Three Exercises That Can Strengthen Your Heart
If you've just been to the cardiologist and he or she has told you that your heart health could be better, it's time to get serious about making this investment in your health. The consumption of a healthy diet is integral to heart health, but you can also use exercise to strengthen your heart. It's important to remember that your heart is a muscle — this means that, like other muscles, it can become stronger and healthier through frequent exercise. A key to strengthening your heart through exercise is to move at a brisk tempo; when you're working harder, so too is your heart — and this will enhance its strength to increase the likelihood of your cardiologist giving your good news during your next appointment. Here are three heart-strengthening exercises.
Swimming
Swimming is a valuable exercise for a number of reasons, including its ability to help you burn calories at a heightened rate without experiencing any impact to your joints. This exercise is also ideal for improving the strength of your heart. Keep in mind that while splashing around in the shallow end of the pool might be fun, it's not the best use of your time. Consistently swimming laps will challenge your body and help you strengthen your heart.
Jogging
If your health is poor, you might not be able to jog just yet. In this case, walking at a heightened tempo is an effective way to strengthen your heart and improve your overall health. If you're up for jogging, this activity is another valuable way to boost your heart health. If you find that jogging for long periods is a challenge, use intervals to keep moving. For example, jog for three minutes, and then lower your pace to brisk walk. Walk as long as you need, and then aim to jog again for another three minutes, for example.
Dancing
People often view dancing as a fun activity, but the reality is that it is also a valuable heart-strengthening exercise. The key to using dancing for this method is to move at a quick tempo. To keep moving quickly, you may wish to play some fast music. Whether you visit a dance club on the weekend, take dance lessons, or simply put on some music in your living room and move around, you'll be doing your heart health a favor — and this may bring good news during your next heart checkup.