American Heart Association Recommendations for Exercise is the Perfect New Year’s Resolution!
It’s a good time to think about how we want 2018 to be better than 2017 and maybe it’s not just better, but the best yet? Why not? You deserve it. But nothing worth fighting for ever comes easy. When it comes to health, what if we approached 2018 New Year’s Resolutions from the perspective of exercise being medicine for disease prevention and less about what size jeans we want to fit in or how we look in a bathing suit? Instead of making a weight-related resolution, which typically makes up 38 percent of American’s New Year’s resolutions, how about this year we chose one simple resolution: Meet the American Heart Association’s (AHA) minimum exercise requirement to improve overall cardiovascular health or lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.
American Heart Association Recommendations for Overall Cardiovascular Health:
- At least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least 5 days per week for a total of 150
OR
- At least 25 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity at least 3 days per week for a total of 75 minutes; or a combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity
AND
Moderate- to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity at least 2 days per week for additional health benefits.
American Heart Association Recommendations for Lowering Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
- An average 40 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic activity 3 or 4 times per week
According to the CDC, regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health and the health benefits of physical activity far outweigh the risks of getting hurt. The benefits of exercise can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, reduce your risk of some cancers and more.
So, as you think about 2018 New Year’s Resolutions, just remember that exercise is medicine. As the American Heart Association says, “something is better than nothing.” If you don’t think you’ll make it for 30 or 40 minutes, set a reachable goal for the day. It all adds up!