Lowering Cholesterol by Exercising
According to the National Cholesterol
Education Program (NCEP), a healthy diet, weight loss and physical activity are
the pillars of therapy for many people with cholesterol disorders. Studies have
shown that exercising regularly (approximately 30 minutes three to five times a
week) raises levels of HDL (the "good" cholesterol) and helps in
eliminating excess LDL ("bad" cholesterol) from the blood.
There are many activities that you can do to reduce high
cholesterol: aerobics, weightlifting, swimming, hiking and dancing are some of
them. Vigorous activities such as walking, jogging, biking and swimming are
called aerobic activities, and they are especially good for heart conditioning
and improving blood circulation. If you choose one of these activities, be sure
to start slowly and gradually increase to avoid tension and injury. Also, don’t
forget to consult the best cardiologist near you
for a healthy diet plan and professional advice.
What is the benefit of exercising?
When you exercise, it tones your body, circulates blood throughout
the body and helps in eliminating clots present in the blood vessels while
making the heart stronger and more efficient pump.
Here are some useful tips for you:
- If
you cannot spend 30 full minutes at a time, several shorter periods of
physical activity during the day can add up to the 30-minute
recommendation.
- Skip
the elevators and climb the stairs. This type of exercise will also help
in strengthening your lower abdominal legs and muscles.
- Create
your exercise plan to be able to perform a variety of exercise activities
during the week. Doing just one activity can make you get bored and stop
exercising.
- If
it has been a while since you exercised, increase slowly up to five times
per week. Starting an exercise regime too suddenly can cause you to stop
exercising.
- If
you have difficulty committing to exercising, initially commit to five
minutes of exercise that day. You will find that once your five minutes
have elapsed, you will not want to stop.
- Walk
as often as possible, even if that means parking farther from your
destination or not relying on car transportation.
- The
amount of time spent on exercise is more important than the intensity of
the exercise. Choose dynamic forms of exercise that tend to last at least
20 to 30 minutes and are performed at moderate intensities.
- In
general, for exercise to significantly reduce cholesterol levels, a
relatively high volume of exercise is recommended (for example, 1,500
calories or more per week). In 12 to 16 weeks, this volume of exercise can
reduce total cholesterol by 10 to 20 percent.
- A
sample program would be to start walking 20 minutes per day, four days a
week. For six to eight weeks, increase this program to one hour, six to
seven days a week of walking on mountainous terrain (variable) or walking
on relatively flat terrain. Above all, in addition to lowering your
cholesterol, exercise will make you feel and sleep better.
However, exercises will not make a good difference unless you
start eating a healthy diet. In order to lower your cholesterol level, it is
essential to follow the advice of the best cardiologist. Hayaat.pk will help you in
finding the best cardiologists in Lahore, so book an appointment
now.
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