Exercises That Improve Heart Health
Exercising regularly can help to prevent heart disease. Any type of exercise is better for you than nothing, but there are some exercises that might be better than others for your heart according to Healthline.
Our bodies are made to be in motion and staying active helps support a lot of our bodies functions. When looking at the heart specifically, there are many exercises that have both direct and indirect effects that help to prevent heart disease and improve heart health.
There are many factors and variables that can lead to the development of heart disease, however, physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors.
The best exercises for heart health
Finding the best heart exercises really depends on each person’s individual health and fitness level. Everybody is different and it’s important that you start off slow with each new exercise routine just to be safe. All physical exercise, when done safely and with good form, is good for your body and heart. However, moderate and vigorous intensity cardio-respiratory (heart and lung) activities are the best.
Some moderate intensity workouts include:
-Fast walking
-Water aerobics
-Recreational bicycling
-Slow jogging
Some vigorous intensity workouts include:
-Running or sprinting
-Tennis
-Jump rope
-Basketball
-Swimming
-Hockey
All of these activities are great for heart health and help to build up muscle.
How much of this exercise you need per week
It’s recommended by the American Heart Association that adults get: 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic workouts per week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic workouts per week. You can also do a combination of both types of workouts if you would like. These are the general guidelines for most adults. However, these guidelines may change depending on your age, heart health goals, and your medical history.