Seven ways your heart benefits from exercise — Dr. Ranjit Jagtap

Dr Ranjit Jagtap
4 min readApr 11, 2023

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Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health and well-being. It provides numerous benefits to our overall health, including a positive impact on our heart health, says Dr Ranjit Jagtap. Our heart is one of the most important organs in our body, responsible for pumping blood to all parts of the body. Exercise can help keep the heart healthy and strong. In this blog post, we will discuss seven ways in which exercise benefits our hearts and provide additional information on how to incorporate exercise into your daily routine.

Exercise Lowers Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Regular exercise can help reduce blood pressure by stimulating the production of nitric oxide, a chemical that helps dilate blood vessels, thereby reducing the resistance to blood flow. Exercise can also help reduce stress, which can contribute to high blood pressure. At least 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week can help keep blood pressure in check, according to Aditi Jagtap Pune.

Exercise Lowers Cholesterol Levels

High levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) can lead to the formation of plaques in the arteries, which can increase the risk of heart disease. Exercise helps to raise levels of good cholesterol (HDL) while lowering levels of bad cholesterol (LDL), thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. Incorporating aerobic exercise such as running, cycling, or swimming into our daily routine can help to lower cholesterol levels.

Exercise Reduces Inflammation

Inflammation is a natural response to injury or infection, but chronic inflammation can damage the lining of blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease. Exercise helps to reduce inflammation by stimulating the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Engaging in regular exercise can help to reduce inflammation. Incorporating low-impact exercises such as walking, cycling, or swimming into our daily routine can help to reduce inflammation.

Exercise Strengthens the Heart Muscle

Exercise is an excellent way to strengthen our heart muscle, making it more efficient at pumping blood throughout our body. A stronger heart means it doesn’t have to work as hard to do its job, which can reduce the risk of heart disease. Incorporating strength training exercises such as weightlifting or resistance band training into our routine can help to strengthen our heart muscles.

Exercise Improves Blood Sugar Control

High blood sugar levels can damage our blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease. Exercise helps to improve blood sugar control by increasing insulin sensitivity, which allows our cells to use glucose more effectively. Exercise is an essential part of a comprehensive approach to managing diabetes. Incorporating high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or other forms of cardiovascular exercise into our daily routine can help to improve blood sugar control.

Exercise Reduces Stress

Dr. Ranjit Jagtap says Stress is a significant contributor to heart disease, and exercise is a great way to reduce stress levels. Exercise helps to release endorphins, which are natural mood boosters, and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Yoga and other forms of exercise that incorporate mindfulness practices can be particularly effective at reducing stress levels.

Exercise Improves Sleep Quality

Sleep is essential for a healthy heart, and exercise can help to improve sleep quality. Exercise helps to regulate our body’s natural sleep-wake cycle and promote deeper, more restful sleep. Incorporating regular exercise into our daily routine can help improve sleep quality. It is important to note that exercising too close to bedtime can have the opposite effect and make it harder to fall asleep, so it is best to finish exercise at least a few hours before bedtime.

Additional Tips for Incorporating Exercise into Your Daily Routine

In compliance with Dr Ranjit Jagtap news, incorporating exercise into your daily routine can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some additional tips to help you get started:

Start small: Begin with a manageable amount of exercise and gradually increase the intensity and duration over time. This will help you avoid injury and burnout.

Find an activity you enjoy: Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. Find an activity you enjoy, whether it’s dancing, hiking, or playing sports, and make it a regular part of your routine.

Make it social: Exercising with a friend or joining a fitness class can make it more enjoyable and keep you accountable.

Incorporate movement into your day: Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk or bike instead of driving, or take a quick walk during your lunch break.

Set realistic goals: Setting goals can help motivate you and keep you on track. Make sure your goals are realistic and achievable so you don’t get discouraged.

In conclusion, regular exercise has numerous benefits for our heart health, including lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels and reducing inflammation. Exercise also strengthens the heart muscle, improves blood sugar control, reduces stress, and improves sleep quality. By incorporating exercise into our daily routine and following these additional tips, we can improve our overall health and reduce our risk of heart disease.

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Dr Ranjit Jagtap

Dr. Jagtap is an active member of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons (IACTS).