Heart health is incredibly important. How well your heart is working directly contributes to your lifespan and if your heart isn’t in the best shape, it can cause lots of problems, issues, and even diseases.
Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to boost your heart health.
You can moderate how much you are smoking and drinking, you can eat better and healthier foods, and of course, you can also do the right exercise.
Exercise in general is perfect for boosting your heart health, but there are specific kinds of exercises you can do that will directly target it.
If you want to boost your heart health through exercise, then you have come to the right place.
Below, you will find 10 of the best exercises that will boost your heart health, so read on to find out a bit more about each of them!
The 8 Best Exercises That Will Boost Your Heart Health
There are plenty of different exercises you can do to boost your heart health, and the options we have included in this list are perfect to start with.
If you don’t exercise, you are twice as likely to get heart disease, so even doing these exercises once or twice a week is better than not doing them at all!
With these exercises, you will be able to develop a regular exercise routine that will improve your heart health and your general health.
So read on to find out more about each of these exercises and see which one works best for you!
1. Walking
This might seem like a bit of a no-brainer (or a bit too easy!) but you would be surprised by how much walking regularly can improve your overall health.
Normal walking is always better than none, but speed walking will really boost your heart health and keep you fitter.
When you speed walk, you really build up a sweat and get your heart pumping. It can help you lose weight and it can keep your heart active without straining it.
What makes walking even better is that it’s completely free to do, and you can do it anywhere at any time!
You just need to make sure you have a good, supportive pair of shoes, your favorite music, or podcasts on your phone, and then you are free to go for a walk!
If you want to make this exercise more relaxing or fun, try and find somewhere immerses in nature, or somewhere scenic.
2. Swimming
Another great exercise you can do to improve and boost your heart health is swimming.
Swimming when done properly is a full body work out and it’s a great way to do strenuous exercise without putting too much stress on your joints.
Swimming is a bit more fun than some other exercises as well.
There’s something almost surreal about floating in the water, and the more you do it, the more you will notice that time just seems to fly by.
It’s a great exercise for people who don’t really like to exercise.
You can just do standard pool laps or you can take a water aerobics class, really anything that gets the blood pumping!
3. Yoga
There is a common misconception about yoga that it is all about relaxation and slow movements, but when you get into yoga properly, you will discover that it is quite a workout!
Yoga improves your balance and strengthens your muscles, and there are plenty of yoga routines that specifically target heart health.
This is a great form of exercise to do if the more strenuous kinds of exercise are a bit too much for you and yoga is a lot more accessible.
There are plenty of routines you can do sitting down!
Certain kinds of yoga will also get your heart rate up in a healthy way, which is perfect for heart health.
Look into the different kinds of yoga and see which one works best for you!
4. Cycling
Regardless of if you want to boost your heart health, cycling is a fantastic form of exercise.
It encourages you to get outside and when you cycle for longer distances, it is a really intense workout!
Research into cycling has shown that it actually reduces the risk of heart disease, so the more you cycle, the more likely you are to avoid developing it.
Cycling uses the large muscles in your legs, which also help to elevate your heart rate.
On top of this, cycling is fantastic for boosting your mental health too.
It promotes time spent outside in the fresh air, and because it is a strenuous activity, it will get your blood pumping.
This in turn will boost your mental health and help you feel more positive and energized.
Aside from acquiring a bike, of course, cycling is completely free to do as well and you can choose your own route, speed, and distance, so you can really take it at your own pace.
5. Weight Training
Regardless of why you are doing weight training, it is a fantastic form of exercise that is incredibly beneficial in so many different ways.
In terms of heart health, it will keep your heart active and your blood pumping, which in turn should lower the risk of heart disease.
There is an argument that weight training is actually bad for people who have heart disease, but newer studies have shown that it’s actually quite safe.
If you have never done weight training before, it is important to start small and slow and build it up over time.
It is also important to consult with your doctor before you start weight training, especially if you already have heart disease.
You can find a weight training plan that works for you, and the more customized it is, the more effective it will be for your overall health.
6. Stretching
Stretching might be used more for warming up, but it might surprise you to learn that it is actually incredibly effective and beneficial for your heart health.
Stretching your muscles before and after a workout can help to cool your muscles down, which in turn, will lower your heart rate after your workout.
This is important because if your heart rate stays up for too long, it can get strained, and it’s not very good for your heart.
Stretching allows your heart to take a break.
But remember, stretching as a heart health exercise is more effective after you have done your workout and you are ready to cool down.
You can do it before or just as a standard exercise, but after a workout is more effective.
If you do choose to incorporate stretching into your heart health routine, make sure you do it for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
7. Household Chores
You might be raising your eyebrows at this one, but hear us out!
Household chores such as cleaning, dusting, rearranging the kitchen or wardrobe, and vacuuming are actually incredibly good for boosting your heart health.
It keeps you on your feet and active. These household chores will have you stretching and using your muscles, which in turn, will get your blood pumping and heart rate up.
You can really start sweating when you are vigorously doing household chores, so why not make an exercise routine out of it?
You are killing two birds with one stone when you turn your household chores into an exercise routine.
It’s good for your heart and it’s good for your mental health.
Next time you plan on doing a big chore day, try and do it in a more vigorous way and build up a sweat! Your heart, body, and mind will thank you for it!
8. Play A Sport
Whether you already play a sport or you always wanted to, this is a great form of exercise that will boost your heart health and because it’s also a hobby, it is fun!
Any sport like badminton, tennis, or basketball will increase circulation and oxygen flow, which in turn will get your blood pumping and your heart racing in a healthy way.
The only time you should avoid this kind of exercise is if you already have an existing heart condition and the sport is very strenuous.
But if this is the case, talk to your doctor and see what exercise plans and help they can give!
Conclusion
Heart health is extremely important and we need a healthy heart in order to live for longer.
Healthy hearts are also less likely to ever suffer from heart disease, so it’s important to find ways to exercise to maintain it.
If you want better heart health, try some of these heart-boosting exercises for yourself.
All of these kinds of exercises can be fun and rewarding if you let them! Try some of these exercises for yourself and see which one you enjoy the most!
I'm Clare, the owner and operator of Off The Couch, where I serve as a qualified Nutrition & Health Coach.
Based in Dublin, Ireland, I offer coaching services both locally and globally, providing personalized strategies in nutrition, stress management, sleep quality, and fitness.
My journey into this field began as I navigated my own chronic illnesses, including early menopause, Interstitial Cystitis, Lyme Disease, and hydrocephalus.
