We all know that exercise is the best way to help your heart work more efficiently and function normally. With an ill-functioning heart, people run the risk of serious cardiovascular diseases such as a heart attack or stroke.
The heart is a muscle like any other muscle in the body, and exercise helps it perform in a more efficient manner, so it’s important to give the same exercise to our heart as other parts of our bodies!
So, what actually happens to our heart when we exercise? As you begin exercising regularly, your heart will contract faster and circulation will increase. This gets oxygenated blood to your muscles quicker, therefore, the increase in oxygen delivery increases tenfold. Your heart is doing exactly what it was made to do!
Exercise has long-term cardiovascular benefits such as raising HDL (good) cholesterol and lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol. It can also help you to sustain a healthy weight as it helps you to burn calories and raise your heart rate and lower blood pressure in individuals who may struggle with elevated blood pressure.
You may wonder how much exercise you need to reap these benefits?
Walking, jogging, swimming, etc. are just some of the amazing aerobic exercises that have great effects on the body. According to the CDC, 30 minutes of these exercises 5 days a week can be a huge help not just on the body, but specifically the cardiovascular system. This doesn’t need to be extensive or intense exercise either; it can be a moderate exercise five days a week or more intense for 3 days a week.
Either way, any movement is good for you!
There are some exercises that are very specific to heart health and improvement. These exercises include:
- Walking
- Jogging
- Swimming
- Weight Training
- Yoga
- Interval Training
- Cycling
Movements and activity like these may be difficult for you at first if don’t work out regularly.
At the beginning, take it slow, ease yourself into it, and you’ll find yourself feeling stronger and ready to take on heavier, more intensive workouts in no time!
If you don’t exercise, you’re more than twice as likely to get heart disease than someone who does exercise so having a regular exercise routine will not only help your body both inside and out.
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