Regina Krupczak, an exercise physiologist, in the cardiology department at Baystate Noble Hospital. (BAYSTATE NOBLE PHOTO
The importance of exercise and heart health
By Regina Krupczak M.S. RCEP
Baystate Noble Hospital
WESTFIELD – It is known that regular planned exercise is beneficial for overall health and wellness. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend 30 minutes of planned exercise 5 days a week, comprising of aerobic and resistance exercises. Regular exercise is even more important for individuals with cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular diseases include high blood pressure, heart attack, atherosclerosis, and heart failure among other diagnoses. Cardiovascular diseases cause a reduction in endurance and overall body strength leading to a decrease in activity level and the ability to perform activities of daily living. Regular exercise improves cardiovascular health by strengthening the heart and blood vessels. Long term regular exercise improves blood pressure and resting heart rate, increases endurance and overall body strength, and reduces risk factors such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and being overweight.
Choose activities that you can perform on a regular basis. Exercises should include both aerobic (walking, cycling, hiking, swimming, dancing, etc.) and resistance (body weight, resistance bands, free dumb bells, yoga etc.) training. When starting an exercise routine, start at a low intensity around 5-10 minutes at one time leading to 30-60 minutes in one day. Include family and friends into your exercise routine for added motivation. Remember that exercise should be fun and enjoyable!
