Every February we shift our focus to heart health awareness. Why do we dedicate an entire month to this muscle? Well, the human heart is the most amazing muscle in the body, beating about 100,000 times to send 3,600 gallons of blood through 75,000 miles of blood vessels each day. Taking strides to take care of this precious vital organ should be a priority and starts when healthy behaviors become healthy habits.
One of the best ways to care for your heart is exercise. Taking center stage as one of the best forms of exercise for a healthy heart is swimming. The countless benefits continue to change lives when implemented into an exercise program that suits your lifestyle. A healthy heart is significant to your mobility and quality of life, so let’s check out how incorporating swimming into your routine can be a life changer.
3 Ways Swimming Promotes Heart Health
- Swimming is FUN exercise:
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced swimmer, exercising in a pool can be a lot of fun! There are many different kinds of exercise programs designed to accommodate swimmers of all ages, abilities and body types. Workout programs that integrate noodles, kick boards, and beach balls are all you need to get heart healthy and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Invite your family and friends to join you in the water for some exercise fun and enjoy the process of maintaining a healthy and robust heart.
For exercise ideas, check out the link from Shape.com at https://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/fun-swim-workout-full-body-burn
- Swimming is a stress reducer:
Swimming releases endorphins that relax you, providing a natural high. Also, a process known as hippocampal neurogenesis takes place changing the brain to replace cells lost through stress. Regular aerobic exercise also reduces high blood pressure due to hypertension. Regular swimming can lower blood pressure by reducing the hardening or stiffening of the blood vessels, which is the primary factor that initiates the increase in blood pressure as you age.
- Swimming builds muscle strength:
Though swimming is a low impact activity, it can produce incredible results. Typically considered to be an aerobic exercise, we cannot forget that exercising in water also provides moderate resistance, making swimming one of the few activities that provides an entire body workout. This gravity free work out environment puts less stress on the body during your exercise regimens, while continuing to build and strengthen muscles; improving your balance, bone health, and sleep.
A few things to consider when doing swim workouts:
- When in the water, your heart rate while exercising will be lower compared to doing land-based exercises.
- Water aerobics allows for a greater range of motion, therefore, helping with flexibility.
- Because of the water’s natural resistance, it helps you build greater muscle tone and endurance.
- As with any other exercise routine, make sure you get medical clearance from your healthcare provider before taking the plunge.
Ready to get heart healthy? Take the plunge and go for a swim! Let’s make every month a heart healthy month!
For more information on the importance of physical activity for a healthy heart, check out the links by The American Heart Association and Harvard Medical School.
