“Get that heart rate up!” is the shout of every trainer, gym buff, and YouTube exercise master on cardio day. But why is it important to increase your heart rate when working out?
Well, when you get your blood pumping, it’s good for your whole body. Just a little bit of cardiovascular exercise can give you immense health benefits, like lowering your risk of heart disease and reducing stress.
Getting in good cardio means your heart rate should be slightly elevated, and you should be breathing heavier than you would when you’re sitting still. These actions help your heart pump your blood through your system at a faster rate, adding more oxygen to your body and helping you stay healthy.
Five Benefits of Cardiovascular Exercise
1: Stronger Heart
Regular exercise will help you decrease your resting heart rate, lower your blood pressure, and prevent your heart from working overtime. The increase in blood flow that comes from regular cardiovascular exercise also improves your cholesterol and blood fat levels, lowering your risk of arterial plaque buildup and heart attacks.
2: Better Mental Health
When you’re not used to exercise, starting a cardio routine can seem daunting—especially if you’re feeling depressed, anxious, or exhausted. However, studies have found that adding exercise into your daily routine can help prevent the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
3: Better Brain Function
Increasing the blood flow to your brain reduces your risk of strokes. Cardiovascular exercise is good for brain health, and it may also reduce the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and general cognitive decline.
4: Stronger Joints
Small bouts of consistent cardiovascular exercise will help keep your joints strong. For those with arthritis, movement helps to preserve your range of motion and helps reduce pain by increasing blood flow to the joints.
5: Healthier Lungs
Regular cardiovascular exercise is also good for your lungs. As you improve and build endurance, your body learns how to better regulate your breathing, which can help prevent shortness of breath and chronic lung problems.
Best Cardio Exercises for Texas in the Summer
Here in Conroe, like most cities in Texas, it can get extremely hot in the summer months. To prevent heat stroke and keep your heart healthy, it’s best to work out indoors. Here are our favorite ways to get a little cardiovascular exercise in the summertime.
Going Swimming
It is not just swimming laps that can get your heart pumping. Pool games, doing silly jumps off the side, and teaching your kids how to swim can all help you get your cardio in.
Doing Household Chores
Yes. Chores, you can check two list items with one action! This writer is a big fan of the chore race, where you see how quickly you can collect all the dirty dishes and laundry in the house, it works best if you have messy children. Other chores that can raise your heart rate are deep cleaning the bathroom, or floors. When the weather is manageable, gardening and mowing the law also count.
Streaming a Video
Many of the paid streaming services have exercise videos as does places like YouTube. These are great because you can try new types of exercise from the comfort of your living room.
Dancing
Put on your favorite tunes and jump around or practice your best moves. Dancing is a great way to help kids regulate their moods and get a little exercise, too.
Walking Around a Museum or Mall
Walking is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise, and there are plenty of temperature-controlled environments where you can spend several hours walking around. Whether you visit a museum, a mall, or just get lost in Costco, wandering around in the air conditioning will be good for your heart.
Keep Your Heart Healthy, and Know the Signs of Heart Attacks
Cardiovascular exercise is great for your heart, but it’s still important to be able to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack in yourself and in others. In women, watch out for chest pain, upper back pressure, stomach pain, and unusual fatigue. In men, watch out for: chest pain, arm, and shoulder pain, cold sweating, and lightheadedness.
If you notice any signs of a heart attack, you need to seek care right away. Going to the nearest Total Point emergency room for treatment could save your life. Our ER facilities in Burleson, Texas and throughout the Houston area are equipped to handle any medical emergency. We’re here for you, 24/7.
Images used under creative commons licence – commercial use (7/16/24). Photo by Ali Hajiluyi on Unsplash.
