From Danville Regional Health
System
Better Health Magazine Archives
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From Danville Regional Health
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Exercise at least three to five days a week for at least 30 minutes. Any type of aerobic activity can make a big difference in your life, including walking, jogging, swimming and biking. As with any exercise, it is important to start at a level you can easily tolerate and gradually increase your level of activity. Regularity is important - waiting until Saturday to exercise for three hours won't have the same benefit as exercising every day for 30 minutes. Always consult your physician if you feel any shortness of breath or chest discomfort.
Is it still necessary to exercise if my job involves strenuous activity? Some people have jobs in which they are lifting, pushing or pulling all day. When they get home, they don't want to exercise because they feel they have exercised enough at work. However, even walking at work is almost never sustained long enough to have any significant benefit, and any activity that causes the body to strain and stop breathing for a moment can be harmful to the cardiovascular system. What's the best way to lose weight? Obesity is clearly associated with heart disease. in order to lose weight, you must eat a low-fat and low-calorie diet. Always read nutrition labels carefully because the fat in low-fat foods is often replaced by sugar, which increases calories. Also pay attention to serving sizes - people often think they are eating fewer calories because they don't take into account how may servings they are eating. In general, if your calorie consumption decreases and your level of exercise increases, you should lose weight. What effect does smoking have on the heart?Although nicotine in cigarettes is addictive, the tar is what is most harmful to your heart. Not only can smoking cause lung cancer, it causes atherosclerosis, or hardening and narrowing of the arteries, which can lead to heart disease and stroke. Those who quit smoking sometimes complain about a cough or increased appetite. But the long- term benefits of quitting far outweigh any short -term discomforts.
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Although heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, the good news is that it is largely preventable. Of the risk factors for heart disease, only one - genetics - cannot be changed. Most of the other factors, including diet, exercise, weight, and smoking, can be modified with lifestyle changes. David Kotlaba, M.D., a Cardiologist on the medical staff of Danville Regional Medical Center, provides his recommendations for reducing the risk of heart disease.
