With all the research and discoveries over the last few decades, it is surely not a secret to anyone who is not a cave dweller that exercise is essential to a healthy heart. If our ancestors had been aware of that fact, perhaps they would have had longer life spans than 40 or 45 years during certain eras in history.
If you are reading this article, chances are that you need some help getting started with a program or perhaps just some facts about why this is something that everyone must do to improve quality of life and health.
The first order of business needs to be checking with your doctor before starting any kind of exercise program. That may seem rather curious since you're doing it to make your heart healthy in the first place, but it is vital to be sure you have a doctor's "blessing" to start any exercise routine. It is vital that you not go overboard in your vigor, and only your doctor can best guess your limits in that regard. As just one example, if there are pre-existing heart problems of any kind, whether or not you are aware of them, certain types of exercises will be restricted.
Why does it matter?
When an exercise program is followed concurrently with a heart-healthy diet, it helps to prevent heart disease. It matters because heart disease kills more men and women annually than any other cause of death. The number of people in the United States who have some form of cardiovascular disease is estimated to be more than 64 million.
As you become used to an exercise routine, your heart will get stronger, thus pumping more blood. That delivers more oxygen to your body. Exercise can help keep the bad kind of cholesterol under control and even help with the good cholesterol numbers. An exercise program can lower blood pressure and give you an overall feeling of success and well-being.
I've never exercised, how do I start?
Many people find that having a program and making sure they stick to it is one of the best tools they have to succeed. It is much too easy to decide to do less or skip exercise completely if it's a busy day or if there are other things on your mind.
Published by Katharina
Katharina has been a writer since high school. She has numerous publications in print and online and loves the writing life. More recently she's spent a lot of time with music publishing and songwriting. View profile
