Exercise

Regular exercise is the only proven way of raising your HDL "good" cholesterol levels.

Aerobic exercise strengthens your heart by making it pump harder. The muscles increase their ability to use oxygen as well. More oxygen is also supplied to the heart muscle and to your other muscles and tissues. Over time, cardiovascular exercise will make your heart more efficient.   

What are the benefits?                

As mentioned above, aerobic exercise helps the heart work more efficiently and raises HDL cholesterol. It also reduces blood pressure, decreases the tendency of blood to form clots, relieves stress, helps the body utilize insulin and is an effective measure used to control weight.

Dozens of studies have shown that exercise protects against heart disease yet an estimated 60 to 80% of Americans are sedentary. Even low intensity activities, such as walking, if done on a regular basis and over the long term, can reduce the risk of heart attack.

What is aerobic exercise?

Aerobic exercise is any physical activity that you do long enough and hard enough to challenge your heart and lungs. To get this effect, you generally need to use your big muscles, including your legs, back and chest. Walking, swimming, stair climbing, and ice skating are all forms of aerobic exercise.

Aerobic exercise essentially means "with air". When you exercise, your body needs and extra supply of oxygen, which of course, your lungs extract from the air. If you think of oxygen as the gas in your car, when your car is idling while you're waiting for your kids to get in the car, it doesn't use as much fuel as it would if you were racing in the Indianapolis 500.

What's Important?

Find an activity you enjoy at a level that is suitable for you that you can and will maintain. You can find great pleasure in this as you improve your health.