With heart disease one of Australia’s leading causes of death, RedFeb is a month dedicated to raising awareness for heart health.
Photo by Jean-Louis Paulin on Unsplash
Here at Precision Physio, we know the importance of exercise in promoting heart health, and we want to share with you the crucial role exercise can play in keeping your heart healthy.
- Strengthens the Heart Muscle: Regular exercise, particularly walking, jogging, swimming and cycling, can make your heart stronger as it works harder to pump blood and oxygen to your muscles, improving how your heart works.
- Improves Circulation: Exercise stimulates circulation of blood throughout the body including the heart itself. This improves the oxygen and nutrients delivered to all parts of the body including the heart, and helps removal of waste.
- Lowers Blood Pressure: Regular physical activity helps to lower blood pressure and reduce pressure on artery walls, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.
- Lowers Cholesterol Levels: Exercise can raise levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, known as the good cholesterol, which helps remove low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, known as the bad cholesterol, from the bloodstream. This helps to prevent plaque build up in the arteries, reducing risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Weight Management Control: The main known benefit of exercise is to maintain a healthy weight or achieve weight loss, combined with a balanced diet. Being overweight or obese is another significant factor for heart disease, and exercise can help reduce this risk through weight management.
- Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Exercise has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, which are also risk factors for heart disease, Exercise stimulates the release of endorphins which are natural mood lifters, promoting relaxation and helping to lower levels of stress. Overall, exercise is known to improve overall well-being.
In summary, these are just a few of the reasons why exercise is important for cardiovascular health. Prioritising your heart health is essential for longevity, overall well-being and in the prevention of serious cardiovascular conditions. It’s important to incorporate exercise into your daily routine so you can enjoy a happier and heart-healthy lifestyle.
If you or a loved one need help in adjusting your lifestyle to incorporate exercise into your routine, get in touch with our team. Our Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists at Precision Physio can work with you to tailor an exercise program suited to your health and your needs.
- Precision Physio Concord: 02 9736 3950
- Precision Physio St Marys: 02 9623 2220
- Precision Physio Mt Druitt: 02 9188 2552
