5 Exercises for a Healthier Heart
If you want to keep your heart healthy and ward off heart disease before it sets in, there’s no denying that a healthy diet and regular exercise schedule are two of the best ways to do this. Exercise that focuses on cardiovascular activity — which is also known as aerobic exercise — has been known to decrease the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. It helps you live longer, and maintain a high quality of life during that time.
However, if you’re like many Americans, you might not be interested in breaking a sweat at the gym everyday. Furthermore, you might not even have the time to go for an hour-long jog even if you want to. So how can you make sure that you’re tending to your heart’s wellbeing?
Here are a few simple ways you can exercise more often and keep your heart pumping away:
1. Walking: This is one of the best low-impact ways to work out your heart. If you’re out of shape, start by walking for 15 minutes a day, three times a week. Slowly begin increasing this to 30 minutes a day, five times a week. This is enough exercise to keep the average American adult fairly healthy, although there’s nothing wrong with exercising more than that if your body is ready.
2. Swimming: Swimming is another low-impact activity and it may be a better option than walking for anyone dealing with joint pain. If you’ve never been a strong swimmer, you’ll want to take extra precautions before jumping in the pool, but there are many exercise classes for adults that focus on therapeutic exercises in the water.
3. Stair Climbers and Ellipticals: If you prefer working out in the comfort of your own home or inside a gym, these machines could be good options. They aren’t ideal for anyone who has hip or knee problems, because these machines put a lot of stress onto lower body joints. Still, it can be a little more fun than walking on a treadmill if you can’t get outside to exercise.
4. Cycling: This is another easy way to exercise indoors on a cycling machine, but it can easily move outside when the weather gets nice. A big benefit of bicycling is that you don’t have to put all your weight on your knees, and you can increase and decrease the strain of your workout as needed.
5. Yoga: Possibly one of the most underrated types of a heart-healthy workout! There are obviously quite a few poses that are only feasible for the young and flexible among us, but it’s not hard to find a class that specifically focuses on flexibility and building up your core muscles. Plus, it’s a great way to work in some quiet meditation. Exercising and relaxing are two of the best ways to decrease stress levels.
If you’ve found another way of getting your body in shape, we want to hear about it! Be sure to share this page or leave a comment below telling us about your favorite cardio activity and why you’re drawn to it.
