While heart health and how to prevent heart disease are important topics, many people in the United States, including Hispanics and Latinos, remain at risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 23 percent of Hispanics and Latinos in the United States have high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke if untreated, and nearly 9 percent have heart disease.
However, you can lower your risk for heart disease in a variety of ways, and one of the most important is by becoming physically active. National guidelines recommend at least 2 hours, 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week for adults, like brisk walking where your blood gets pumping and you are a little breathless. If you find yourself short of time, you can incorporate physical activity in small chunks, such as three 10-minute intervals per day, and still achieve some heart health benefits.
How Moving More Helps
When done regularly, physical activity can give your entire body – not just your heart – a boost. Getting your heart rate up and breaking a sweat can:
• Strengthen heart muscles
• Improve blood flow
• Lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Help control weight
Ways to Become More Active Every Day
In
addition to working toward at least 150 minutes of physical activity
each week, it’s important to avoid being sedentary, when possible. You
can do that by making choices that build activity in your day. Some
examples include:
• Taking the stairs
• Printing to the printer farthest away from your desk at work
• Getting off the bus or subway one stop early
• Parking in the farthest space from the door
• Walking around while you are on the phone or having walking meetings
• Being active with your children, including playing outdoors
• Planning a vacation that includes physical activities
• Playing soccer or taking a Zumba class with friends instead of meeting up for drinks or a meal
• Putting on some music and dancing
Check with Your Doctor
Certain
physical activities are safe for most people. However, if you have a
chronic health condition such as heart disease, arthritis or diabetes,
talk with your doctor about the type and amount of activity that is
right for your health.
Incorporating regular physical activity into your life can help your health in many ways, but it can be especially helpful for your heart. Find more hearthealthy facts and tips from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at nhlbi.nih.gov.