history .
The practice of physical activity and exercise are largely related to positive
impacts on well-being, regardless of age and health status. It is also known that
regular physical activity is associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular
disease, stroke and diabetes mellitus, a reduction in risk factors of metabolic
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