Exercising and working out have a lot more benefits than just tipping the scale in the right direction and making clothes fit better. Regular exercise, especially cardio exercise, helps keep your body in its healthiest state and can ward off illness or disease. One of the most notable muscles affected by exercise is the heart.
Effect of Exercise on the Heart
The heart is a muscle, and like any other muscle, it needs regular exercise to be strong. Regular, vigorous exercise strengthens the heart's ability to pump blood and makes it larger and more efficient, according to LifeClinic.com. A larger, stronger heart means more oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood is pumped throughout the body, which vastly improves general health and raises your metabolic rate.
Benefits of Regular Exercise
Regular exercise benefits the entire cardiovascular system. In addition to strengthening the heart, it greatly reduces the risk of developing heart disease, improves circulation, allows the body to use oxygen more efficiently, reduces blood pressure, raises good cholesterol and lowers bad cholesterol, and can help control diabetes, according to the American Heart Association. Additionally, exercise helps you reduce your body fat percentage and maintain a healthy weight, which puts less strain on the heart.
Risk Due to Lack of Exercise
Lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for developing coronary artery disease, which is a condition in which cholesterol, calcium and other substances clog the arteries leading to the heart. The American Heart Association estimates that 250,000 deaths per year can be attributed to lack of regular exercise, according to LifeClinic.com, because little exercise can lead to obesity, high blood pressure and high levels of bad cholesterol.
Types of Exercise
Aerobic exercise, or "cardio," is one of the best defenses against heart disease. The AHA recommends that people do moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity for a minimum of 30 minutes most days of the week. Some recommended aerobic exercises are hiking, stair climbing, running, bicycling, swimming and brisk walking. For people who can't do this level of exercise, daily moderate-intensity activity such as walking, gardening, housework or dancing can have health benefits, according to the AHA.
Concerns
Most relatively healthy people should be able to begin an exercise routine without any problem, but people who have a known heart condition, are severely overweight or have some other health concerns should talk with their doctor first. The AHA also recommends you see a doctor if you experience any pain or pressure in the left or mid chest, left arm, neck or shoulder when exercising; if you have ever lost consciousness or fallen due to dizziness when exercising; if you get short of breath after mild activity; if you're on blood pressure medicine; or if you're middle-age or older and haven't been active in a while.
