Looking after your heart is imperative. So many of us are aware of this and take positive steps to leading a well-rounded, healthy and active lifestyle. For many of us, we are keen to go running or slog it out in the gym. We are careful with what we eat. We are eager to make sure that our bodies remain a temple.
But, you also need to be aware of how to look after your heart when you are in the throes of your exercise regimen. After all, exercise should be good for your heart, not bad for it.
Here are some ways that you can exercise more thoroughly and ensure that your heart is getting the benefits.
Exercising in the Heat
For some, the thought of being in the gym is too much to bear. If you love exercising in the outdoors, it’s vital that you are aware of how the heat combined with exercise can impact on your heart. In the summer, it is important that you take steps to keep cool. Your heart will be working twice as hard. So, you need to make sure that you are hydrated. Drink water while you exercise. Avoid high-calorie sports drinks. These will not maximise your bodily floods. Drinking plenty of water will keep your heart happy and stop you from passing out.
Keeping Cool
Keeping cool is vital while you train. Your body is prone to overheating. So, with this in mind, you need to find ways of keeping your cool while you exercise. It is said ‘sweat is fat crying’ but you also need to make sure that you are not overdoing it on your heart. Make sure that you take rest breaks in between training. A quick one minute of recouping is necessary for your heart to catch up. Try to keep under a fan while you train or make sure that you train outdoors in the winter. Keeping cool is essential for your heart’s health.
Don’t Over Do It: Check Your Heart Rate
If you train and exercise within the gym, you need to be aware of the MHR scale on the machines that you are using. Should you hold onto the cross trainer, you will be aware of your heart and how quickly it is beating. The machine will interject your workout with your heart rate. If it goes above the threshold, take your workout down a notch. This is important if you suffer from ventricular tachycardia as you may be prone to a heart attack,
There are some simple ways that you can ensure that you are not overdoing it. For the average thirty-year-old, you should aim for 95 to 162 beats per minute. At 100% MHR your heart can do 190 BPM. However, this can be dangerous for your health. You need to make sure that you are maximising your workout and keeping your ticker in excellent condition. You don’t have to push yourself to the max. You can take a step back and keep your health in check.