Why Is Exercise Such an Important Part of Keeping a Healthy Heart?
Engaging in a regular exercise program provides a myriad of health benefits for the entire body, including the heart and circulatory system. Heart health is maximized by an active lifestyle. Regular exercise has many heart-healthy benefits.
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Strengthens Heart Muscle
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Regular exercise strengthens the heart muscle and helps to increase the heart's pumping ability, both of which enable the heart to function more efficiently and with greater ease.
Improves Coronary Blood Flow
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The flow of blood through the heart (the coronary blood flow) is made more efficient with regular exercise. An active lifestyle helps to keep coronary blood vessels pliable and flexible, which in turn helps to maximize coronary blood flow.
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Reduces Blood Pressure
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Engaging in regular exercise helps to lower and regulate blood pressure, which in turn allows the heart to beat more easily and move blood through the coronary arteries with greater ease.
Reduces Cholesterol
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Cholesterol, which is a fatty substance in the blood, can build up over time and stick to the insides of the coronary arteries, where it can impede blood flow and cause heart attacks. Regular exercise helps to reduce and regulate blood cholesterol levels, which improves heart health.
Controls Blood Sugar Levels
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Elevated blood sugar levels can damage the coronary arteries and promote the formation of coronary arterial plaques. Regular exercise helps to stabilize and reduce blood sugar levels, which in turn reduces heart disease risk and promotes heart health.
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