​​5 exercises to improve your heart health

Regular exercise​ can​ reduce ​​​​risk of heart disease by ​​​​helping to maintain​​ blood pressure and cholesterol.​ ​​​​​​​​​

Along with other healthy lifestyle habits – ​like​ ​​​​not​ smoking, drinking less alcohol and eating a healthy diet​ – regular exercise plays a key role in boosting your heart health​.

​​​​The Heart Foundation recommends that we all aim to do at least 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity each day, combined with muscle-strengthening activities twice a week.

5 exercises for heart health

​​​So, with all the benefits of regular exercises on your heart health, what are some ways to stay active and motivated? Here are 5 ways to include heart-healthy exercises into your ​lif​​​​e​​​​, but​​​ ​​​first speak to your doctor before beginning any new exercise regime​​​​.​​​

1. Start a regular yoga practice

Yoga sequences involve holding muscle tension in prolonged ways, which can improve your heart health as well as your circulation. Doing yoga on a regular basis has also been shown to improve your blood pressure, a key aspect of heart health.

2. Play a game of tennis

If your tennis match is strenuous enough that you’re out of breath and sweating, it’s considered vigorous activity, ​​which is great for your heart health. Another benefit of tennis is its ​​social nature, which can help you stay motivated​​​.​​​

3. Join a walking group

​​Brisk walking can be an effective part of an exercise plan to help your heart health – walking for half an hour per day can lower your risk of heart disease​​​​​​​.​¹​ ​Check out the Heart Foundation’s personal walking plans, or find a walking group to walk in company. 

​​4. Try ​​​​swimming​​​​​​​​​​​

​​For a head-to-toe workout that’s ​​​​​great for your cardiovascular fitness​​​​​​​, give swimming a go. A few laps at your local pool, or ​​​​simple aerobics moves in the shallow end, can bring benefits to your heart health. ​​​​

​5. Take up tai chi

​Tai chi is an ancient Chinese practice involving slow, controlled movements and postures. It can help relieve stress, and ​​if you do it regularly it can improve your heart fitness. ​​It includes controlled breathing, which can help lower your blood pressure and heart rate.

Heart-healthy exercise ideas for​ ​​​​those ​​with limited movement​ ​

If you have limited mobility, you should aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity – where you’re a bit breathless but can still talk comfortably – each day. This could include:​​​

• swimming or aqua aerobics
• golfing (without the cart)
• cycling
• lifting and carrying things like groceries or small children
• household chores like mopping, vacuuming and yard work.

​​​To give your body a chance to adjust, start a new exercise routine slowly, and then increase your activity levels gradually.

Benefits of breathing exercises for a healthy heart

It’s possible that some stress responses contribute to high blood pressure. As well as making you calmer, breathing exercises can help lower your blood pressure. 

​Sit comfortably in a quiet, relaxed environment. Rest one hand on your chest and the other on your ​​​stomach and​ try to notice how those areas move in and out while you breathe. Breathe gently through your ​​​nose and​ allow tension to release with each exhale.

Tips for exercising at home

• ​​​Take an online exercise class. Many gyms and exercise studios offer online classes; you can also find online video lessons for just about every type of fitness and exercise just by doing a basic search.
• ​​​Look into exercise apps. There’s a wide range of apps you can download for free that will give you tips and motivation for exercising at home.
• Build your own strength-training and cardio routine. ​​Try push-ups and squats to help strengthen your muscles​​​​.

Is it safe to exercise after a heart attack?

​You can usually resume physical activity a few weeks after a heart attack, but it’s important to ​​check with your doctor. 

Start small, with activities like cooking or walking around the house. Then, with your doctor’s guidance, build up your movement levels gradually.

​A great way to start exercising after a heart attack is to attend a cardiac rehabilitation program, where you’ll be given safe, individualised exercises to improve your heart health.

Tips on how to start exercising

​If you’re 45 or older, it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor before you begin an exercise program. 

​​One way to gradually acclimatise your body to exercise is to start with small changes to your daily habits. For example, you could start by parking your car or getting off public transport a bit further away from your destination and walking the rest of the way.

​Then, be specific about your plans and write them down to help yourself stick to them. Even if it’s just 10 minutes of exercise, schedule it like you would an appointment.

Consider activities you enjoy or have always wanted to try. ​Also, consider whether making plans with other people might help you sustain your motivation.​​​

​​​For help maintaining consistency in your exercise routine, check out Medibank’s Live Better Rewards program. ​​

If you’re 45 or older, or if you’re Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and 30 or older, the first step to making your personal heart health plan is getting a ​​Heart Health Check.​​