Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Fazıl Küçük Faculty of Medicine and Marmara University Faculty of Medicine Sports Physiology Department academic staff member Prof. Dr. Hızır Kurtel released a statement about the World Move for Health Day on May 10. Prof. Dr. Kurtel’s statement reads as follows:
"Sports for Health"
Since 1990, lack of physical activity has been included among the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. In a study of Harvard University graduates published in 1994 with a 35-year follow-up of physical activity habits and their life long continuity - along with some other lifestyle accidents -, mortality rates of those who do exercises in a moderate level were found to be inversely related to energy use (> 1000 kcal / week) and this rate has decreased significantly. It has also been shown that this decrease in mortality rates is related not only to physical activity habits during the university period but also to the lifelong continuity of physical activity. Another important aspect of sports that is important for health is the study of the relationship between exercise and cancer. For example, the relation between inactivity and large intestine cancer is clearly shown. Additionally, inactivity due to obesity can lead to increased free estradiol in the blood, thereby increasing the risk of developing breast cancer. In addition to all of these, it has been shown that regular moderate exercise stimulates the immune system and it is necessary for mental health that both prevents the occurrence of depression and corrects the sleeping disorders. Based on this and similar studies, American College of Sports Medicine has put forward the concept of "Sports for Health" and suggested that "All children and adults should exercise moderately, most of the week, preferably at least 30 minutes each day."
"Getting Started in Sports"
Due to the increasing awareness of the society, there has been increasing sensitivity among people in recent years about starting sports. However, before starting to exercise, the risk factors must be assessed and the exercise level must be determined accordingly.
"Risk analysis"
It is significant to carry out a risk analysis on the person who plans to start doing exercises. Risk factors include family history (early or sudden death, early heart attack), smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hunger, increase of blood glucose, obesity (body mass index (kg/m2) > 30), those whose waist round is around 100cm and above and having a lifestyle without doing any exercise. Among these risk factors, those who are at risk for two and above are in the middle risk group. Additionally, among 45 years or older men and 55 years or older women, the person is included in the middle risk group regardless of the risk factors stated above. According to a manifesto by the American College of Sports Medicine, it is recommended that those in the middle-risk group pass physician-controlled exercise testing and exercise testing before beginning a moderate/ intensive exercise program (at the level of being unable to speak comfortably during exercise).
The high-risk group consists of individuals with a known cardiovascular, chest or metabolic disease. It is important for the patients in this group that their diseases are under treatment and their conditions become stable. Later on, after the exercise test, exercise programs, which are also part of the treatment, need to be created by an expert.
As a result, the establishment of appropriate exercise programs after the identification of risk factors is directly related to how the individual responds to the physiologic response to the exercise. Correspondingly, it is now necessary for coaches, technical directors, therapists, physical education experts and physicians to comprehend physiology lessons in activity programs, rehabilitation and physical conditioning practices more than ever. For this reason, understanding the basic principles of exercise physiology is of vital importance and the professionals working in the field of exercising should make professional decisions under the light of exercise physiology teaching.