HEALTH

Imran S. Farooq, MD, MSHA, FACC, FSCAI, RPVI Interventional Cardiology Orlando Health

Orlando Health: Hiking, biking, running, hight intensity excercises for heart health

Regular physical activity strengthens your muscles and joints, and it’s also key for heart health. Exercise helps your heart more efficiently pump blood and circulate oxygen, lowering your risk of cardiovascular conditions like heart failure and heart disease.

If you’re in good shape, highintensity activities such as hiking, biking and running can give your heart health a big boost. So get ready to lace up your sneakers, fill your tires or hit the trails.

Here are tips to safely make the most of your workout.

Hiking: Hitting the Trails Helps Your Heart

Hiking forces your heart to pump harder, particularly when you choose a route with an uneven trail or incline. The increased blood flow is essential to circulate nutrients and oxygen-rich blood to your muscles, especially your legs. There are mental health benefits, too. Hiking lowers your stress levels and improves your mental health, which is connected to heart health. Research shows that stress raises your blood pressure, increasing the risk of hypertension.

How to get the most from your hike: Join a hiking club or hike with a few friends to stay motivated. If you’re hiking a trail with a higher elevation, the more difficult it will be. As the altitude increases, your heart will pump blood harder to balance the decreased air pressure. If you’re just starting out, tackle shorter, gradual incline trails first.

Biking: Cycling Tops for Cardio Health

Biking is a lower-impact exercise that also can help you condition your heart. Many athletes who bike have lower resting heart rates. This means your heart is working optimally, since a lower resting rate means more blood is pumped with every contraction, maintaining an efficient heartbeat.

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