Why exercise?

Exercise is good for your heart!

Your heart is a muscle. Like any other muscle, it needs to stay active. You should ask your doctor what exercise program is right for you. For most people, moderate exercise for 20 minutes three times a week helps to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Regular exercise helps to raise the level of "good" cholesterol (called HDL cholesterol). HDL helps remove "bad cholesterol" (LDL cholesterol) from your arteries. A high level of LDL in the blood can cause fatty buildup in your arteries, blocking the flow of blood and possibly leading to a heart attack.

Exercise also can help lower your blood pressure. If your blood pressure is too high, your risk of heart disease, and possible heart attack or stroke, is much greater than if you keep your blood pressure under control. Exercise can help you do this.

Exercise can also help you to lose weight. Being overweight can greatly increase your risk of heart disease, as well, by raising your blood pressure and your cholesterol level. Losing weight through a sensible program of exercise and diet can go a long way to keeping your heart as healthy as possible.

Exercise has other health benefits, too

Exercise also strengthens the lungs, tones the muscles and keeps the joints in good condition. And if you have diabetes, exercise is an important part of achieving good diabetes control.

Exercise helps you cope with stress

Almost everyone at one time or another experiences stress. The effects of stress are the result of the hormone epinephrine ("adrenaline"), which is released into the blood, speeding up the heart and increasing the blood pressure. The release of epinephrine can be triggered by anything we are worried about or when any excess demands are made on us. Being subjected to stress on an occasional basis is not usually harmful. Continual stress, however, will eventually have a detrimental effect on your health. Whether you suffer because of stress depends on your reaction to it. Exercise is an excellent way of coping with stress, and incorporating a program of regular exercise into your daily routine can help you deal with stress more effectively. Here are some other good tips on how to cope with stress:

·         Plan your day.

·         Set realistic deadlines for your work.

·         Adapt to the situation.

·         Try not to "fight" the stress.

·         Balance your diet.

·         Put time aside each day to relax.

·         Take time off -- a change of routine can help you to relax.

Choosing activities that are just right for you

Many types of physical activity are fun, but only regular, brisk exercise will improve heart health. This is called "aerobic" exercise and includes jogging, swimming, jumping rope, and cross-country skiing. Walking, biking, and dancing can also strengthen your heart, if you do them fast enough and long enough. Choose an activity or groups of activities that you think you will enjoy and that will fit most easily into your daily routine.

It is important to discuss your exercise program with your doctor before you begin. This is especially important if you have heart disease or have had a heart attack, if you are older than age 50 and are not used to energetic activity, or if you have a family history of developing heart disease at a young age. Your doctor can help tailor your exercise program to be the best "fit" for you.

Ready! Set! Go!

Now that you have decided on a physical activity or two that you think you might enjoy, and you have discussed it with your doctor, you are ready to begin. You will achieve the most "gain" with the least "pain" if you follow this simple advice:

Go slow!
Before each exercise session, devote a 5 minute period to stretching and slow exercise to give your body a chance to "warm up." At the end of your workout, take another five minutes to "cool down" with a slower, less energetic exercise pace.

Listen to your body.
A certain amount of stiffness is normal at first. But if you hurt a joint or pull a muscle or tendon, stop exercising for several days to avoid more serious injury. Most minor muscle and joint problems can be relieved by rest and over-the-counter painkillers. (Note: First talk with your doctor about taking over-the-counter painkillers.)

Pay attention to warning signals.
Exercise can strengthen your heart, but some types of activity may actually worsen existing heart problems. Warning signals include sudden dizziness, cold sweat, paleness, fainting, or pain or pressure in your upper body just after exercising. If you notice any of these signs, stop exercising and call your doctor immediately.

Staying with the program

Many people find that they are very good about exercising at first, but that after a while they find reasons to stop. Here are some good tips that will make it easier for you to stay with your exercise program:

Make exercise part of your daily routine. Try to walk as often as possible instead of driving or using public transportation. Walking is a great form of exercise and can be done safely by almost everyone. Use the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator. Vacuuming, lawn mowing, gardening, and other household chores also increase your activity level.

Choose an activity or activities that you enjoy. If jogging does not appeal to you, how about dancing, or gardening?

Do a variety of exercise activities instead of just one. Variety will help you stick with it -- perhaps taking a long walk once or twice a week and playing tennis with a friend on weekends.

A final word ...

Unless your doctor says you should stop exercising for health reasons, stay with your exercise program. If you feel like giving up because you think you are not going as fast or as far as you "should," set smaller, short-term goals for yourself, as well as grander ones. If you find yourself becoming bored, try exercising with a friend. Or switch to another activity.