Physical Activity Helps Prevent a Heart Attack and Stroke
Physical activity is one of the best things you can do to help prevent a heart attack and stroke.
Fasting blood sugar should be below 130. BP should be130/80 if you also have diabetes. Your HDL cholesterol should be >65 to offer protection to your heart. Your LDL < 130 Triglycerides <200.
You should get your cholestorel and bA1c checked every 6 months.
Weight loss for obesity reduces your LDL and improves your insulin sensitivity which means it improves your control on diabetes. Aerobic exercise improves your HDL and lowered your triglycerides. You should perform such exercises at least 5x @ week for 30-45 minutes. Tobacco cessation increases HDL by 30%
Being active is one part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy foods, not smoking, and staying at a healthy weight are other ways you can be heart-healthy and help prevent a heart attack or a stroke.
If you are not active, you have a higher risk of heart disease (also called coronary artery disease).
It’s never too early or too late to make physical activity part of your life. If you are healthy, it can help you keep your heart as healthy as possible. If you have had a heart attack or stroke, being active is very important to help prevent another one.
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Being active is good food for the heart
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Being active helps keep your heart and blood vessels healthy in many ways. It can:
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Raise “good” (HDL) cholesterol levels.
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Help you lose weight or stay at a healthy weight.
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Lower blood pressure.
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Control blood sugar.
How to spot a stoke F.A.S.T.
Regular activity might also help your heart if you do have a heart attack. It may increase the number of smaller blood vessels that connect different coronary arteries. These are called collateral blood vessels. If one of the major coronary arteries is suddenly blocked, these collateral blood vessels serve as an alternate route to supply blood to the portion of the heart muscle that is threatened by a heart attack.
Activity has other benefits
Being active does more than just keep your heart healthy. It keeps your body and mind healthy too.
The added benefits of regular exercise include:
Mental well-being and stress relief.
Increased flexibility, if stretching is done afterwards.
Increased bone strength, if the exercise includes weight-bearing exercises, such as jogging or lifting weights.