Can the risk of Heart Attacks be minimized by exercise?

It‰’s time to change from your sedentary lifestyle to exercise and activity filled life.
Bhaskar is a successful professional. He earned high recognition from his employers by hard work and successful project completion. He worked in shifts and odd hours, and for that matter he spent most of his time in office. Lately, for two weeks Bhaskar was experiencing mild chest pain, which was taken for an outcome of work stress. By taking a pain killer things haven’t improved.

On one day, while returning from office in the cab, he experienced severe chest pain. The helpful cab driver took Bhaskar to the nearest hospital. After doctor’s observation and diagnosis it was found that Bharkar had a heart attack. Bhaskar who was in his early 30s wondered how he could suffer from a heart attack, which for him and many is a middle age or oldsters’ ailment.

When there is a blockage in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, the flow of blood to heart muscles stops, and the resultant is a heart attack. In this condition, the heart muscles that are depleted of oxygenated blood die gradually. Significantly, the symptoms of heart attack may not be evident for hours, days and weeks, before reaching a life-threatening condition.

The risk of heart attack in young people is on the rise. This is primarily due to smoking, taking unhealthy diet, sedentary life style and having a family history of heart disease. There are many youngsters like Bhaskar who are workaholic with little or no concern for work-life balance. It should be understood that, the right diet, proper exercise and enough sleep help to keep the body to remain healthy.

How does exercise ensure a healthy heart?

The heart is made up of muscle. It grows strong when you have an active life. A simple exercise like brisk walking for 30 minutes every day helps to achieve a healthy heart. As you move faster during brisk walking, running and jogging your heart rate rises and keeps the heart muscles and arteries active. Regular exercise has a number of benefits. It burns calories, lowers blood pressure, reduces bad cholesterol and boosts good cholesterol.

How often and how long should you exercise?

Exercise is very important for your body, as it helps to control blood pressure, cholesterol and weight. A planned exercise regime helps to boost your energy levels and keeps you refreshed all day long. An ideal duration of exercise is 20 to 30 minutes, and done three to four times a week. However, having a regime of daily exercise can be more beneficial and helps you to stay fit for long.

What type of exercise should you do?

You can start from simple exercises and move to rigorous ones. Walking, swimming, cycling, skating, dancing and playing outdoor games could be considered as simple and easy exercises. You may also consider going to the gym and having a guided cardio workout which is greatly efficient exercise regime. Joining a recreational sports club or group for hiking or dance classes is also helpful, as it meets not only your physical health needs but also meets your social bonding needs. You should choose an exercise regime which is suitable and convenient for you; suitable for your personality and physique, and convenient in accordance with your work-life balance.

What should be included in every workout?

Each exercise session should include three things, such as warm-up, conditioning and cool-down. During warm-up, you should make your body ready for exercise. Conditioning refers to the main part of the workout. During cool-down, the intensity of the exercise is gradually reduced.

How to sustain the exercise regime?

After sometime you may lose interest in doing exercise. This is primarily due to repeating the same exercise over and over again. By following a few tips, you can sustain interest in exercise and do it daily. Don’t do the same exercise and try to shift from walking to swimming to gym workouts. Listen to music while you are exercising. Start a group of like-minded people as doing exercise in groups is greatly exciting. Choosing the right exercise regime as per your needs is important.