Listly by Ivan Dimitrijevic
Let's take a look at a couple of good fitness practices to help you keep your cardiovascular system in good shape.
Our heart is basically a pump made out of cardiac muscle, and just like any other muscle, exercise makes it stronger, more resilient, and healthier. Another important thing to remember is that it’s never too late to start working out, so don’t look for excuses since it only takes up an hour or two of your time.
You do not need to start with a serious program right away, but taking 30-40 minute walks on a daily basis can impact your health in a positive way and gradually prepare you for a more serious workout. The most important benefits of exercise are burned calories, lower blood pressure, reducing bad cholesterol (LDL), and boosting good cholesterol (HDL).
Additionally, you will look better, you won’t be obese, you will feel better in general, and these things are also good for your overall mental and physical health. However, you need to be careful with your workout as well; in addition to the possibility of getting hurt, there are some exercises that are bad for your heart. So, we will go over them, and of course, we are going to see which workouts are good for your heart.
Truth be told, if you over do it, or if you overburden yourself, it can reflect poorly on your heart.
For example, running is a good exercise, but if you put on weights, and if you choose to run on the pavement, it causes unnecessary strains, and the shock that your bones receive does not benefit them at all. Also, overreaching, and trying to do an exercise you are not adequately prepared for is a bad idea in general.
Running or jogging, as well as cycling are all quality cardio exercises. You need to move fast enough to raise your heart rate, but also remember not to overdo it. You can ascertain what your limitations are on your own.
As you go. you will breathe harder, but if it is so exhausting that you can’t exercise and talk to someone at the same time. it means that you are going too far. In the event that you have problems with your joints, and can’t do this type of cardio, you can take up swimming or hiking, since you’ll be able to enjoy the same benefits.
If you are working out, you need to stretch to mitigate the chance of getting hurt; this is also good for circulation, and hence, it benefits your heart. So, remember to stretch both before and after your workout session.
Also, if you are sitting behind a desk for a long time, ensure that you go and stretch for a minute after each hour. Furthermore, yoga can calm you down, which lowers your blood pressure, and it can strengthen your core, which will make other workouts more efficient.
You can use your own body weight, or you weights at the gym. The point is to increase your heart rate during repetition, and to take a good short rest in between sessions. Again, remember not to overburden yourself, because any type of weight your muscles can barely handle puts strain on your heart.
You can have a training session 2-3 times a week, but the true enemy of your heart is sitting. Your training can improve your health, your looks, but it cannot undo the damage you receive from sitting all day.
Sitting is the new smoking, since it significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, chest pain, and heart attack. So, try to be more active during your working day. Hydrate more and drink a glass of water every 30 min, as this will cause you to go to the bathroom more often - you can use that time to stretch a bit as well. Try to stand up more or simply stand as you work, but remember that staying in the same position for a prolonged period is also bad.
To sum up, physical activity is important, and if you really want to lead a healthier life, it is more important to find a way to stay more active, and then find a perfect diet and workout regime.