Regular Exercise for a Healthy Heart

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death both worldwide and in Australia. 27% of deaths and 11% of hospitalisations in Australia are attributed to cardiovascular disease. Heart disease is linked to risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity, obesity, unhealthy diets, and depression.

So how can exercise help?
Exercise is one of the best things for heart health. It can be used as prevention or to help rehabilitate you after a cardiovascular event. The heart is a muscle and like all the other muscles in the body it will benefit greatly from exercise. Exercise can help to decrease blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugars it can also help with weight loss and improved mood and wellbeing.

If you are already suffering cardiovascular disease, it is important to get advice from your GP or health professional. An accredited exercise physiologist can give you proper advice and a personalised plan to help improve your heart health.

What type of exercise is recommended?
The best type of exercise for cardiovascular disease is a combination of both aerobic and resistance training. Aerobic exercise consists of walking, cycling, running, and swimming. Resistance training consists of weights, machines, resistance bands and body weight training.

An Accredited Exercise Physiologist will understand the nature of your cardiovascular disease and will be able to properly assess you, design a plan and support you through your program.

Kaitlin Mott (Exercise Physiologist)