Get Active for Your Heart
The heart is
a muscle and it needs exercise to keep fit so that it can pump
blood efficiently round your body with each heart beat.
Physical activity improves your physical and mental health. It
is one of the most important factors in maintaining a good quality
of life.
Before you start exercising, it’s important to seek advice from
your GP especially if you have any condition for which you are
taking prescribed medication.
What kind of exercise is good for my
heart? Being physically active might involve going
swimming, doing an exercise class or playing a sport, but it also
includes everyday things such as walking, gardening and climbing
stairs.
You can get the benefits of being more active from all types of
physical activity. Any increase in activity will benefit your
health.
Get moving! Aim to build up to at least 30
minutes of moderate intensity physical activity five or more days a
week. During moderate exercise you should be breathing more heavily
than normal and feel slightly warmer.
If 30 minutes seems too much for you at the moment, build up
slowly. Here are some ideas:
- start with five minutes exercise at least three times a day and
start slowly at a level that suits you
- gradually build up the time and frequency until 30 minutes
feels easier
- choose a variety of activities and ones you enjoy
- try to do something every day.
Stop exercising if you feel pain or
discomfort.
It’s never too late to
start Everyone can benefit – whatever your age, size
or physical condition. Just remember that you are never too old or
too unfit to start doing something.
The good news is that the greatest increase in health benefit is
experienced by inactive people who start to take regular moderate
physical activity. Your health risks will decrease as soon as you
start to do more!
Find out more For ideas on how to get
active please download one of our booklets:
Take part You may be
interested in taking part in some of our events.
Visit our Get Involved section for
further information on BHF events
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