 If you want to live a long, healthy life, get moving. “Investing just 30 minutes a day in aerobic exercises such as walking, bicycling or swimming can pay big dividends,” says Mindy Gentry, MD, a cardiologist with MCG Cardiovascular Center.
Regular aerobic exercise strengthens the heart and improves blood flow throughout the body. It also helps keep your arteries clear by increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol, and decreasing levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad,” cholesterol. “And if you have had a heart attack, exercise can help prevent a second one,” Dr. Gentry says.
Exercise also:
- reduces the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke and certain types of cancer
- helps lower blood pressure, overall cholesterol and blood sugar
- helps you lose weight and keep it off
- increases stamina and reduces fatigue over time
- boosts your mood and helps prevent depression
How to begin?
Check with your physician before beginning any exercise program. Start slowly, gradually increasing the time and pace until you are exercising briskly for 30
minutes a day. “When it comes to exercise, the first step can be the hardest,” says Dr. Gentry. “But with perseverance, you can develop a habit that will strengthen your heart and help you remain active and independent as you age.”
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Feburary is National
Heart Month
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MCG Heart Healthy Dining Program
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MCG Cardiovascular Center Celebrates National Cardiac Rehab Week
February 11-17
MCG Cardiovascular Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program offers a safe environment where people recovering from heart problems can exercise under the supervision of trained professionals. The program is designed for people who have been diagnosed with stable angina, as well as those who have had heart attacks within the past year, open heart surgery, coronary angioplasty or stents, valve replacement, valve repair or heart transplants. A doctor’s referral is required, and Medicare and private insurance generally cover most of the costs.
For more information or to have a staff member contact your physician for a referral, call 706-721-9055 or visit MCGHealth.org/Cardio.
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