Exercise Your Way to a Healthy HeartContent provided by: Physical inactivity, high blood pressure, and smoking are risk factors for heart disease. So, be the exception rather than the rule. Exercise for a healthier heart. Eight ways to help your heart Look at all the ways exercise can help your heart: Reduces your risk of developing heart disease Lowers your risk of developing high blood pressure.
Lowers blood pressure in some people who have high blood pressure Raises your high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol Lowers your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad,” cholesterol Lowers the amount of triglycerides, a form of fat, in your bloodstream Helps you lose extra weight, which can strain your heart Makes your heart and lungs work more efficiently Over time, fat and cholesterol can build up in your blood vessels. When arteries that supply the heart and brain with blood become clogged, a heart attack can occur. Exercise can help keep the blood vessels open.
This can help prevent heart disease or stroke. Added benefits Exercise may also protect against stroke. Walking, stair-climbing, dancing, jogging, and other activities of at least moderate intensity also reduce stroke risk. Plus, exercise can help you prevent or manage several chronic diseases that become more common with age: type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and arthritis. Both your body and mind can benefit from exercise. Exercise can help you manage stress. It’s not clear whether stress affects the heart directly or has an effect on other risk factors and behaviors that affect the heart.
These may include blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking, and overeating. Cutting down on stress, however, can at least make your life more enjoyable. Exercise can also boost your self-image and help counter anxiety and depression. Which activities are right for you? You don’t have to strain your body to benefit from exercise. Even moderate exercise is good for you. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) health guidelines for Americans recommends 30 to 60 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.
Examples of moderate activities include: Walking Gardening Doing housework Ballroom dancing. For increased benefit to your heart and lungs, try more vigorous aerobic activity. The CDC says you can exercise moderately for about 150 minutes each week, or you can get 75 weekly minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise. These are examples of more vigorous activities: Jogging or running Swimming laps Bicycling briskly Aerobic dancing Cross-country skiing Rowing How to get physical Use these tips to move toward a more active life: Choose activities you like.
The key to starting and sticking with an exercise program is to pick activities that you enjoy. Then choose a convenient time and place to workout. Try to make exercise a habit. Do different activities rather than relying on just one so that you don’t become bored with your routine. Finding an exercise partner may make it easier to stick to a regular schedule. If you miss an exercise session, don’t worry. Just find another way to be active that day. Build up your endurance. Start out by exercising slowly, especially if you haven’t been active for a while.
This will allow your muscles to warm up. Gradually build up how hard, how long, and how often you exercise. Be careful though. Overdoing exercise increases the risk of injury. Listen to your body, and don’t ignore any pain in your joints, ankles, feet, or legs. If you stretch before exercising, do so gently. Also take plenty of time to stretch at the end of each session. This can help you become more flexible. Drink plenty of water. While you exercise, drink some water every 15 minutes, especially in hot, humid conditions. Be sure to drink before you feel thirsty.
You can’t always rely on thirst alone to tell you when you need more fluids. Talk with your doctor. Check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program. This is especially important if you have been inactive for a while. It is also important if you have a chronic health problem, such as heart disease, diabetes, or obesity, or if you are at high risk for developing these problems. If you have any chest pain or discomfort during exercise that goes away after you rest, call your doctor right away. This can be a sign of heart disease.