Exercise plays a crucial role on your heart’s overall health as it strengthens it and helps make it pump more for better blood circulation. Heart problems can occur regardless of how young or old you are with seniors being more at risk of suffering from heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
There are many types of workout that you can do to help keep your heart functioning at 100%. Here are some that you should take note of.
Start Walking. One of the most inexpensive ways to keep your heart healthy is walking. Walking can be done any time of the day from going around your house, to the store nearby, or even while you are in your office. Walking helps your heart pump better while at the same time build your lungs, bones, and muscles.
Lane Swimming. Leisure swimming is all well and good but if you really want to get the most out of your workout, lane swimming is worth considering. Doing 8 to 12 laps in the pool doing different strokes can challenge your muscles without putting too much pressure on your joints. Another plus to swimming is that you are building up your lungs and heart which is exactly what you need at this point. If you want to up the challenge, close your fists as you swim so you will be using up more muscles to paddle.
Use the Stairs. You might think that you can’t inject exercise in your busy schedule but you might be surprised to find that something simple as using the stairs in your office instead of the elevator can actually do your heart a world of good. Climbing stairs can cause your heart to pump more to help supply your body with oxygen. This in turn can make your heart stronger while at the same time give your metabolism a boost. So the next time you head to your office, skip the elevator and start using the stairs going up and down.
Weight Training. Here’s another heart-friendly workout that you can do not only to keep your heart in good condition but also to develop your bones and muscles too. Bodyweight training is the basic form for this workout where you can do squats, lunges, planks, and crunches. If you want to challenge your muscles further, using free weights like dumbbells and barbells can be considered.
Go for a Bike Ride. People are so used to driving their cars that they forget the fun and excitement that comes with riding a bike. The pumping action that you are doing with your legs to propel yourself forward can actually develop your leg muscles while at the same time keeps your heart beating at a faster rate to ensure that enough oxygen is being delivered throughout your body. The best part is that you can get to explore new routes on your bike and even get to bond with fellow cyclists too which is definitely an upside to this kind of workout.
