The Importance Of Heart Health For Men | Exercises To Help Better Heart Health

Written by Mark Manning, Level 3 PT and Level 4 Nutrition Coach.

 

We often take our bodies for granted, assuming they'll always keep working when we need them to. After all, they've always done so in the past, right? 

Now, I don't want to sound like a bore, but a busy, stressful life can affect your health. But if do you want to live fast, you need to look after yourself, especially your heart. 

Think of your heart as your engine room. It delivers nutrients and oxygen throughout your body while removing waste along the way. And it does this all day, every single day. 

While you sleep, your heart rate decreases. When you get up, your muscles need oxygen to carry you to breakfast, the office, or the gym. And when you exercise, your heart adjusts and supplies the necessary oxygen and glucose to meet your body’s demands. 

Clearly, your heart is important, so it's worth taking care of it.  

 

Why is heart health important?  

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the UK, but following a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the chance of it happening.  

It sounds scary, but the good news is there are things you can do to help reduce the chance of this happening. 

One of the best things you can do to improve your heart health is to do aerobic exercise, or cardio.  

If you’re like me, you may immediately think of spandex leggings, leotards, and ankle warmers, but you don’t need to dress that way for cardio to be effective.  

You could jog, cycle, swim, dance, play a sport like football, basketball, or tennis. Or you could do a HIIT circuit. As long as, you get your heart pumping regularly, it’s good for you. 

Strength training can also be good for your heart health as well as overall health, with benefits like improved blood flow and lower blood pressure. 

 

Doctor's Advice

Dr Ishrat Ahmed, Group Medical Director at The Hut Group, says: 

"The heart works as a muscular pump, and with each beat it pumps blood across the body. It sends oxygen and vital nutrients to all necessary organs and muscles to help them work properly and takes away waste.

Sometimes your heart and circulatory system may not work like they should and this is known as cardiovascular disease.This can lead to conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. It is usually caused by a gradual build-up of fatty material known as atheroma within the arteries around the heart (leading to heart attacks) and the blood supply to the brain (leading to strokes).Risk factors include lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol in excess, and being overweight.Medical risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. As we age, our risks increase. There is also an interaction between genes, lifestyle, and environmental factors.When addressing heart-related risk factors, it’s important to focus on what we can change - stop smoking, reduce alcohol, increase physical activity, and eat well. It’s also important to get help from a medical professional to be assessed and treated for other medical risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.If you are suffering from symptoms such as chest pains, particularly upon exertion, shortness of breath (more than normal), increased awareness of your heart beating or feeling skipped beats, or new ankle swelling and breathing difficulties, then please seek medical advice through your GP, an urgent care centre, or call 911 for quick medical assistance." 

 

In the zone 

There are three main variables of exercise: frequency, duration, and intensity. Frequency refers to how often you train, duration how long you train, and intensity how hard you train. 

Heart rate “zones” are used to measure intensity and range from resting/very light to maximum effort. To measure your maximum heart rate, subtract your age from 220.

So, if you’re 40 years old, your maximum heart rate would be 180 beats per minute (bpm). Heart rate zones are then calculated as a percentage of your maximum heart rate. 

These are the five heart rate zones and their corresponding percentages: 

1. Very light (50-60%) 
2. Light (60-70%) 
3. Moderate (70-80%) 
4. Hard (80-90%) 
5. Maximum (90-100%) 

 

Why is it important for men over 40 to look after their hearts?

As with many things in life, prevention is better than a cure. It’s the same for heart health, especially when we get closer to middle age and lifestyle factors begin to catch up. 

During this stage of life, many people have progressed far into their careers and work high-stress jobs with long hours and little time for activity. It’s easy to fall out of the habit of regular exercise when this is the case. 

It's likely other unhealthy habits have developed over the years, too. These habits are usually a problem because of their regularity, like drinking alcohol or eating too much takeaway food, and can lead to weight gain, low energy levels, and difficulty sleeping. 

Taking care of your health through exercise, helping the entire body as well as the heart, is a great way to reduce or avoid many of these issues that often get worse with age. 

 

 

How to look after your heart health 

Aerobic exercise and strength training 

Include a mix of both aerobic training and strength training in your workout routine to feel the best benefits for your health. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, like brisk walking or cycling, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise like running or swimming. And aim for two or more days of strength training that targets major muscle groups. 

 

Eat healthily 

A healthy diet is vital for good heart health. Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. Limit your consumption of processed foods, saturated fats, and added sugars. 

 

Don't stress 

Managing stress is another essential part of heart health. Chronic stress can have a negative effect on the cardiovascular system. Find healthy ways to cope, like through deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. Good sleep is also important for avoiding heart problems. 

 

Limit alcohol and don’t smoke 

Smoking and drinking too much alcohol are terrible for heart health. Among other things, smoking can damage blood vessels, while alcohol can raise blood pressure and contribute to heart failure. If you need support to reduce your consumption or quit altogether, speak to your healthcare provider. 

 

Go to the doctor 

Regular check-ups with your healthcare provider are essential for monitoring your heart health. They can assess your risk factors, perform screenings, and offer guidance on how to manage heart-related conditions like high blood pressure or high cholesterol. 

 

 

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Here’s a 30-minute HIIT workout that’ll get your heart pumping. It involves timed work and includes rest periods, cycling through several phases of loading and recovery.  

Plus, it needs minimal equipment. All you need is a pair of dumbbells and a box (or bench) to jump on top of. 

Round 1  

• Dumbbell front/side raises  
• Dumbbell bicep curls  
• Dumbbell shoulder press  
• Dumbbell row 

 

Round 2  

• Plyo box jumps  
• Dumbbell reverse lunges  
• Pulsing squat  
• Squat jumps 

 

Round 3  

• Dumbbell Russian twists  
• Sit-ups  
• Side plank  
• Renegade rows 

For a video demo, check out this post.