What Does Your Heart Rate Say About Your Health?
Heart disease is an extremely common illness affecting millions of people around the world. According to the American Heart Association, it’s the leading cause of death in the United States, and affects 1 person every 43 seconds. Despite the fact that this condition is so widespread, however, there is hope: many of the factors contributing to heart disease are lifestyle-related. This means that if you’re affected by this condition, there are plenty of ways you can manage your disease by making healthier lifestyle choices.
Perhaps one of the most important things you can do to help manage your disease is to get regular exercise. At Tri-City Cardiology, our board-certified physicians encourage all our patients to stay active. We offer patient education, diagnostic testing, and other services to support safe and effective exercise plans for anyone who walks through our doors.
5 Ways That Exercise Helps People Living With Heart Disease
Exercise is important for virtually everyone, no matter their age or health status. For people living with heart disease, however, staying active can make a significant impact on disease management, quality of life, and longevity. Here’s how:
1. Aerobic exercise increases the strength of your heart and can reduce cardiac symptoms.
Your heart is a muscle, and like any muscle it needs to be safely challenged in order to grow stronger. A stronger heart will be more effective at pumping blood throughout your body. People who exercise regularly are also less likely to experience chest pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
2. Exercise can help you maintain an ideal body weight.
Being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for developing heart disease. Regular exercise helps you lose body fat, which can reduce excess strain on your heart and help you control your symptoms.
3. Being active can help you recover from cardiovascular procedures more quickly.
People who are active tend to have better outcomes following cardiovascular procedures compared to people who are sedentary.
4. Exercise can help you manage other underlying health conditions.
Many people with heart disease also have other health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. All of these conditions have been shown to improve with exercise, which can further increase your health, function, and lifespan overall.
5. Exercising regularly improves your mood and self-esteem.
Having a chronic health condition is stressful. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress, boost your mood, and increase your sense of self-worth and accomplishment.
You should always consult with your Arizona cardiologist or primary care doctor before beginning a new exercise program–especially if you have cardiovascular disease. He or she can help you figure out the safest way for you to introduce more physical activity into your life, including how intensely and how frequently you should exercise.
To learn more about how to maintain a healthy active lifestyle while living with a heart-related condition, call the team of Tri-City Cardiology at 480-835-6100.
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