February is a special month for Americans, as it is designated American Heart Month. With heart disease being a leading cause of death in the United States, American Heart Month aims to raise awareness about the disease and promote heart-healthy habits. While there are several actions one can take to improve heart health, we’re going to focus on the importance of fitness.
Regular physical activity can improve the overall health of your heart, reducing the risk of heart disease and improving cardiovascular function. Here’s how:
- Lowers Blood Pressure: Regular exercise can help lower blood pressure, reducing the strain on your heart and improving overall heart health.
- Increases Cardiovascular Endurance: Physical activity strengthens the heart and increases cardiovascular endurance, allowing it to pump more blood with each beat.
- Reduces Stress: Exercise has been shown to reduce stress, which can have a negative impact on heart health. By reducing stress, you can improve heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Helps Maintain a Healthy Weight: Physical activity helps to maintain a healthy weight, which is important for heart health. Being overweight and obese are risks factor for heart disease, and exercise can help to prevent these conditions.
- Improves Cholesterol Levels: Regular exercise can help to improve cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
So where do you start?
Incorporating regular physical activity, such as walking, into your daily routine is a great place to begin. Other aerobic exercises like jogging, cycling, swimming, or any other rhythmic aerobic activity done for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week can also improve heart health. Resistance exercises such as weightlifting and yoga can also improve heart health by strengthening muscles and bones and improving balance.
American Heart Month is a vital reminder of the importance of taking care of our hearts. Regular physical activity can improve cardiovascular function, lower blood pressure, reduce stress, help maintain a healthy weight, and improve cholesterol levels. By incorporating fitness into your lifestyle, you can improve your heart health and enjoy a longer, healthier life.
If you or your loved ones are interested in improving heart health, give us a call at (317) 218-3928.
Please note: It’s recommended to consult with a doctor before starting any new physical activity program.
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Tags: exercise, personal training, health, healthy, fitness, heart health, American heart month, improve cholesterol, improve cardiovascular endurance, reduce stress, healthy weight, lower blood pressure