Become More Active

Facts about Exercise and the Heart

Studies suggest that being physically active in middle age can increase your life expectancy by two years, this is the same benefit as giving up smoking. (http://www.bhf.org.uk/keeping_your_heart_healthy/staying_active.aspx)

People of all ages who are physically active are half as likely to get cardiovascular disease as those that are inactive. (http://www.bhf.org.uk/keeping_your_heart_healthy/staying_active.aspx)

Being active at any age helps to control your weight, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol and will also provide long term benefits for your heart health and general health. (http://www.bhf.org.uk/keeping_your_heart_healthy/staying_active.aspx)

Your heart is a muscle and needs exercise to help it keep fit and healthy so that it can pump blood efficiently around your body. Physical activity improves your physical and mental health – and also helps you to look and feel great. (http://www.bhf.org.uk/keeping_your_heart_healthy/staying_active.aspx)

Please remember: It’s important to seek advice from your GP before becoming physically active, especially you’re taking prescribed medication. If you are on medication and have recently undergone lifestyle changes it is important that you check your medication doesn’t need reviewing. (http://www.bhf.org.uk/keeping_your_heart_healthy/staying_active.aspx)

Tips for being more active

Try incorporating physical activity into your everyday life by building on what you are already doing. This can be taking the stairs instead of the escalator, making the housework more vigorous or using more fresh ingredients when cooking not only will this be better for your overall health it will also make you move around more.

Set yourself a goal to build up to at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on five or more days a week. Anything that makes you breathe more heavily than normal and makes you warmer is good. If 30 minutes is too much, build up slowly by starting with ten minutes activity at least three times a day and start slowly at your own level, gradually building up the time and frequency until 30 minutes feels easier for you to complete. Choose a variety of activities that you enjoy. (http://www.bhf.org.uk/keeping_your_heart_healthy/staying_active/get_active_for_your_heart.aspx)

Stop exercising if you feel any pain when exercising and seek advice from your GP before continuing. (http://www.bhf.org.uk/keeping_your_heart_healthy/staying_active/get_active_for_your_heart.aspx)

Everyone can benefit from getting physical – whatever your age, size or physical condition. You are never too old or too unfit to start doing something. Inactive people that start to do moderate physical activity feel the biggest health benefits. Your health risks will decrease as soon as you start to do more! (http://www.bhf.org.uk/keeping_your_heart_healthy/staying_active/get_active_for_your_heart.aspx)

A great source of physical activity is walking. It is free, works the whole body, doesn’t put too much strain on joints and you can easily monitor how many steps you walk. Please follow our link to see some of the great walk groups we have set up.

If your weight is worrying you or you would like to know how you can manage your weight better please follow the link to Vitality Health and Wellbeing Weight Management page.

Within the CVD programme we offer a one to one 12 Week programme. Here you will have the opportunity to partake in gym based activities at your own level alongside a personal adviser. This is available on referral to the CVD team.