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How exercise can help prevent heart disease
Caribbean Life, FEBRUARY 5-11, 2021 23
Heart Health
TIPS AND TRICKS
Everywhere you turn, it seems like someone is
preaching the importance of regular exercise.
And they have good reason to.
In addition to the physical toll a lack of exercise
takes on the body, a whopping 65 percent of all
American adults today are obese or overweight, increasing
their risk for heart disease. Meanwhile, the
heart-healthy benefi ts of exercising for just 30 minutes
a day are nearly endless.
To name a few, exercise:
Improves blood circulation
Keeps your weight under control
Helps you quit smoking
Improves cholesterol levels
Prevents and manages high blood pressure
Prevents bone loss
Boosts energy level
Helps manage stress
Helps you fall asleep faster and sleep more
soundly
Reduces coronary heart disease in women by 30-
40 percent
Reduces risk of stroke by 20 percent in moderately
active people
Delays and chronic illness and disease associated
with aging
Where do I begin?
While you may be eager to start a new exercise
program or add a new activity to your existing routine,
be sure to talk to your doctor fi rst. Taking into
account your medical history, age and other considerations,
your doctor can help determine what activities
are best for your current physical condition.
We also suggest starting a walking program,
which is the easiest way to begin exercising. It’s free,
it has the lowest dropout rate of any type of exercise
and studies show that for every hour of walking, life
expectancy may increase by two hours.
You could even grab a few girlfriends and start a
walking club to help keep each other accountable and
celebrate your health accomplishments together.
— Courtesy of American Heart Association