GET MOVING TO GET HEART-HEALTHY
Nobody is at the peak of their health without exercise. It helps your heart, your brain and your overall well-being.
HOW MOVING YOUR BODY CAN HELP YOUR HEART
Your heart is a muscle. So just like the rest of your body, exercise makes it stronger. Exercise can lower the risk of heart disease in healthy people. For patients with heart disease, it can lower their risk of dying.
Exercise can help by:
- Lowering your risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure
- Improving your blood sugar tolerance if you have diabetes
- Helping to control high blood pressure
- Improving your blood lipids, such as cholesterol
- Supporting your efforts to quit smoking
- Controlling your weight and body fat
Exercise and heart disease don’t have to be mutually exclusive, but it’s important to know the right kind of exercise for your specific situation.
The first thing to do before you start any exercise routine is to talk to your doctor.
Once you’ve got the go-ahead, these exercise basics can help you put together a plan that works for you.
Know that exercise and heart health doesn’t mean you have to do the same routine every day. Your body appreciates variety! You might go on a brisk walk one day in the fresh air, take in a yoga class the next day, go on a bike ride the next day and so on. But no matter what you do, be sure to stretch before and after.
Now that you know all the good things exercise can do for your heart, it’s time to get moving!