Though exercise is beneficial and important for everyone, people with chronic health conditions -- like heart disease, hypertension and diabetes -- really need to be sure to get plenty of regular exercise. Exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle to help prevent and manage chronic diseases like these. But it's also important to remember to check with your doctor before you start any exercise program to make sure that it's safe.
The Role of Exercise
Exercise helps to manage weight, which in turn helps to prevent a number of chronic diseases -- including heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. But if you already have these diseases, getting regular exercise can also help to keep them under control and prevent further complications. Exercise can strengthen your heart, lower blood pressure and help to stabilize blood glucose levels.
Exercises to Try
Doing a variety of exercises can help your heart to work more efficiently and manage health problems. Aerobic exercise, which increases heart rate, can help to improve cardiovascular problems and manage weight, but strengthening exercises, including lifting weights, can also help to build up muscle tone and strengthen bones.
Managing Chronic Disease
If you have a chronic disease like heart disease, hypertension and/or diabetes -- and often, these diseases may strike together -- exercise can be a great way to manage them. If your doctor gives the OK, beginning a regular exercise program to help you reduce many risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure. Taking medications as directed and eating a healthy diet are also important in managing these chronic diseases.
Adding Exercise to Your Day
Ideally, you should try to exercise four to six days out of the week, for at least 30 minutes at a time. But if you're new to exercising or have a chronic health problem, you'll need to work up to that gradually. Schedule time to work out at the gym or at home, but also work in physical activity throughout your day. Walk as much as you can, or do work cleaning the house or picking up in the yard.
