Cardiovascular Fitness Training for Heart Health

Cardiovascular Fitness Training for Heart Health

February is Heart Month. Unfortunately, heart disease and stroke are two of the three leading causes of death in Canada. In Canada, someone dies from heart disease or stroke every seven minutes. 90% of Canadians have at least one risk factor that makes heart disease or stroke more likely. Thankfully though, there are things that you can do to reduce these risks. Ensuring that you get regular exercise – including cardiovascular fitness training – is one of these things. It can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Regular exercise that includes cardiovascular fitness training can help prevent and control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type-2 diabetes and a number of other issues and illnesses. It can also strengthen your heart and cardiovascular system, improve your circulation, help your body use oxygen better and provide a number of other benefits.

Cardiovascular Fitness Training & Your Heart

Cardiovascular fitness training strengthens your heart and lungs and improves the body’s ability to use oxygen. It also helps decrease your resting heart rate and blood pressure over time. In short, regular cardiovascular fitness training can decrease your likelihood of suffering from a heart attack, stroke or heart disease.

So how much exercise do you need?

In general, you should aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise each day at least three or four times a week. You should try to include cardiovascular fitness training every time you exercise. If you’re just starting out, take it slow to avoid hurting yourself or putting your body under excess stress. Start with just ten minutes a day and work up to 30 over time.

Remember, cardiovascular fitness training doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or difficult. You can start by making a few changes in your everyday life. Walk to the store instead of driving. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Go for a walk on your lunch hour. These simple changes can get you started on the path to better health.

Other cardiovascular fitness training exercises that you can do are jogging, biking, swimming and a wide variety of other exercises that are both simple and fun. You don’t need to be a marathon runner or a hardcore gym rat in order to get in shape and improve your heart health. Almost any additional physical activity is good for your heart.

Regular cardiovascular fitness training is an excellent way to get in shape, improve your heart health and feel good about yourself!