What if there was one medicine so powerful that it could positively impact the major modifiable risk factors of heart disease, which include: high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and physical inactivity?
There is — exercise!
See sidebar for information on UNMC’s latest fitness initiative.
Regular exercise has many benefits for the heart including: strengthening the heart and cardiovascular system; improving circulation to help the body use oxygen better; alleviating heart failure symptoms; increasing energy levels; increasing endurance; lowering blood pressure; managing weight; reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol; increasing HDL (good) cholesterol; and increasing insulin sensitivity.
Cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise increases your heart rate and includes activities such as: walking, biking, jogging, climbing stairs, swimming, raking the leaves, shoveling snow, basketball, tennis and many others.
In addition to cardiovascular exercise, the American Heart Association suggests that strength training is beneficial for individuals both with and without heart disease. Strength training is important for overall fitness and can provide enhancements in muscle strength and endurance, functional capacity and independence.
Jim, a UNMC EngAge Wellness participant, emphasizes the importance exercise has in his life. In 2002, Jim went in for a routine stress test which showed major blockages in his heart. As a result, he underwent a quintuple bypass. Prior to surgery, Jim walked for exercise, but now he does multiple exercises.
“I don’t think I’d be here today without exercise,” he said. “With heart problems and diabetes, I have no choice but to exercise.”
Jim agrees that “Exercise is medicine!”