Exercise Plays An Important Role
Regular Physical activity (Exercise) improves your overall
cardiovascular health! In fact, according to the American Heart
Association, physically active patients reduce their risk of having a
heart attack by 50% in comparison to sedentary patients. Why does
this occur? Basically, exercise drastically reduces the risk of
cardiovascular disease because it positively affects each one of the
risk factors for heart disease. Talk to your doctor about setting
an appropriate exercise routine.
1. Blood Pressure
Walking, jogging or biking strengthens the heart and causes the veins
and arteries to grow larger and more supple. As a result oxygen uptake
improves, the heart demands less oxygen for a given level of activity,
and blood pressure decreases. This means that exercise prevents
or delays the development of high blood pressure and can reduce blood
pressure in people with hypertension.
2. Cholesterol
Aerobic exercise also helps improve your cholesterol by increasing HDL
(The Good Cholesterol), decreasing LDL (The Bad Cholesterol).
Cholesterol is an energy-rich fat, or lipid, that must "attach" to
protein particles in order to circulate throughout the bloodstream and
nourish tissues. This combined cholesterol-protein unit is known as a
lipoprotein, and abnormal levels of these lipoproteins have been linked
to the progression of plaque build-up in the arteries which can lead to
heart attack & stroke.
3. Diabetes
Exercise helps control blood glucose levels for persons with diabetes.
When you exercise, you burn up the glucose in your blood and your blood
glucose concentrations drop.
4.) Blood Circulation
Exercise improves blood circulation throughout the body. The heart,
lungs, and other organs and muscles work together more
effectively. Improves your body's ability to use oxygen and
provide the energy needed for movement.
5.) Weight Loss
Helps control weight.
Click here to learn what your Body Mass Index (BMI) is and how it is used to determine your cardiovascular health.