7 Heart-Healthy Benefits of Exercise

Physical activity is one way to give your heart the best gift. Johns Hopkins research suggests that regular exercise and a Mediterranean-style lifestyle, along with maintaining a healthy weight and refraining from smoking, are great ways to protect against vascular disease.


These simple steps are so powerful, you might be skeptical. These four lifestyle factors significantly reduced death rates from all causes over the eight-year span that included 6,200 subjects.


Kerry Stewart Ed.D., Johns Hopkins specialist, states that exercise can be as powerful and effective as medications for certain heart conditions.


The benefits of exercise for your heart can make it a strong motivator to get moving. Here are the facts.


Exercise lowers blood pressure.

Exercise can be used as a beta-blocker medication. It slows down the heart rate, lowers blood pressure (at rest, and when you exercise). High blood pressure is an important risk factor for heart disease.


To control your weight, exercise is key.

Stewart says that physical activity, when taken with a sensible diet, can help you lose weight. Being overweight puts stress upon the heart and increases your chances of suffering from stroke or heart disease.

Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues Treat Mens Issues


Exercise helps strengthen muscles.

Best for heart health is a mix of aerobic exercises (which depending on your fitness level can include running, swimming, or other vigorous heart pumping exercise) as well as strength training (weight lifting and resistance training). These exercises increase oxygen supply to the muscles. This makes it less likely that the heart, which is a muscular organ of its own, must work harder in order to pump blood to the muscles.


Smoking cessation can be achieved through exercise

Smokers tend to quit smoking as they get healthier. People who are healthy are more likely to quit smoking. It is one of the leading risk factors for developing heart disease.


Exercise can help stop diabetes from developing.

Johns Hopkins research showed that aerobic exercise combined with strength training can reduce diabetes risk by over half. It allows the muscles and cells to more efficiently process glycogen, a fuel source for energy. If this is not done, it can lead to diabetes.


Exercise lowers stress.

Stress hormones can place additional strain on your heart. It doesn't matter if you are aerobic (like running), resistance oriented (like weight-training), or flexibility-focused (like Yoga)--exercise can help you relax and reduce stress.


Exercise reduces inflammation

As the body adapts and exercises on many bodily systems, chronic inflammation can be reduced through regular exercise. This is important for reducing the negative effects of many of these diseases.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Best Protein Sources

What are the wellness advantages of exercise?

7 Cardiovascular Health Benefits from Exercise