This February marks 57 consecutive years of raising Heart Health Awareness. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in both men and women. But the good news is that by making healthy choices and managing our health conditions we can reduce the risk of heart disease.
The heart is a muscle; it beats 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As we work through this year, focusing on strengthening muscle is a wise choice, and something we can do while having fun!
Water exercise provides additional benefits that are not found with land exercise alone. Repeated workouts in the pool can help reduce the stiffening of blood vessels, a primary factor for increased blood pressure as we age.
Target heart rates while exercising in shallow water average about 7 beats per minute lower than the same intensity exercise on land and up to 17 beats per minute lower when exercising in deep water.
Besides making the heart stronger, other heart-healthy benefits while working out in water include decreasing the resting heart rate and increasing stroke volume.
The Houstonian Club offers complimentary Water Fitness classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 to 11 a.m. and on Saturdays from 8 to 9 a.m. Seasonal classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. will be added in early April. Please register for classes using the MindBody App.
Water exercise – it’s good for the heart!
By Donna Barnett