A strong heart is a healthy you. Millions of people across the globe suffer from heart attacks and strokes due to unhealthy diets, and most importantly lack of exercise. While we can’t fix heart problems that are inherited through your genes, diet and exercise can be improved to promote a healthier lifestyle.
With the focus on exercise, we need to take an initiative and snap out of our sedentary lifestyles by adding regular exercise to our weekly routines. Exercise is a natural way to protect our bodies from disease and promote a happier mindset.
Your heart is one of the main organs that benefit from exercise. When you perform cardio or other exercises that get your heart rate up, you put your heart to work and help the organ become stronger and more powerful.
A strong heart will not only benefit you right now but will also protect your future self from heart attacks and strokes. Regular exercise can also lower “bad cholesterol” that can lead to blockage of arteries, causing other cardiovascular problems.
3 Exercises to Strengthen Your Heart
The good news is that you don’t need to leave your home to build a stronger heart. We have at-home exercises that will give you the exercise your heart needs and help you burn those calories wherever you feel the most comfortable.
1. Weight Training
Strength training doesn’t just stop at your arms. Your heart can be protected by the lower blood pressure levels and blood sugar levels that come with weight training exercises. While you may need to invest in a couple of dumbbells to carry out these exercises, it’s still a lot cheaper than a gym membership.
Since weight training builds muscles, these type of exercises efficiently burn more fat and increase your heart rate. Using dumbbells and other weights during exercise will greatly reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Try to incorporate weight training for more than 30 minutes, 2 – 3 times a week. Exercises should include bicep and triceps curls, back rows, and even squatting with dumbbells for an effective workout.
2. Yoga
Yoga is the magical workout that benefits your overall well-being. If you’re looking to relax, yoga can be your go-to. If you’re looking to get a high intensity work out in, yoga is also a solution.
All you need is a space for your yoga mat and an hour to reap the benefits of a good yoga workout. Because yoga engages and strengthens your core, these exercises directly impact your cardiovascular health in a positive way. Yoga poses can lower blood pressure and keep your blood sugar in check, thus enabling healthy functions in the body.
As you tone and strengthen your physique, yoga helps your mind to relax and takes away all the factors that cause stress.
Practicing yoga at home is easy. The internet has thousands of videos and clips that are easy to follow and effective in treating all types of conditions and ailments.
3. Cardio
Cardio exercises will get your heart rate up and help you sweat off excess calories. Exercises such as high knees and jumping jacks will boost your cardiovascular health and improve blood flow of oxygen in the body.
Take advantage of the pool at home and get your heart rate up by swimming a few laps. Any aerobic exercise that will increase your heart rate will play a big role in strengthening your heart and prepare you for a long and healthy life.
Make sure you consult your doctor if you feel any unusual pain or have been experiencing any problems with your heart. Your doctor will give you the best advice for treatment. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated, especially after exercise.
The content of this Website is for is for informational purposes only, is general in nature and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and does not constitute professional advice. The information on this Website should not be considered as complete and does not cover all diseases, ailments, physical conditions, or their treatment. You should consult with your physician before beginning any exercise, weight loss, or health care program and/or any of the beauty treatments.
References:
Exercise for a Healthy Heart. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/exercise-healthy-heart#1
8 Best And Worst Exercises For Your Heart. (2016, September 13). Retrieved from https://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/heart-healthy-exercises
10, 2. K. (n.d.). For a Strong Heart, Stay Active – 5 Great Cardiovascular-Health Exercises. Retrieved from http://totalnewswire.com/best-heart-health-exercises/
