Exercise and Your Heart

One of the best ways for maintaining a healthy heart is through exercise. An inactive lifestyle is one of the top risk factors for developing heart disease. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death among men and women, today, and exercise is one of the best ways to combat these startling statistics.

There are many heart-healthy benefits from exercise.

• Help to Control Blood Pressure

Exercise allows the heart to become stronger by strengthening the heart’s ability to pump blood easier through the arteries, thereby, applying less pressure on them, and lowering blood pressure. High blood pressure is one of the risk factors for developing heart disease.

• Reduce Stress

A daily regimen of exercise to become physically active can help relieve stress that is a contributing factor in developing heart disease. Exercise increases the endorphins, the brain’s neurotransmitter that helps you feel good, relieving stress that can negatively affect your heart.

• Lose Weight

An overweight condition of a t least 20 % or more is another risk factor you want to avoid from contributing to the development of heart disease. Those individuals who gain weight around the mid-section of the body, known as visceral fat, are at a higher risk for developing heart disease. In fact, studies have shown that even reducing your weight by 10 % can lower your risk for heart disease.

• Help Prevent Diabetes

Research has shown, regular aerobic exercise, at least 2-3 times per week has shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Generally, after exercise blood sugar levels drop for up to 48 hours, which is good news for many individuals who are trying to control their blood sugar levels, especially since diabetes is another major risk factor contributing to the development of heart disease.

• Reduce Stroke Risk

Research studies have shown that regular regimens of exercise can reduce the risk of ischemic stroke, which is a condition that occurs when the arteries are blocked to the brain.

It’s important to note, before you begin a new exercise regimen, and if you have any current medical condition, it’s best to obtain your doctor’s approval. If you experience any chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath, consult your doctor before continuing any exercise program.

What exercises are good for your heart health? Basically, any aerobic activity that increases your heart rate and breathing is good exercise for your heart. It’s recommended that moderate physical activity, for at least 30 minutes a day will benefit your heart health. It may be best to start out slowly with exercise and build up your strength and stamina to incorporate longer periods of time with additional exercises.

Here are some aerobic exercises good for your heart.

• Walking, jogging, and running
• Jumping Rope
• Bicycling
• Swimming
• Aerobics class
• Working Out at a Gym

Heart health should be one of our main concerns for maintaining a healthy body, and exercise can help reduce your risk for developing heart disease. It’s important to get active in whatever form of exercise you enjoy most!

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