Beneficial effect of regular moderate physical exercise (PE) and negative effect of severe exercise and/or overtraining as an activator of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) have been shown in numerous aspects of human health, including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, depression, and some types of cancer. Moderate-to-vigorous PE stimulates the SNS activation, releasing catecholamines (CATs) adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine that play an important regulatory and modulatory actions by affecting metabolic processes and the immune system. Summary of the dispersed literature in this area and explanation of the biological mechanisms operating between PE-CATs and the immune system would lead to a better understanding of the beneficial and negative effects of PE on health. This overview aimed to: demonstrate representative literature findings on the exercise released CATs levels, major functions performed by these hormones, their interactions with immune system and their effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Also, mechanisms of cytotoxic free radicals and reactive oxygen species generation during CATs oxidation, and molecular mechanisms of CATs response to exercise are discussed to demonstrate positive and negative on human health effects. Owing to the large body of the subject literature, we present a representative cross-section of the published studies in this area. The results show a significant role of CATs in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, immunity and as generators of reactive oxygen species, depending on PE intensity and duration. Further investigation of the PE-CATs relationship should validate CATs levels to optimize safe intensity and duration of exercise and individualize their prescription, considering CATs to be applied as markers for a dose of exercise. Also, a better understanding of the biological mechanisms is also needed.

Physical activity increases human health potential and has an impact on achieving a higher quality of life in society. The aim of our research was to determine the relationship between a physically active lifestyle and the quality of life of female students in the context of demographic and social factors (major, age, marital status, professional activity). The research was conducted among a group of 285 women studying physical culture and social sciences in Poznań and Szczecin (Poland). Average age: 22.7 ± 4.90. The standardized World Health Organization Quality of Life—BREF (WHQOL-BREF) questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life of female students, and the original survey technique was used to study the lifestyle of people undertaking physical activity in the context of socio-demographic factors. Nonparametric statistics were applied in the analyses of the results. The effect size was calculated for each test: E²_R for the Kruskal–Wallis H test, Glass rank biserial correlation (rg) for the Mann–Whitney U test, and Cramér′s V for the χ² test. The value of p ≤0.05 was assumed to be a significant difference. In the study, it was shown that a higher overall quality of life and health satisfaction, as well as better results in the physical, psychological, and environmental domains, were achieved by female students who assessed their lifestyle as physically active in comparison to those physically inactive. Higher scores of overall quality of life and satisfaction with health were found among female students of physical education and people participating in physical recreation, who also achieved better results in the environmental domain. Female students aged 23–25 had a higher quality of life in the physical, psychological, and social domains. Having a partner or spouse had a positive effect on the quality of life of female students defined by the social domain. A higher overall quality of life and satisfaction with health were characteristic of people who were employed. In the search of factors positively influencing the quality of life of society, it seems necessary to promote a physically active lifestyle among students. The observed differences in the quality of life and health satisfaction of female students of selected majors require targeted programs and interventions that improve the quality of their lives at various stages of their studies. Such activities increase the health potential of the individual and society, not only in the biological, but also psychosocial dimension.

Physical activity is one of the factors conditioning human health. Research shows a positive impact of regular physical activity on the quality of human life. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the physical activity of university students, their parents, and their grandparents, and the overall quality of their lives in individual domains (physical, mental, social, environmental), as well as the perceived state of health in relation to selected determinants. The research included 1001 participants, including 253 students related to physical culture and health promotion studying at the University of Szczecin (faculties: physical education, tourism and recreation, public health, sports diagnostics), and their 336 parents and 412 grandparents. Purposive sampling was used to outline the determinants of quality of life and family factors in physical activity. The diagnostic survey was carried out based on the standardized WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life) questionnaire. Statistically significant differences were shown in the studied generations regarding the assessment of quality of life and satisfaction with health in the physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. The oldest generation gave the lowest assessment of quality of life and was the least satisfied with their health regarding particular domains. Female students were more satisfied with their health compared to grandmothers and grandfathers, whereas male students compared to mothers and fathers. Fathers achieved the highest scores in the psychological and social domains, but, in case of the latter, differences were found between mothers’ and fathers’ assessments. Intergenerational differences were found in quality of life and the assessment of health status. Current participation in broadly understood physical culture was often a result of positive attitudes towards physical education and doing sport in the past, which meant higher scores in the physical domain each time. The study demonstrated that taking up physical activity impacted the quality of life and assessment of health in the past and currently.

Sports serve people with disabilities as a form of rehabilitation. Sporting activity is a health-promoting behavior choice and a chance to achieve the best possible sports results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intensity of health behaviors in people practicing wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and para-rowing. The study encompassed 176 athletes with disabilities, aged 19 to 49 (mean age 34.41 ± 8.56), from all over Poland. Men accounted for 83.5% of the respondents. They all had a significant degree of disability and used wheelchairs in their daily lives. The authors used Juczyński’s Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) and the authors’ own survey questionnaire. Nonparametric tests were used. A greater intensity of health behaviors in general (HBI—point score) and in four categories (correct eating habits—CEH, preventive behaviors—PB, positive mental attitude—PMA, health practices—HP) was observed in rugby and basketball players (compared with para-rowers). Disabled rowers achieved the poorest results. Polish Champions scored better results in preventive behaviors (PB) and weaker results in positive mental attitude (PMA)compared with those practicing amateur sport. Respondents who trained every day and had the longest weekly exercise time (>360 min) achieved the highest results in HBI in general and in all categories compared with those who trained once a week for less than 120 min a week. Respondents with higher education, those in a better financial situation, those who were employed and married, and those who were rural residents displayed a greater intensity of health-related behaviors. People in a more difficult financial situation, who had less education, who were cohabiting, and who lived on only a pension presented more preventive behaviors. There is a need for systemic health education aimed at people with disabilities who practice various sports disciplines.

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between self-assessment of physical fitness and health, and the motivational role of physical activity goals in people, depending on their sports discipline. The study included 470 men and 218 women, aged 18–45, from western and southern Poland. The respondents practiced sports recreationally (fitness—F), competitively (football—FB, martial arts—MA), and for rehabilitation and sports purposes (wheelchair rugby—R). The standardized questionnaire for the motivational role of physical activity goals (Inventory of Physical Activity Objectives, IPAO) by Lipowski and Zaleski and the authors’ questionnaire on lifestyle were used. In the statistical analyses, non-parametric statistics were used. Individuals with very high and high self-assessment of their physical fitness and very good self-assessment of health achieved higher scores on the motivational value scale, time management, motivational conflict and multidimensionality of physical activity goals (p < 0.05). Respondents who assessed their health as very good achieved lower results on the perseverance scale, compared to those who assessed their health as good or poor. Self-assessment of physical fitness had a positive, high and moderate correlation with the self-assessment of health in people practicing wheelchair rugby, fitness, football and martial arts (r = 0.61; r = 0.52; r = 0.41; r = 0.40, respectively). Correlations were found between the motivational role and time management in people practicing fitness (r = 0.81), football (r = 0.66) and martial arts (r = 0.45), and multidimensionality of goals in those practicing fitness (r = 0.65) and martial arts (r = 0.42) Wheelchair rugby players scored the highest on all KCAF scales (except for motivational conflict). Self-assessment of physical fitness of wheelchair rugby players and fitness practitioners was negatively correlated with time management (r = −0.68; r = −0.49), multidimensionality of goals (r = −0.51; r = −0.49) and motivational values (r = −0.43; r = −0.43). The demonstrated relationships indicated that there was a need to strengthen the self-esteem and motivation for physical activity, promoting perseverance, the ability to focus on the implementation of one’s goals and prioritizing the goals among people practicing various sports disciplines.

Adrenergic receptors (AR) play a vital role in cardiovascular system regulation. The ADRB2 gene, encoding the β2-AR receptor, has genetic variability potentially impacting blood pressure (BP) regulation. Evidence for such associations has been inconsistent. This study investigates the relationship between two ADRB2 polymorphisms (rs1042713, Gly16Arg, and rs1042714, Glu27Gln) and BP changes during the cold pressor test (CPT) in young, healthy men, including combat athletes. The study included two groups: combat athletes and non-athlete students. BP (systolic, SBP; diastolic, DBP) was measured at rest and at pain tolerance during CPT. Genetic analysis was conducted for rs1042713 and rs1042714 polymorphisms. Athletes had higher SBP and DBP than students, with both values increasing during pain tolerance compared to rest. Differences in BP responses during CPT were genotype-dependent. Students with the Gly16Gly16 genotype had significantly higher SBP than Arg16 allele carriers, while this variation was not observed in athletes. Athletes with the Glu27 allele exhibited higher SBP than 27Gln homozygotes, unlike students. Gly16 and Glu27 alleles are linked to elevated stress-induced BP responses in young Polish men. However, BP regulation involves multiple genetic and environmental factors not explored in this study.