13 encouraging benefits when we exercise for heart health
Exercise has long been known to be an important factor in maintaining overall health and well-being, although do we also need to factor in exercise for heart health?
The answer is yes!
Regular exercise has been proven to provide numerous heart health benefits, including improved cardiovascular function and improved blood pressure.
Exercise has been credited with improving the health of our heart in multiple ways, but one of its most important benefits is its ability to reduce the risk factors associated with heart disease and stroke.
Exercise can help to –
1. lower the risk of high cholesterol and high blood pressure, both of which are major contributors to heart disease
2. reduce the risk of developing diabetes, which is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke
3. improve the functioning of the heart itself
4. improve the efficiency of the heart by increasing the amount of oxygen it can pump through the body, improving the flexibility of the heart muscle, and increasing the amount of blood that can be pumped
This increases the efficiency of the heart and reduces the risk of heart failure
5. reduce the risk of developing coronary artery disease, which is a major risk factor for heart attack
6. lower the build-up of plaque in the arteries, which can lead to narrowing of the arteries and an increased risk of heart attack
7. reduce the risk of developing arrhythmia, which is an irregular heartbeat
8. lower the risk of developing heart failure. Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs
9. improve the heart’s pumping efficiency and reduce the risk of developing heart failure. Exercise can also help to improve mental health
10. reduce stress and anxiety, which can have a positive effect on the heart.
11. reduce depression, which is another risk factor for heart attack
And finally!…
12. improve our overall quality of life.
13. decrease pain, improve mobility, and increase energy levels. This can help to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as improve overall health and well-being.
There are numerous heart health benefits associated with regular exercise, and it’s important to remember that including exercise is an ideal part of a comprehensive approach to maintaining our heart health.
Eating a healthy diet, managing stress, stopping smoking, and getting regular check-ups with oour doctor are all important steps to take to maintain our heart health.
It’s best to view exercise as an important part of a comprehensive approach to maintaining heart health, and simply as a replacement for other interventions.
As we all know, heart health is an important part of our overall health and well-being, and regular exercise can help to improve it.
Regular exercise can reduce the risk factors associated with heart disease and stroke, improve the functioning of our heart, reduce the risk of developing coronary artery disease, and improve mental health. Exercise can also help to improve the overall quality of our lives, making it an important component of a comprehensive approach to maintaining heart health.
How does exercise improve heart health?
If you haven’t spotted it yet! -I believe exercise is one of the most important activities we can do to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to protect our hearts.
Not only does regular physical activity reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, it also has a positive effect on our cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and overall heart health.
So just how does exercise improve our heart health?
When we exercise, our heart has to work harder and this leads to an increase in the size and strength of our heart muscles.
As our heart muscles become stronger, they’re better able to pump blood throughout our body, which helps to decrease the risk of developing heart disease.
In addition to strengthening your heart muscles, exercise can also improve our cholesterol levels.
When we exercise, our body produces more HDL cholesterol, commonly known as “good” cholesterol. HDL cholesterol helps to remove “bad” cholesterol, such as LDL cholesterol, from our blood and helps to reduce our risk of developing heart disease.
Exercise can also help to reduce our risk of developing high blood pressure.
High blood pressure increases the strain on our heart and can lead to an increased risk of stroke or heart attack.
Regular physical activity can help to lower our blood pressure and decrease our risk of developing high blood pressure.
Types of Exercise for Heart Health
When it comes to exercising for heart health, there are several different types of activities that we can do.
These include aerobic exercise, strength training, and even yoga.
Aerobic exercise includes activities such as walking, jogging, running, and swimming. These activities increase our heart rate and help to strengthen our heart muscles.
Strength training includes activities such as weightlifting and resistance training. These activities help to strengthen our muscles and help to increase your overall fitness level.
Finally, yoga is an excellent form of exercise that can help to improve our heart health. Yoga helps to reduce stress, improve circulation, and increase flexibility.
The Benefits of Exercise for Heart Health
Exercise is one of the best things we can do for our heart health.
Not only does it help to strengthen our heart muscles and improve our cholesterol levels, it can also help to reduce our risk of developing high blood pressure and other heart-related conditions.
In addition to these physical benefits, exercise can also have mental and emotional benefits.
Regular physical activity can help to reduce stress and improve our overall mood.
Without doubt, exercise is one of the most important things we can do for your heart health. Regular physical activity can help to strengthen our heart muscles, lower our cholesterol levels, and reduce our risk of developing high blood pressure.
Exercise can also have mental and emotional benefits, helping to reduce stress and improve our overall wellbeing.
So, with all these benefits it makes sense to make sure we’re prioritising regular physical activity to take care of our heart health!
What are the key benefits of regular exercise?
As we’ve already covered, regular exercise is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy heart and lead a healthy lifestyle. It can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease, improve blood circulation, regulate blood pressure, and reduce stress levels.
As you now know exercise can also help improve our overall physical and mental health.
The heart’s a complex organ, composed of four chambers, two atria and two ventricles.
The coronary arteries provide oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle, and the heart pumps the blood throughout the body.
The body needs regular exercise to keep the heart functioning optimally.
Exercise helps reduce the risk of heart disease by improving blood circulation and regulating blood pressure.
Additionally, regular exercise can improve mental and emotional health, reduce stress levels, and help manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.
When it comes to exercise for heart health, the 2 Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows positive results occur when adults have at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week.
Moderate-intensity exercise includes activities such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, and playing sports.
Additionally, the CDC recommends strength training at least twice a week to improve muscle strength and flexibility.
Getting started with exercise for heart health can feel overwhleming, however there are some simple steps we can take to make it easier.
First, setting realistic goals. Starting slowly and increasing the intensity and duration of our workouts as we become more comfortable can really help.
Next, finding an activity that we enjoy, such as walking, running, swimming, or playing a sport.
Finally, finding a buddy to exercise with or join a fitness class to stay motivated.
In addition to exercise, there are other lifestyle changes we can make to improve our heart health.
Eating a balanced diet, low in saturated fats, trans fats and sugar, and high in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains is highly valuable.
Also, reducing/managing stress levels and getting enough sleep are essential for our overall health and wellbeing.
Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and it can have a positive impact on our heart health.
Regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing heart disease, improve blood circulation, regulate blood pressure, and reduce stress levels.
It can also help manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.
When it comes to getting started, setting realistic goals, finding an activity we enjoy, and identifying a buddy or joining a fitness class to stay motivated.
Along with exercise, eating a healthy diet, reducing stress levels, and getting enough sleep are all important for improving our heart health.
Which exercise is best?
Heart health is a major concern for many people today.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and it’s estimated that up to 80% of cardiovascular disease can be prevented by making lifestyle changes, including regular physical activity.
Exercise is one of the most important components of a healthy lifestyle, and there are a variety of types of exercise that can help keep the heart healthy.
But which exercise is best for heart health?
1 The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week.
This includes activities such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, and cycling.
Aerobic exercise helps to strengthen our heart muscle and improve circulation, which can help to reduce the risk of heart disease.
The strength training that we mentioned earlier is also an important component of an overall exercise plan. Strength training helps to build our muscle, which in turn helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Muscles help to keep the heart rate steady and can help to reduce blood pressure.
The AHA recommends that adults strength train at least twice a week for all major muscle groups.
I’m a big fan of Yoga!
Yoga is another highly recommended type of exercise that can be beneficial for our heart health. Yoga is a low-impact form of exercise that combines physical movement with breathing and meditation.
It can help to reduce stress and improve our cardiovascular health by increasing flexibility, strengthening the heart muscle, and improving circulation.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a type of exercise that involves alternating between intense bursts of activity and periods of rest.
HIIT can help to improve cardiovascular health by increasing our body’s ability to use oxygen more efficiently and burning more calories in a shorter period of time.
Finally, there is the option of combining different types of exercise into an overall exercise plan.
This can help to ensure that all aspects of cardiovascular health are addressed and that our body is being challenged in different ways.
Combining aerobic exercise, strength training, yoga, and HIIT can help to create an exercise plan that is well-rounded and effective for heart health.
No matter which type of exercise you choose, it’s important to remember that it’s the total amount of exercise that matters, not just one type.
It’s also important to consult with your primary health care practitioner before beginning any exercise program, as they can help to tailor a plan that’s specific to your needs.
Basically, there is no one specific exercise that’s best for heart health.
What’s important is that you find an exercise plan that works for you and that you stick with it.
With regular physical activity, you can help to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and keep your heart healthy.
Exercise for a healthy heart at home
If we didn’t know beforehand we now know for sure, that having a healthy heart is essential for leading a long and fulfilling life.
Unfortunately, the modern world has made it difficult to stay active, with more people opting for a sedentary lifestyle.
This has led to an increase in the number of people suffering from heart-related illnesses such as stroke, heart attack, and coronary artery disease.
Fortunately, there are numerous exercises we can do from the comfort of our home that can help keep our heart healthy and strong.
The first step in developing a healthy heart routine is to start with cardio exercise.
As I mentioned earlier, the American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week.
This can be done in the form of 30 minutes of exercise five days a week.
There are numerous cardio exercises we can do at home, such as walking, jogging, or running on a treadmill, jumping rope, or using an elliptical machine, rowing machine or stationary bike.
We’ve covered how strength training is also important for a healthy heart.
This type of exercise helps build muscle, which helps our heart pump blood more efficiently. Strength training also helps to reduce stress, improves posture and balance, and increases bone density.
We can do strength training exercises from the comfort of our home using free weights, resistance bands, and even exercises using our own body weight.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when exercising for a healthy heart is to stay consistent.
It is important to stay motivated, even if we’re not able to do a full workout every day.
Doing some form of exercise at least three times a week is a great start.
We can also mix up our routine to keep it interesting, such as doing yoga one day and strength training the next.
If we’re looking for something more low-impact, consider activities like swimming or water aerobics. Swimming is an excellent way to get our heart rate up without putting strain on our joints or muscles.
It’s also a great way to cool down after a workout. Water aerobics is another great option, as it combines both cardio and strength training. Stretching is also important for a healthy heart, as it helps to loosen up tight muscles, increase flexibility, and improve posture.
There are numerous stretches we can do at home, such as downward dog, cobra pose, and forward fold. Obviously we need to do these exercises within the boundaries of our own comfort zone so we don’t hurt ourselves as we get used to them.
Finally, remember nutrition!
Eating a healthy and balanced diet is essential for keeping our heart healthy. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, along with lean proteins, can help keep our heart in tip-top shape.
Exercising at home is a great way to stay active and keep our heart healthy. Just remembering to stay consistent and mix up our exercises to keep it interesting makes all the difference.
With the right diet and regular exercise, we can keep our heart strong and healthy for many years to come.
PS. If you’s like to learn more about heart health supplements please click here
Fi Jamieson-Folland D.O., I.N.H.C., is The LifeStyle Aligner. She’s an experienced practitioner since 1992 in Europe, Asia and New Zealand as a qualified Osteopath, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, speaker, educator, writer, certified raw vegan gluten-free chef, and Health Brand Ambassador.
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References:
1 The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week.
2 Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week.