Exercise is something many of us frown upon because it involves having to get up and do vigorous activities. Despite this dislike, there are many advantages to exercise such as its contribution in lowering blood pressure, which prevents other cardiovascular diseases from destroying your life. Don’t wait until you develop a condition such as high blood pressure before you decide to incorporate exercise into your lifestyle.

Exercising a few days a week strengthens your heart, which pumps blood through your veins with better efficiency. In other words, your heart doesn’t have to work as hard to pump blood through your veins; therefore the pressure your blood exerts on your arteries is significantly less than someone who doesn’t exercise at all.

Believe it or not, regular exercise can lower your blood pressure by an average of 10 millimeters of Mercury, which is the same result received from many blood pressure medications. For those who do not have severely high blood pressure, regular exercise is enough to return it to normal, but for others who have significantly high blood pressure, they may need medication in addition to regular exercise.

But don’t let that 120/80 reading fool you. Just because your blood pressure appears to be normal doesn’t mean that as you age it will stay normal. Starting regular exercise right now can keep your blood pressure from rising as your age advances. As much as we hate our age going up in numbers, we don’t want our blood pressure to go up with it. To prevent a rise in the numbers, you must realize that exercise is not evil.

The truth is, the hardest part in regular exercise is getting started, but it is only as difficult as you make it. First, research to find what type of exercise is most effective in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. What you will find is that aerobic activity is the key in ensuring that health. Yes, we all want to get stronger and we can incorporate strength training into the exercise routine, but aerobic increases your heart and breathing rates that in turn improve your heart’s efficiency.

But where do you start? That is a question many ask, but there are a lot of activities that one wouldn’t consider exercise that actually count toward increasing your heart and breathing rates. For example, if you regularly clean your house for thirty minutes or more, you can turn it into aerobic exercise. This can be done by moving at a faster pace than you normally clean at and going from one task to the next without stopping. The next thing you know, your breathing and heart rates have increased and you have broken a sweat. Try to do this routine several times a week and you will notice a difference in how you feel and even see a difference in the cleanliness of your house.

Don’t expect immediate results when you begin exercising because it can take up to three months for exercise to reflect on your blood pressure. Don’t let that discourage you though. Usually after a month of regular exercise you will notice you feel healthier and stronger. The reason you feel that way is because your body is thanking you for taking better care of it. Keep in mind that you may want to consult with your doctor prior to starting an exercise program. This keeps you and your doctor informed on the road to a healthier you.

Revolution Health

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/conditions/heart/high-blood-pressure/get-active/exercise-activity