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How to Exercise for a Healthy Heart

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(29 Ratings)

What could be more important than keeping your heart healthy? These guidelines follow the recommendations of the American Heart Association.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Talk to your doctor about creating an exercise program.

  2. Step 2

    Ask a friend or family member to start your program with you.

  3. Step 3

    Work out a convenient schedule, right down to the time of day, to help you develop a consistent pattern.

  4. Step 4

    Gradually build up your workout to 30 to 60 minutes, three to four times a week.

  5. Step 5

    Be sure to drink water before, during and after your workout.

  6. Step 6

    Use an exercise log to track your activities. Mark the time or distance of each workout on a calendar, and note how you feel afterward.

  7. Step 7

    Make up for missed sessions. Reschedule them for another day, or add time to your next workout.

Tips & Warnings
  • Consider learning a new sport or exercise, or improving on one that you know, when developing a workout strategy.
  • The American Heart Association recommends aerobic exercise, such as jogging, running, swimming or brisk walking, as well as aerobic sports such as soccer, basketball or singles tennis.
  • Try variety in your workout. Walk one day, swim another and bike the next.
  • Joining a group or sports team provides great motivation that will help you stick with your exercise routine.
  • Recent studies have shown that meditation may decrease the risk of heart disease, possibly because the resulting stress relief may promote the body's self-repair system to thin the fatty buildup on artery walls.
  • This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Comments  

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on 7/13/2009 Some good general info here. Just want to add some "advanced" info. Use a heart rate monitor to keep track of your heart rate. Your heart rate should between 60% to 90% max heart rate. Contact me for more info about this. I am a nutrition & fitness professional certified by NASM and educated/trained by UCDavis. Find me at http://spirfit.blogspot.com

dodly said

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on 7/10/2009 i really like yourpost its very nice information.
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on 7/5/2009 i was an asthma suffer on steroids& bronchodialators for 32 years. literaly huffed & puffed my way through life till i joined a gym. initially i had to use inhalers before getting on treadmill but gradually my lung capacity improved & i stopped it i m free from the attacks for last one year.

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on 3/15/2009 I keep a journal and excerise every day because of my bad heart.Enjoyed the article and good advice.

Quickstar said

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on 2/18/2009 great tips from the discussion here. As far as exercising for heart health.

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