Heart disease - the leading cause of premature death in the US – has inspired our blog post for April this year. Heart disease is a complex condition that has many causes and treatments, but for our post, we wanted to focus on one of the most accessible forms of heart disease prevention – movement and exercise.
The American Heart Association leads the way in compiling research, fundraising, and engagement aimed at improving heart health in the USA.
Every April they highlight the importance of movement in exercise for heart health; deeming the 4th month of the year “Move More Month.” So, in full support of this endeavor, we here at Noble Companion are going to discuss the statistics of heart disease in the US, and list some heart healthy exercises for people of all abilities to try out in hopes that you take the initiative to move more this month in support of your heart health.
Heart Disease in the US
As we stated before, heart disease is the leading cause of premature death in the United States for most every adult demographic. Luckily, there are ways that you can improve your heart health before it ends up leading to a medical crisis.
Lifestyle choices like smoking, drinking alcohol, and being sedentary are all driving factors that lead to heart disease. While it might not be easy, these 3 factors are all able to be reduced or eliminated with proper motivation and self-control. Other factors like family history, and malnutrition/poor diet are less easy or even impossible to change, so for these 2 factors, you’ll want to speak with a health care professional who can help you explore your options.
Move More!
We can save smoking cessation and quitting alcohol for another blog post as those two heart disease factors are extremely complex and require a lot of focus.
Seeing as this is “Move More Month,” we fill focus on some exercises and movements that you can try out to increase your heart health while also getting into better shape!
1.) 5-minute movement breaks: This link will bring you to the American Heart Associations “Move More Month,” page where they’ve listed 4 easy and accessible exercises that you practice each day. The short videos focus on flexibility, core strength, overall muscle work, and upper body strength. These 4 workouts are a great way to get started moving more without having to leave the house and go to a gym.
2.) Healthline: Our second link will bring you to healthlines website where they detail a workout schedule that you can follow to make sure you stay fit and active. You don’t need to follow their regiment, but using their structure as a guide will help you keep track of your exercise and remember which day is set aside for which body parts. Along with the structure that you can follow, they have a litany of fine-tuned exercises that older adults can put into practice. Scroll through their website and pick out a few exercises that you think you’d be most comfortable trying and jot them down on a schedule to stay consistent!
3.) Lucky 7: Next up is a blog post by Senior Lifestyle which not only offers 7 additional exercises to think about, but also a swath of facts about the effects exercise has on your body and mind. This is an in-depth write-up that can help paint a picture of what you can expect from these regular routines as time goes on.
4.) Mobility minded: Our final segment for Move More Month comes as a source from across the pond! Yes, the UK based NHS has two links which explore exercise options for people who have unique mobility needs. From sitting exercises, to exercises specifically tailored for wheelchair users, these two links will help you formulate a healthy routine based around your specific situation. Here is the link for general fitness advice and here is the one for specific exercises.
With Spring just getting started, it’s not too late to start an exercise routine that will result in more energy to spend doing what you love for the rest of the year! That extra energy, plus improved heart health, psychological health, and general well-being should at least get you to consider adding more exercise into your daily life. We hope you take this suggestion to heart and make the most of this year's Move More Month so that you can reap the multitude of benefits for years to come.
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