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5 Spring Activities That Are Great For Your Heart

The warm weather of spring makes it even easier to get the exercise you need for a healthy heart. The American Heart Association suggests adults get 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week to improve heart health. That works out to 30 minutes of activity over five days a week. You can even spread the exercise out over two or three 10- to 15-minute segments per day.

Spring into a Healthy Heart with These 5 Activities

  1. Walking

    Walking is one of the simplest, most effective ways to improve your heart health. Taking a 30-minute brisk morning walk or evening stroll can lower your risk of heart attack, reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and raise “good” HDL cholesterol, reduce your blood pressure, and help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

  2. Running

    Running significantly raises your pulse; a high heart rate exercises the muscles of your heart to strengthen them. Running also burns calories quickly.

    If you are a beginner runner, incorporate stair climbing into your walking routine to strengthen your heart, lungs, and muscles enough for safe running.

  3. Yard cleanup

    Picking up branches and light shoveling to fill in holes in your lawn gets you moving and increases your heart rate. If you live in an apartment, help a family member who owns a home or volunteer to pick up yard waste at your local park.

  4. Gardening

    Gardening is a good calorie-burning physical workout that increases heart rate. Getting your garden ready for spring can keep you limber enough to engage in other springtime activities and sports. Spending time in the garden can reduce your stress levels, and decreasing stress is always good for your heart. Gardening also supports cardiovascular health by supplying a steady supply of heart-healthy fruits and vegetables.

  5. Bicycling

    Hop off your couch this spring and hop onto a bicycle to improve your heart health – pedal quickly to raise your heart rate or slowly for a low-impact workout. Bicycling gets your heart pumping and burns calories to keep your weight under control. Riding a bike is easy on your joints so you can get the exercise you need, even if you have arthritis or other types of joint pain.

For more information on spring activities to keep your heart functioning its best, talk with a health care professional. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 770.730.0119 today to make an appointment with Virtual Imaging.