Heart Health
Everyone knows that working out is good for your body. However, do you really understand the correlation between aerobics and heart health? Thankfully many people are aware that doing aerobics is one of the best ways for them to feel and be healthy. I know there are experts who say that aerobics is overrated and or dangerous and I say they’re welcome to their opinion. Let’s also dispel the notion that aerobics means hours upon hours a day of high intensity, joint jarring activity. A brisk walk several times is great. Keep in mind that the heart is a muscle and it should be worked (albeit it gently) just like the rest of your muscles.
There are simply more benefits to aerobics than you can talk about in one post. While it’s possible to over train, you can’t be too healthy. Training your heart and lungs to work more efficiently is one of the cornerstones of fitness, and cardiorespiratory endurance is one of the most important components of fitness.
When it comes to the relationship between aerobics and heart health the basic point is that by doing aerobics, your heart and lungs are working faster than they are when you are resting. The more that you do, the more your heart has to do for you. By making aerobics part of your routine, you are requiring your heart to work at a higher rate of intensity each day, and this is what helps to makes it stronger.
The better more efficient your heart is, the better your endurance with whatever activity you choose. Like anything, when it comes to aerobics and heart health you are going to have to work your way up. If you’ve been inactive for a while don’t make great demands on your heart right away. 3-5 times a week for 15-20 minutes is a good place to start. Stay in tune with your body and you’ll know when it’s time to increase your pace and your time working out. Also, please talk to your doctor to make sure there aren’t any underlying healthy problems that would keep you from being active. If you’re in doubt about how to start a safe and effective routine, there are tons of us fitness professionals out there willing to help.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I have always kept myself fit and healthy - actively practised martial arts for 30 years, 3 nights a week with sessions in the gym and the occassional bit of running (Half mrathon time 89mins 33sec — YAY! <–boast ..).
Fitness was something I took for granted.
In May 2008 a long time niggling hip pain became chronic - long story made short is that on the 7th October 2008 I had a hip replacement operation.
Recovery was fairly quick as I was relatively young (50) and fit but as I was now effectively “grounded” I put on weight and lost a lot of that fitness.
I was now in the position, having always been fit, that my doctor was having concerns about my overall health.
I was looking to get back to high impact training but was eventually convinced to try gentler excercise - walking, cycling, swimming and the likes.
I was genuinely surprised how quickly I regained fitness levels - and how easy the routine was.
Now, combined with a sensble diet, I find myself after only 4 months almost back to pre-op levels.
What I’m trying to get over is that just because it sems easy, as long as you get the just a little out of breath then your excercising - it doesn’t have to be tough!
Cheers, John