You’ve likely heard it many times before, and it’s true: Exercise is one of the best things you can do to improve the strength and efficiency of your heart. In fact, regular exercise may help reduce your risk of heart disease by half! Exercise may increase your body’s ability to utilize oxygen, subsequently improving your circulation and your heart’s ability to pump. As a result, your heart becomes stronger and more efficiently pushes blood throughout your body with the help of your lungs.
How exercise can benefit your heart
- Regular exercise may keep your arteries clear from the buildup of plaque.
- Exercise increases your body’s production of HDL (good) cholesterol which helps remove the LDL (bad) cholesterol.
- Through exercise, your body begins to burn more calories and develop muscle, helping you lose weight and increasing your metabolic rate. Improved weight management helps keep your blood pressure, cholesterol and risk for diabetes in check—all things which can contribute to heart disease.
- Exercising regularly may also help you to reduce your stress levels and anxiety through the release of brain-pleasing neurotransmitters. Decreased stress may lower your risk for heart disease.
Check out these blog posts for tips to help you get started, maintain, and maximize an exercise routine.
- Getting started with exercise
- Find the ideal workout option for you
- Breaking down barriers to exercise
- Become more efficient in everyday activities
- Ways to mix up your workout
- Everyday ways to keep moving
- Enhance your exercise
For Health Advocate members
If you’re a Health Advocate member with access to the wellness coaching component of our Wellness Program, connect with a Wellness Coach for more great fitness tips!
