Heart disease is one of the most common conditions in the world, and its risk factors are so common too that it’s really easy to develop heart disease without even noticing it.

But if you already have heart disease then the battle is not over, don’t assume that heart attacks and ill health are inevitable in your future, because we can very much take the control of heart disease in to our own hands and shape our own future health.

Being more physically active is one of the easiest and most effective ways to this. Forget any misconceptions you have about physical activity. It’s not painful, exhausting, and sweaty work. It doesn’t require specialist equipment and gym memberships, and it doesn’t even have to be a chore. Physical activity is just about making small changes to our day and moving around more. So deciding to taking the stairs instead of the escalator, walking for the paper instead of having it delivered, and raking the leaves in the garden instead of paying your children to do it. All of these things count. Below are just a few benefits of being physically active when you have heart disease.

We’re More Likely To Stay Alive

Well forgive me jumping right in there, but physical activity is the key to longevity, especially if you have heart disease. If you’re physically active, you won’t just be less likely to have a heart attack, but if you do then you’ll be more likely to survive it and live and long and happy life.

We’re Less Likely To Be Struck Off By Other Diseases

If we’re physically active then we’ll be improving a lot of aspects of our health that are also common risk factors for other diseases. So by obtaining some of the common side effects of physical activity like losing weight, lowering our blood pressure and blood glucose, and stimulating our brains we’ll be less likely to develop some other troublesome conditions like cancer, diabetes, and dementia. Having one disease is company, but having two is a crowd.

It Keeps Our Body M.O.T Ready

It should go without saying that physical activity is great for the body. It helps to protect and repair our blood vessels, heart, and lungs. It also makes us physically stronger and fitter, giving us more energy and making us feel less lethargic during the day. This makes sure that we can cling on to our independence for a while longer, because if you can’t get out bed, walk down the stairs, or walk to the shops, then somebody is going to have to do these things for you. Don’t underestimate the importance of being able to do things for yourself.

An Active Body Means An Active Brain

Physical activity doesn’t just affect parts of our body like the heart and lungs, but our brain too, after all there’s an awful lot of blood flowing up there when we move around. Being active keeps the brain in tip top condition, keeping our cells healthy, and our memory in check. It also releases a lot of feel good hormones when we move around, giving us an instant refreshing feeling of happiness and relaxation.

Plus, if we’re able to think for ourselves, and we’re fit enough to get up and about on our own then this alone is surely enough to maintain our optimism for the future. Having independence has a huge influence on our happiness and anxieties, and is one of the most important factors in securing the best quality of life for ourselves.

I’ve given you here a quick four reasons to get up off the sofa to move around more. If living a long and happy life wasn’t a good enough reason to be more active then you must be a cat or an alien, and this article was not intended for you. We will instead publish information for you at a later date.

Faye Prior (Researcher)

Sources

Blumenthal et al., (2012). Exercise and Pharmacological Treatment of Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 60(12), 1053–63.

Martin et al., (2012). Cardiac rehabilitation attendance and outcomes in coronary artery disease patients. Circulation, 126(6), 677–87.

Mora et al., (2007). Physical activity an reduced risk of cardiovascular events. Circulation, 116(19), 2110-8.

Valkeinen et al., (2010). Effects of Exercise Training on Oxygen Uptake in Coronary Heart Disease. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 20(4), 545–55.

Vita, J. A. (2011). Endothelial function. Circulation, 124(25), 906–12.

Williams et al., (2007). Resistance Exercise in Individuals With and Without Cardiovascular Disease: 2007 Update. Circulation, 116(5), 572–84.