Chest Pain Center

What Exercise Lowers Blood Sugar the Fastest? | Controlling Blood Sugar Levels Through Physical Activity

Keeping track of your blood glucose levels should be one of your top priorities if you have diabetes. Some common health complications include heart disease, nerve damage, and mental health problems. Thankfully, doing exercise frequently can help you lower your blood sugar levels, but you may be wondering: What exercise lowers blood sugar the fastest?

The good news is that there are plenty of options you can consider. If you follow a healthy routine, you’ll be able to get lower blood sugar levels and decrease the risk of developing high blood pressure, among other benefits.

Let’s get started!

 

How Important Is It to Have an Exercise Routine When You Have Diabetes?

Exercise is an excellent way to stay healthy when you have diabetes, but you must be careful about the routines you choose. There are many benefits you can experience besides getting low blood sugar levels, including:

  • Lower insulin resistance
  • Less risk of heart disease
  • Healthy body mass index
  • Better mental health
  • Better sleep
  • Improved mood

You don’t need to have an extreme weight training session every day to get these benefits. There are plenty of diabetes exercises for elderly people (and people of all ages) you can start trying out tomorrow.

Before you start, however, make sure to ask your doctor and check your blood sugar levels before and after the routine.

 

How Does Exercise Help You Control Your Blood Glucose?

Exercise Help You Control Your Blood Glucose

When you do exercise regularly, you increase your insulin sensitivity. This is the hormone responsible for allowing your body’s cells to use your blood sugar to get more energy.

Depending on how long you’re active, you can exercise to bring down blood sugar for up to 24 hours or more.

Something important to keep in mind is that if you’re taking insulin (or diabetes pills), you must adjust your dose and/or carbohydrate intake as soon as you become physically active. Not checking your blood sugar levels before and after exercise could cause you to experience hypoglycemia.

In other words, exercise is greatly beneficial for your body and mind. However, you must choose the right activity and keep your blood sugar levels in check.

 

Can Exercise Also Cause Blood Sugar Spikes?

Even though many diabetes exercises for seniors can help them lower their blood sugar levels, others can cause the opposite effect. Some people may notice that their blood sugar goes up after exercise, which discourages them from staying active.

The short explanation is that some types of exercise can raise your blood sugar levels. If you go into competitive sports or heavy weightlifting sessions, your body could produce stress hormones like adrenaline. Adrenaline can stimulate your liver, causing it to release glucose to get your body more energy to finish the workout, which can spike your blood sugar levels.

Heavy weightlifting is excellent for those who want to increase muscle mass, keep a healthy body weight, and other benefits. However, you may not be able to take intense sessions at first.

The best thing you can do is to ask your physician to see which exercise options are more viable for you. If all you want to do is keep a healthy weight and control your blood sugar levels, there are plenty of workouts you can follow that will do the trick.

 

What Exercise Is Best for Lowering Your Blood Sugar?

Exercise for Lowering Your Blood Sugar

It’s recommended for people with diabetes to get at least 150 minutes of exercise per week. This translates to 20-25 minutes of physical activity each day.

Now, which exercise is best for lowering your blood sugar? It depends on your case. There are many amazing moderate-intensity exercises that do a great job at lowering your blood sugar, so it may be hard to decide which ones do it best or faster.

If you’re serious about controlling your blood sugar levels fast, however, there are two options you could try out first.

The first option is walking. Walking has always been one of the best exercises for everyone, especially seniors. It helps people with diabetes get better circulation, strengthen key muscle groups, and of course, lower blood sugar levels.

You can start by brisk walking for 20-30 minutes each day. As your body gets stronger, you could increase the intensity a bit. If you reach a point where you can start running or using a stationary bike, make sure to ask your physician first.

The second option is light resistance and strength training. Remember you don’t have to start with an intense fitness class or heavy weights. You can begin with short sessions of squats or leg raises; these are perfect for bringing those blood sugar levels down.

If you don’t feel comfortable with squats yet, for example, you could incorporate a chair. This allows you to progress into the movement more easily. All you have to do is sit on the chair and get up. These exercises are also amazing for weight loss.

 

Other Activities You Can Include in Your Exercise Regimen

Even though these are the two best options for moderate-intensity exercise, there are many more you can incorporate into your daily routine. These include:

  • Yoga
  • Tai Chi
  • Dancing
  • Yard Work
  • Posture Exercises
  • Stretching
  • Chair Exercises
  • Swimming
  • Cycling
  • Pilates

Keep in mind that some of these exercises may be more intense than others. We recommend you take the necessary precautions regardless of which activity you plan to do. The more careful you are, the more likely you’ll be to get all the benefits of regular exercise.

If you’re looking to relax your mind too, we suggest you try out yoga and tai chi. Both of these involve low-impact movements, meditation, and breathing. Incorporating yoga/tai chi sessions into your routine will help your body and mind feel at ease.

 

Bottom Line

There are countless benefits to exercise. The best news is that you can still do many workouts if you have diabetes.

Whether you decide to start walking or swimming, remember to check your blood sugar levels before and after exercising, ask your doctor, and start small. If you don’t feel motivated enough, you could ask a friend or relative to tag along! That will make your workout more fun.

Does Alcohol Lower Heart Rate? | The Impact of Alcohol on Heart Health

Getting alcoholic drinks from time to time may not seem like such a problem for most people. Unfortunately, drinking alcohol too frequently can cause a wide range of health complications, including cardiovascular disease. If you have a heart condition, you may already know that exercise and diet will help you stay healthy, but if you drink alcohol regularly, you may have to take a few extra measures to avoid further complications.

How does alcohol affect your heart rate? The short answer is that drinking too much can lower your heart rate and breathing to dangerous levels. Having more than three drinks per day can increase your risk of suffering cardiovascular death or other severe conditions.

Does this mean that you can’t have alcoholic beverages anymore? It’s a bit more complicated than that. This article has all the information you may need on how alcohol affects your heart.

 

How Binge Drinking Affects Your Heart Health

Alcohol is a “depressant” drug, which causes quite the opposite effect as a stimulant. The more you drink, the slower the control your brain has over your body.

If you have a moderate alcohol consumption habit, you may experience how your speech gets slurred, you lose control over your body, and more. What happens when you drink too much, though?

People who drink regularly will probably not feel much, but this isn’t because the drink doesn’t affect them. It’s probably because the body developed a strong tolerance to alcohol’s effects, but it can still be a risk factor for high blood pressure and other health risks.

When you drink, many things are happening in your body, such as:

  • The blood vessels dilate.
  • Your breathing slows down.
  • There’s higher activity in the sympathetic nervous system.
  • There’s more blood moving through your heart.

If you drink too much, you’re making your heart overwork itself to fight the alcohol you’re consuming. This leads to an abnormal heart rhythm and an increased risk of suffering from a heart attack.

Binge drinking already affects people with no known health conditions. Those with existing heart problems will have even higher risks after consuming more than a few drinks a day.

 

Other Consequences You Can Get from Heavy Drinking

Heavy Drinking

Heavy drinking doesn’t only affect your cardiovascular system. There are plenty of consequences to your mind and body that you expose yourself to every time you get alcoholic drinks.

Short-term risks include:

  • Body injuries
  • Risky sexual behavior
  • Alcohol poisoning
  • Violence or erratic behavior
  • Miscarriage/stillbirth or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Long-term risks, on the other hand, are much more severe to you and your environment. These include:

  • Cardiovascular problems
  • Weaker immune system
  • Memory problems
  • Cancer
  • Social problems
  • Alcohol use disorders
  • Depression and/or anxiety

 

Understanding Moderation

As with everything else in life, you’ll take good care of your health as long as you take your drinks in moderation. Adults are recommended to either not drink or do it in moderation.

You’re considered to be “binge drinking” if you have over 4-5 drinks per day. On the other hand, you’re considered a “heavy drinker” when you have over 8-15 drinks per week.

Keep in mind that drinking excessively on certain occasions doesn’t necessarily mean you’re an alcoholic.

Most people feel their heart pounding after drinking alcohol, which is why it’s confusing to see that drinks can also slow down your heart rate. As mentioned before, you’ll experience a slower heart rate if you drink excessively one day, which is as dangerous (if not more) as getting a fast heart rate.

How Much Alcohol Is Considered Safe?

Men should limit their intake to two drinks or less per day, whereas women should only have one.

It’s important to note that alcohol isn’t safe for our health in any capacity. The best thing you can do if you want to take care of your health is to stop drinking.

 

What About the “Benefits” of Moderate Drinking?

Benefits of Moderate Drinking

Some people argue that alcohol could have benefits like:

  • Lower risk of dying of heart disease
  • Lower risk of diabetes
  • Lower risk of having an ischemic stroke

Still, this doesn’t mean that you should start drinking every day in hopes of getting these benefits. The evidence is uncertain in most cases.

On the other hand, there are many healthier alternatives to keeping your heart in great condition, such as a good diet and exercise.

Even if you drink moderately, you’re exposed to other risks besides heart problems. It’s unlikely for a medical expert to recommend drinking alcohol as a way to get health benefits.

 

Is It “Ok” to Drink Alcohol After Heart Bypass Surgery?

This is one of some people’s main concerns after getting these procedures done. How soon can you drink alcohol after open heart surgery? Is it even possible?

A few studies have examined how alcohol consumption affects mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. The conclusion states that only heavy drinking presents a considerable risk factor among CABG patients. However, this doesn’t mean that you should drink right after surgery as if nothing happened.

Bypass patients can drink again as long as their doctor allows them to. Keep in mind that people who underwent surgery will likely get medication to control their blood pressure. Alcohol can alter that medication and make it less effective.

Most of the time, it’s not “ok” to drink alcohol after getting surgery. You would have to wait until you get permission from your doctor. Even then, it’s not recommended to drink again, as that could affect your heart considerably in the future.

 

What Can You Do to Lower Your Alcohol Intake Safely?

Going “cold turkey” with alcohol isn’t recommended if you’re used to drinking every day. This could make you experience withdrawal symptoms that affect your physical and mental health.

If you want to lower your intake safely, the best thing you can do is to gradually switch to a lighter drink. You can also add water to your drinks to make them less intense.

Other tips include:

  • Have a decent diet.
  • Keep yourself hydrated with safe and non-alcoholic drinks.
  • Take vitamin B1.
  • Start drinking lower amounts of alcohol.

Once you’ve reached a certain point, you could try to stop drinking entirely. It’s important to seek help from mental health professionals and loved ones during these times, especially if you feel like you’re struggling to stop.

 

Bottom Line

Alcohol consumption isn’t entirely safe on any level. However, you can drink in moderation and stay healthy.

If you’re planning on drinking, make sure not to take too much. This can cause your heart rate and breathing levels to go extremely low, which can expose you to many short and long-term problems.

Life After Heart Valve Replacement: Can You Exercise After Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?

Undergoing something as severe as heart surgery is not a walk in the park. This is a physically and emotionally overwhelming experience; therefore, you need to ensure you give yourself the time to recover properly. One of the biggest concerns many people have is what their life is going to be like after surgery. Can you exercise after heart valve replacement surgery? What food should you eat? How drastically is your life going to change?

All this depends on the type of replacement you get. Some people have to have open heart surgery, while others can get minimally invasive surgery. Minimally invasive surgery is often easier to heal from. However, here’s what you can expect.

 

What to Expect Immediately After Heart Valve Surgery

As should be expected, you’ll have to stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) after your heart valve repair or replacement so that the doctors can monitor you appropriately and ensure your body is responding well to the new valve.

On average, most people stay in the hospital for two to five days after mitral or aortic valve replacement surgery. However, there’s no need to feel discouraged. During this time, your doctors will work with you to help rebuild your strength and get you moving again.

To start moving again, you’ll be able to go to the bathroom and walk down the hospital’s hallways. However, it’s crucial to do this with a physical therapist or nurse present.

 

What Happens When You Leave the Hospital?

You shouldn’t experience any shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, or other symptoms associated with heart disease. However, it will still take a few weeks before you feel completely normal again.

Before you’re ready to leave the hospital, your doctor will give you instructions and directions to ensure a smooth healing process. A few of the important details you’ll discuss will pertain to your medication, diet, physical activity, etc.

If you want to ensure your recovery process is as smooth as possible, you’ll want to stick to the following advice:

  • Follow all care instructions regarding surgical incisions
  • Take your medication as prescribed 
  • Get enough rest
  • Attend all your scheduled appointments for doctor visits and labs 
  • Gradually increase physical activities such as walking (Don’t overexert yourself.)

You might have to undergo bloodwork to assess your medication levels and diagnostic studies to evaluate your new heart valve’s function.

It’s vital to keep up with your regular checks even after you start to feel better. This will help you identify any issues with your valve or heart health should they arise, making it easier to treat.

 

Exercising After Heart Valve Surgery

Exercising After Heart Valve Surgery

Your exercise tolerance will depend on your unique circumstances. However, you need a strong heart muscle to improve your heart health and blood flow. Many teams will impose physical restrictions; however, you should allow your medical team to give you an exercise and cardiac rehabilitation program. This will help strengthen your heart again.

Some of the most common types of exercise recommended for those who’ve undergone aortic or mitral valve surgery include:

  • Walking
  • Swimming
  • Cycling

Don’t dive into high-intensity workouts too soon. If you’re eager to get back in the gym, many gyms have heart conditioning programs. Look for a gym that has well-trained instructors and is affiliated with trusted medical resources. Always discuss this with your doctor first. Ideally, you should look for a cardiac rehab program that specifically caters to cardiac fitness.

The most important thing is to start exercising slowly. You’ll gradually be able to increase your pace over time. A few other helpful tips are:

  • Don’t exercise in hot, cold, or humid spaces. Ideally, you should exercise indoors or walk around your local mall. 
  • Stay hydrated before, during, and after your workouts. Water is key in reducing the stress on your heart and dehydration. 
  • Take lukewarm showers and avoid hot saunas or steam rooms, as the steam and heat put too much pressure on your heart. 

By implementing a regular exercise program that’s suitable for your lifestyle and age, you’ll experience a massive improvement in your overall heart health.

 

Eating a Healthy Diet

Choosing to implement healthy foods into your diet will make a massive difference to your heart health. It’s time to say goodbye to junk food, such as excessive sugar, chips, and fried food.

If you need a good snack alternative, apple slices with peanut butter will not negatively impact your heart health the way chips and sweets do.

Other foods that promote better heart health include:

  • Healthy fats, such as avocados, seeds, nuts, and olive oil
  • Fish, poultry, lean meats, and beans
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Dairy products
  • Complex carbohydrates, including sweet potatoes, whole wheat pasta, and whole grain bread

It could be a good idea to schedule an appointment with a registered dietitian if you need some tips on how to prepare healthy food and stick to a disciplined diet. A professional can also help you with meal preparation and menu planning. Eating a healthy diet will also help control your blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight.

 

How Long Does it Take to Recover from Aortic or Mitral Valve Replacement?

Recover from Aortic or Mitral Valve Replacement

The time it takes to recover from any type of cardiac surgery will differ depending on the person. However, on average, it takes people approximately 4 to 8 weeks to recover. This may be shorter if you had minimally invasive surgery.

Booking an effective cardiac rehabilitation program will help ensure the healing process is as efficient as possible. This is a dedicated program that supports anyone who has experienced heart problems, such as heart valve disease and heart failure. When undergoing this program, you’ll learn how to live a healthier lifestyle and improve your quality of life.

 

The Verdict

It is certainly possible to live a normal life after undergoing mitral or aortic valve surgery. By incorporating a gradual exercise and cardiac rehabilitation program, eating a healthy diet, and following all your doctor’s guidelines and instructions, you’ll be on the road to recovery in no time!

Finding the Ideal Heart Rate Monitoring Smart Watch

Smartwatches and wristbands have evolved significantly over the years. They do much more than track your steps and movement and estimate your heart rate. Now, these modern devices can monitor your heart rate more accurately by tracing your heart’s electrical signals or ECGs. Furthermore, a heart rate monitoring smart watch can now alert you if it detects any irregular heart rhythm.

More and more companies, such as Apple, have introduced smartwatches that can monitor your heart rate effectively. However, keep in mind that while they can detect a heart rhythm disorder or atrial fibrillation, it’s crucial to see your doctor as soon as possible for a formal diagnosis and treatment. Ultimately, these devices can be extremely helpful for anyone who has struggled with their heart health.

 

Heart Rate Monitoring Smart Watches on the Market

Continuous heart rate tracking has numerous benefits, such as it can manage your stress levels, improve athletic performance, and track your heart health. These can be worn during exercise and while you’re sleeping.

With so many options on the market, it can be challenging and overwhelming to choose the right fit for you. Here are some high-quality smartwatches that are worth considering if you need to monitor your heart rate:

Apple Watch Series 8

It should be no surprise that the Apple Watch makes this list. This is considered a long-term investment as it has many worthwhile features, including:

    • Blood oxygen readings
    • Sleep tracking
    • Fall detection
    • Music control 
    • Guided meditations
    • Fitness features

Now, one of its most useful features is that it can take an electrocardiogram (EKG) reading, which helps detect any early signs of atrial fibrillation. However, the Series 8 heart rate monitor is the same as the Series 7.

Fitbit Versa 4

The Fitbit Versa 4 offers 24/7 heart rate tracking, which is always displayed directly on the home screen. You can also use it to track trends and other historical health data.

This smartwatch is also known for its powerful battery life, water-resistant design, and fitness tracker.

Google Pixel Watch

This is considered one of the most accurate heart rate tracking watches and tracks your heart rate once per second. It also offers EKG monitoring, whereby you need to place your finger on the crown of the watch while it takes your EKG reading.

This watch does have a sensor that tracks your blood oxygen levels; however, this feature has not yet been unlocked.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

This watch integrates with the Samsung Health app, which constantly provides heart rate data and signals if your rate is too high or low.

Other features that make this a viable option is its long battery life and waterproof and lightweight design.

 

Why Is a Heart Rate Monitoring Smart Watch Important?

Heart Rate Monitoring Smart Watch

There are many reasons why you should monitor your heart rate regularly, such as:

  • Helps you manage chronic conditions
  • Can track how hard you’re working out
  • Could indicate when there is a potential health problem

However, you should not rely on these devices to screen for atrial fibrillation. If you suspect you have a more serious heart condition, make sure to visit a cardiologist as soon as possible.

 

Features to Look for in Heart Rate Monitor Watches

It’s important to consider the various health tracking features a smartwatch has to offer before investing in one. Plus, these features can be helpful whether you have a health condition, are an athlete, or simply want to monitor your heart metrics. Keep in mind that the features you look for will differ depending on your lifestyle and conditions. If you’re someone who has a heart or lung condition, you want to look for oxygen and blood pressure monitoring as well as ECG monitoring. However, it’s vital to remember that this information is not a substitute for formal medical tests from a doctor.

Make sure to look for these top features:

ECG/ EKG Capabilities

Many smartwatches can take your ECG, including Apple, Google, and Samsung. This is a test that measures the strength and frequency of the electrical signals your heart generates while its contracting and beating.

Why would you need this? Well, it allows you to identify any abnormal cardiac activity, including atrial fibrillation. If you have had a history of irregular sinus rhythm, you could benefit from this. When you get a reading indicating abnormal activity, get medical care, as these devices cannot treat you and are not a formal diagnostic test.

However, smartwatches cannot successfully identify any signs of a heart attack. Therefore, if you experience chest pain or any other type of symptom, make sure to go to the hospital immediately.

Heart Rate Monitoring

This is the most basic feature you should look for in a smartwatch. While most of the watches on the market have these features, some offer more advanced options, such as stress tracking, heart rate variability monitoring, and heart rate alerts.

Furthermore, you can adjust the heart rate alerts according to your normal active and resting heart rate. This way, you can rest assured knowing you’ll be alerted in your heart rate is doing anything out of the ordinary.

Many people love using this function when exercising and tracking calories.

 

The Bottom Line

Smartwatches

Smartwatches have evolved over the years and are now able to provide more accurate data when it comes to tracking your heart rate and irregular heart rhythms. This can be a useful tool for anyone who has experienced heart conditions or diseases, as it allows you to identify possible complications as soon as possible.

It’s important to note that heart rate monitoring smart watches are useful devices and can help you improve your heart health overall. However, they are by no means a substitute for a medical professional. As soon as your smart watch identifies something irregular, it’s best to contact your cardiologist, who can conduct more tests and accurately confirm whether you have atrial fibrillation or any other heart disease. This way, you can address any potential concerns before they develop into a more serious condition.

20 Cardio Exercises with Minimal Equipment: Tips to Try at Home and the Best Heart Rate for Cardio Workout Sessions

Protecting your cardiovascular health, or in other words, looking after your heart, is the key to avoiding a host of problems. Everyone can benefit from some moderate-intensity exercise to get their heart rate going and boost their cardiovascular fitness. Part of managing that is having a regular exercise routine and knowing the best heart rate for cardio workout activities.

Here is an overview of the things you need to know about cardio and aerobic exercise, testing your heart rate, and finding simple but effective workouts you can do at home.

 

How Does Cardio Help Your Heart?

Cardio Exercise Decreases Resting Heart Rate and Blood Pressure

Like any muscle you train, your heart gets stronger when it beats faster during cardio workouts. It stays stronger even when it is resting, so your body is healthier all the time.

Lower Blood Fats and Boost Good Cholesterol

Good cholesterol helps the body keep bad cholesterol away from your heart, keeping the arteries clear and reducing your risk of heart attacks.

It Helps Dilate Blood Vessels and Get Energy To Your Muscles

Blood vessels help your heart pump oxygen around your body to your muscles and brain. When they are stiff and restricted, you get aches, pains, and circulation problems. Cardio helps increase their flexibility and helps them feed your muscles more effectively.

 

Why Does Target Heart Rate Matter?

Why Does Target Heart Rate Matter

Reaching your target heart rate when working out matters because it helps your body efficiently pump oxygen and burn fat. If you don’t push it hard enough, your muscles don’t get the energy they need to build strength and stay flexible, push too hard, and you could over-exert yourself.

Knowing where your ideal target heart rate zone lies and how to measure it helps you stay in better control of your physical activity and get more from your workouts. It can also make a difference if you are on a journey to try to lose weight, as you can ensure your body is working at the rate it needs to burn enough calories.

 

What Is the Estimated Maximum Heart Rate Goal for Cardio Exercise?

Your target zone for your heart rate depends on your age and how vigorous your workout plan is. The goal is to hit between 50 and 70 percent of your maximum heart rate- which you can find if you subtract your age from 220. When you are pushing for a harder workout, you can strive for a higher percentage between 70 and 85.

How Can You Measure Your Heart Rate?

Take two fingers and press lightly on the artery in your wrist on the side where your thumb is.

Count your heartbeats using your pulse or heart rate for 30 seconds, and multiply the number by two. This gives you the beats per minute. Compare that to 220 minus your age (your maximum heart rate) and figure out the percentage. From there, you can see if you are in your target heart rate zone.

 

20 At-Home Cardio Workouts for a Minimal Equipment Exercise Routine

At-Home Cardio Workouts

Here are 20 simple cardio workouts you can do without leaving the house or spending a fortune on gym equipment.

• Leg stands

Start easy by standing with legs a bit apart and slowly lift one leg, bending your knee toward your abdomen. Hold it for a few seconds and repeat with the opposite leg.

• Arm circles

These are great if you are looking for easy things to do when sitting down. You can sit or stand with your arms stretched out to the sides, then move in small circular motions toward the front for 10 seconds, then to the back.

• Jog on the spot

Jogging in place is a great warm-up cardio activity to get your heart going and stretch your muscles. You can go at a pace that feels good for you and slowly build up until you reach your target heart rate.

• Climb the stairs

Who needs a stairmaster when you have stairs? Going up and down the stairs is excellent exercise for your lower body, and if you are out of practice will have your heart rate climbing faster than you are!

• Mountain climbers

Get down onto all fours with your arms and legs extended. One leg at a time, pull your knees to your chest in a running motion.

• Burpees

Start standing, crouch to the floor, put down your hands, and jump back with your legs. Then, reverse! Burpees can be tough, but they are very effective.

• Shuttle runs

Perfect for the backyard, shuttle runs work your heart through short sprints. Start with a small distance and go gradually further.

• High knee kicks

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and bring one knee at a time upward as far as you can. If you can, add a bit of a jump in between to make it more like O.T.T. jogging on the spot.

• Walk

Get out of the house and go for a brisk walk around the block. It does wonders for the body and mind.

• Power walk

Take it up a notch with speed walking. Holding small weights as you go can add to the intensity.

• Jump rope

Go back to elementary school with your trusty jump rope. This is an excellent intermediate-intensity workout that burns fat and elevates your heart rate quickly. If you don’t have a jump rope, do the motion without it.

• Hula hooping

Another fun throwback to childhood that does wonders for your cardiovascular fitness is hula hooping. Although you can do the motion without the hoop, it works better with one, and you can pick one up cheaply. Swing those hips, work your abdomen, and get the blood pumping.

• Stool steps

Get a small stool (you can also use the bottom step) and step up and down one foot at a time. Speed it up if it feels too easy.

• Squat jumps

Drop into a squat, then spring up to a jump- landing back in the squat before pushing off again.

• Jumping jacks

Jumping jacks can be as low or as high intensity as you want. They are great for working out your entire body and quickly increasing your heart rate at home.

• Lunges

Keep your hands on your hips with one leg forward. Bend your knee and lean forward, then push back up again.

• Air jabs

Get into a fighting pose and quickly but powerfully shoot out your arms to punch the air.

• Freestyle dancing

Put on some music and let your body move to the beat! Dance until you feel your heartbeat rising, and try to continue for 10 minutes at full pace.

• Side shuffles

Move from side to side by dropping into a wide-legged squat and shifting your weight to one side as you come back up. Keep going until you reach the wall, then go back the other way.

• Toe touches

Stand with legs apart and take turns touching each foot with the opposite hand.

 

Summary

Hit your target heart rate and stay fit from the comfort of your home with the 20 cardio-tastic exercises!

Easy-to-Do Stretches for Heart Health

Heart disease is a growing problem in the USA. Men and women across the country suffer more now with high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and weight-related vascular disease than ever before, and the battle to improve heart health is vital. The knew take on looking after your ticker is stretching for heart health.

It is well known that stretching is good for muscle strain, and the heart is, at the end of the day, a big old muscle mass- a muscle mass that happens to keep you alive. Diet and exercise are extremely important for preventing heart disease, but stretching could be the cherry on top to boost heart health in a light, enjoyable, and mindful way.

 

How Can Stretching Keep Your Heart Healthy?

Let’s be clear: Stretching alone is not enough to keep your heart health where it should be. You still need to maintain a balanced diet and take part in regular exercise programs. That said, incorporating some light stretching into your routine a few times a week can aid with weight loss, ease joint pain, and help build core musculoskeletal health.

An added bonus: it is also good for your heart! Here are a couple of the ways it can benefit the body’s most important muscle.

Boost Your Blood Flow

In recent group studies, stretching was seen to improve blood flow by boosting the function of blood vessels. Good blood flow leads to a happier heart muscle and reduced arterial stiffness, which is a fancy way of saying the core muscles and vessels surrounding your heart don’t have to work so hard to keep your body going, which in turn reduces your risk of having a heart attack.

Lower Your Blood Pressure

Although it doesn’t have quite as significant long-term impacts on blood pressure, there are studies that show stretching relieves stress, and lowered stress levels can mean lower blood pressure.

 

Four Simple Stretches to Keep Your Heart Happy

Stretches to Keep Your Heart Happy

The following stretch exercises are what we call passive stretching, which means they use resistance bands, your body weight, and gravity to add a little extra and get a full, effective stretch. Unlike heavy resistance training, they don’t use additional weights, so they are easy to do at home with little to no equipment.

Here are a few ideas to get you started!

• Seated head-to-knee stretch

Sit on the floor and stretch your right leg straight out in front of you. Put your left foot against the inside of your right thigh.

Lean forward to fold your torso over your right leg. If you feel able to, hold your arms out straight towards your right foot to deepen the stretch. Keep your back straight, and hold the stretch for between 10 and 30 seconds.

Repeat the same stretch with your left leg straight and right leg bent.

• Standing hip stretch

Begin in a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart. Step forward slightly with one foot, keeping the other firm where it is.

Bend your knee on the back leg to drop it a little closer to the ground. Keep your back straight while you do it, and drop the knee only as far as you can without losing balance or feeling pain.

Hold for around 10 seconds, return to standing straight, then repeat with the same leg another four times.

Start the second set after a 30-second break with the other leg moved forward.

• Torso twist

You can do this standing or sitting in a chair (using a chair is recommended if you have mobility issues or bad balance. If you are sitting, keep your feet flat on the floor. In the standing position, keep your feet below your shoulders.

Put the palms of your hands on the back of your head with your elbows out.

Slowly twist your torso from the waist to face the side, moving your head around at the same time. Keep your hips still- they should not turn.

Stay in this position for around 15 to 20 seconds before slowly twisting back to face the front.

Repeat the stretch around to the other side.

• Reclining figure four stretch

Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and the soles of your feet flat on the floor. If you need to use a pillow to make it more comfortable, you can place a thin one under your hips.

Put your right foot over your left thigh, then pull that thigh toward your head as far as you can without hurting yourself.

Gradually ease into the stretch, pulling your thing closer to your torso as and when you can. Stay in your final position for around 10 seconds.

Switch legs, and repeat.

 

A Few Tips to Get the Most from Your Stretching

  • Maintain a steady breathing pattern while you stretch. Take deep breaths and let them out slowly- don’t hold your breath.
  • A stretch should not be painful, so don’t over-exert yourself. Push as far as you can until you feel pressure, but not pain or anything more than mild discomfort.
  • You don’t need to bounce while you are holding the stretch- doing so could actually lead to strains, pulls, and other injuries.
  • Try to hold your stretches for at least 10 seconds- and up to 30 seconds if you feel like you can. Repeat the same stretch once or twice more before moving on.
  • The best time to stretch is when your muscles are warm, so do it after a bath, shower, or workout.

 

How Does Stretching Compare to Aerobic Exercise for Heart Health?

You cannot replace aerobic exercise and cardio when it comes to activities that keep your heart ticking over nicely. Aerobic exercise improves circulation and keeps blood vessels flexible and less stiff- leading to lowered blood pressure and increased blood flow. It also gets your heart rate up, which helps oxygen travel more efficiently to your brain and muscles.

Stretching also helps with high blood pressure and blood flow, but it alone is not enough to support your cardiovascular health. The combination of stretching, aerobic exercises, some light cardio, and a healthy diet is the best way to fend off vascular disease and keep yourself feeling great.

 

Final Thought

Stretching for heart

Stretching is an easy, low-impact, and manageable way to look after your body at home. It has benefits for your muscles and blood flow and is ultimately beneficial for your heart when used together with a good balance of healthy eating, light cardio, and aerobic exercises.

Finding Your Target Heart Rate for Exercise After Heart Attack

What is the target heart rate for exercise? After heart-attack victims experience this trauma, they might be too scared to introduce physical activity back into their lives. Knowing and tracking your heart rate is vital, especially if you’ve recently had a heart attack and would like to start exercising again. Fortunately, in today’s world, there are many ways to check and monitor your heart rate. You can invest in a heart rate monitor, check your pulse, or do a quick and simple calculation.

If you’d like to improve your fitness level after a heart attack or cardiovascular disease, we recommend starting with a safe and easy aerobic exercise. Throughout your workout, you’ll be able to monitor your pulse or heart rate.

While the term “target heart rate” might sound complicated to some people, this is vital information you need to be aware of. Let’s take a look at what you need to know about finding your target heart rate when engaging in physical activity.

 

What Is Target Heart Rate?

Your heart rate is an indication of how much work your heart is doing, which can be used to determine the appropriate level of intensity for your exercise routine. When determining your heart rate, you can either calculate your maximum or target heart rate.

Your maximum heart rate is the total predicted beats per minute that your heart generates during physical activity or exercise. However, keep in mind that everyone’s maximum predicted heart rate will differ depending on various factors, including your fitness level. If you want to get an accurate maximum heart rate, you should undergo exercise testing.

Now, what is your target heart rate? This is a specific range of heart rates below your maximum heart rate that will work your heart’s condition but not overwork it. Once again, this range is different for every individual and is impacted by your fitness goals and cardiovascular risk.

When you’re exercising, you should periodically check your heart rate. If it’s above your target zone, you need to decrease the intensity of your workout. However, if it’s too low, you might want to incorporate some more challenging activities into your program.

Ideally, you should aim to achieve 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week.

 

Determining Your Target Heart Rate

Determining Your Target Heart Rate

There are a number of ways to monitor your heart rate during exercise. Some are easier than others, while some methods are more accurate. Whichever method you choose, this should be helpful in ensuring you reach your goals and maintain your health and that you don’t have a dangerous heart rate that needs medical attention.

Let’s look at the three ways to monitor your heart rate:

Mathematical Equation

Even though this method involves some maths, it’s not complex. To determine your estimated maximum heart rate, simply subtract your age from 220. Therefore, if you’re 40 years old, your maximum heart rate is 180 beats per minute.

However, if you want to know your target heart rate zone, multiply your maximum heart rate by 50% to 85%. Based on the example above, your target zone if you’re 40 is 90 to 153 beats per minute.

Keep in mind that these figures are based on a healthy adult.

Feeling Your Pulse

In order to take your pulse, you need to hold one hand in front of you with your palm facing upwards. Next, you should gently place your index and middle finger on the hand in front of you. Place your fingers close to the thumb side of your wrist. Adjust your position until you can feel the pulse.

It’s always best to check your radial pulse; however, you may also check your carotid pulse or neck. When opting for these methods, make sure you check one side at a time.

Make sure you press lightly and not hard. Lastly, count the beats for 10 seconds and multiply that number by six to get your total heartbeats per minute.

While this method is appropriate for many types of exercises, it isn’t always convenient. If you’re looking for a quicker and simpler method, you might want to consider investing in a monitor.

Using a Heart Rate Monitor

There are many types of heart rate and blood pressure monitors, and these have become quite the rave in recent years. While not all of these devices are 100% accurate, they can be very precise. You can also choose between expensive and inexpensive models.

Lastly, there are also different types of monitors to choose from. You can choose between a watch-like monitor that fits around your wrist or one that goes around your chest.

 

A Changing Heart Rate

Your heart rate will change depending on the type of exercise you’re doing. Thus, don’t expect the same heart rate you get when riding a stationary bike while you’re doing heavy lifting, weight training, or running. This is normal and not a cause for concern.

 

Don’t Over Exert Yourself

Don’t Over Exert Yourself

Starting to exercise after a heart attack can be a daunting task. It’s vital to take it slowly and not put too much pressure on yourself. Before you start any form of physical activity again, it’s vital to consult your doctor and get the green light.

Remember that your body has been through something traumatic; therefore, it’s crucial to take things slowly and keep an eye out for any warning signs. If you notice any of the following symptoms, make sure to stop exercising immediately:

  • Chest pain
  • Pressure in your chest
  • Heavy feeling in your chest
  • Tight chest
  • Extreme shortness of breath
  • Pressure or pain in your neck, jaw, or arm
  • Lightheaded
  • Excessive perspiration
  • Numbness
  • Loss of color
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Gas or indigestion

If possible, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. They will tell you whether it’s safe to carry on exercising and give you other advice to prevent another cardiac event.

 

Final Words

While it’s safe to slowly introduce exercise back into your routine after experiencing a heart attack, there are a number of precautions you should take. Firstly, you should start introducing a fitness program while you’re in cardiac rehabilitation to determine if you’re ready to push yourself as you’ll be under the supervision of specialists. Secondly, we recommend monitoring your heart rate as often as possible while exercising to ensure you’re not overexerting yourself. Investing in a reliable heart rate monitor is probably the easiest way to do this.

Is an Exercise Bike Good Cardio? 7 Great Benefits of a Stationary Bike Workout

Cardio; now that’s a word some people dread. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are many benefits of a cardio workout; therefore, you should ideally try to incorporate it into your exercise routine. Plus, there are many fun and convenient ways of doing this. You don’t have to run a marathon before the crack of dawn every day. In fact, exercise bikes are an excellent way to incorporate cardio into your exercise regime. Now, you might be wondering, “Is an exercise bike good cardio?” Let’s look at seven great benefits of riding a stationary bike!

 

Is an Exercise Bike Good Cardio?

Yes, exercise bikes are a great form of cardio, especially if you’re looking to improve your heart health, lose weight, and improve your fitness level.

There are many workout plans you can choose from to find the ideal workout plan for you. However, when training on upright stationary bikes or recumbent bikes, it’s crucial to maintain a medium to high intensity to ensure your heart rate stays high. This way, you’ll be able to make the most out of your workout.

 

7 Great Benefits of a Stationary Bike Workout

Great Benefits of a Stationary Bike Workout

1. Burns Body Fat

One of the most obvious benefits of a stationary bike workout is that it burns body fat. This is because cycling is considered to be a high-intensity workout, resulting in increased strength and burnt calories. This is because your heart rate increases and your metabolism is boosted while you pedal.

According to a study conducted by Harvard Medical School, if you do an intense 30-minute cardio workout on an exercise bike and weigh approximately 125 pounds, you can burn up to 315 calories. However, if the same person did a moderate-intensity workout, they could burn up to 210 calories.

As you can see, an effective stationary bike workout can help you burn calories quickly, which results in less body fat. However, it’s still crucial to maintain a healthy diet.

2. Helps with Weight Loss

If losing weight is one of your top priorities, you need to incorporate cardiovascular exercises into your workout routine. Therefore, stationary bikes are the perfect equipment if you want to lose weight. If you want to lose weight, you need to focus on burning calories, which is what indoor cycling helps you achieve.

Keep in mind that the number of calories burnt will differ depending on your current body weight and the intensity and duration of your workout. However, by consistently riding a stationary bike, you should be able to reach your fitness and body goals.

3. Boosts Cardiovascular Fitness

Riding an exercise bike is one of the best ways to get your heart pumping. Indoor cycling is known for strengthening your lungs, heart, and muscles and increasing the flow of oxygen throughout your body.

A few ways this can benefit your health include:

    • Better sleep
    • Improved brain functioning and memory
    • A stronger immune system
    • Better mood
    • Increased energy levels
    • Lower blood pressure
    • Lower stress levels
    • Improved blood sugar levels

4. Strengthens Your Legs and Lower Body

While a stationary bike does wonders for your upper body, it’s also extremely beneficial for your lower body, including your legs. If you’re training on a recumbent bike, upright bike, or other type of stationary bike in your gym, you can get an even better cardio workout by increasing the resistance levels on the bike.

When you pedal, you’re strengthening your calves, quads, and hamstrings. However, it will also strengthen your back, core, and glutes. If the bike has handles, you’ll also be able o work on your shoulders, biceps, and triceps.

5. Is an Excellent Low-impact Workout

Using an exercise bike is a great way to get in a low-impact workout, unlike jumping rope or running. Therefore, if you’re recovering from an injury, have joint problems, or are new to working out, this is the ideal workout option for you. This is because an exercise bike allows you to practice smooth movements that don’t put unnecessary pressure on your joints.

However, this is not to be confused with an easy exercise. Riding on a stationary bike is still an effective and challenging workout. Thus, it’s still a suitable workout for beginners and fitness enthusiasts.

6. Safer than Cycling on the Road

Even though outdoor biking is a fun and exhilarating experience, it does not mean it’s without dangers. Cyclists are exposed to a number of risks such as getting hit by a car, unexpected weather conditions, uneven terrain, and more.

A stationary bike eliminates all these problems by providing a safe environment for you to do your cardio workout. Furthermore, you’re free to workout at any time of the day without having to worry about bad weather or traffic.

7. Allows for Interval Training

When training on a stationary bike, you don’t have to train continuously when you’re tired. Instead, you’re free to take breaks or split your workout between intense and less intense exercise, which can improve your cardio fitness levels and burn more calories.

Because stationary bikes usually have different resistance levels, you can exercise at different intensity levels, which is also ideal for interval training.

 

How Do Exercise Bikes Compare to Other Forms of Cardio and Fitness Equipment?

Believe it or not, an exercise bike is probably the best cardio workout you can do. This is because it’s much safer and more effective than many other types of exercises and equipment, such as aerobic exercise or a treadmill.

Many types of fitness equipment, such as the treadmill, are not suitable for people with physical injuries, including:

  • Shoulder pain
  • Knee pain 
  • Foot pain
  • Back pain 
  • Saddle sores

However, this isn’t the case with an exercise bike, which is less risky than running.

 

The Bottom Line

exercise bike is a fantastic form of cardio exercise

Put simply, an exercise bike is a fantastic form of cardio exercise. From weight loss to improved muscle strength, it offers a wide range of benefits that will improve your physical and mental health. This efficient exercise is ideal for beginners or fitness enthusiasts and will get you on track with your fitness goals in no time.

Open Heart Surgery Guide: Preparing for Surgery, What to Eat, and Exercise After Open Heart Surgery

Having to go through open heart surgery is not easy. What happens during the surgery? How do you prepare? What should you eat, and should you exercise after open heart surgery? The process might be overwhelming for many people. However, by knowing what to expect and how to care for yourself after the surgery, the recovery journey will seem easier. If you or a loved one is going to undergo surgery and wants to make the healing process as stress-free as possible, here’s what you need to know:

 

Preparing for Surgery

Open heart surgery is a complex procedure that requires careful preparation. If you or a family member is scheduled for an operation, you need to understand the steps involved in the process.

Your doctor should give you detailed instructions on how to prepare for the surgery. This will be different depending on your unique circumstances and may include imaging scans and blood tests. You may also have to take certain medications leading up to the surgery.

Other things you should plan ahead of time include:

  • Your resting area when you return
  • Your nutrition
  • The clothes you’ll wear
  • Pain relief methods, e.g. cold packs and chest support
  • Time off from work

 

Packing Your Hospital Bag

When in the hospital, you want to ensure your stay is as convenient and comfortable as possible. Therefore, you need to pack a well-stocked hospital bag that includes:

  • Comfortable clothing
  • Toiletries
  • Medication
  • Things to occupy yourself with – e.g. books
  • Etc.

 

What Happens During the Surgery?

What Happens During the Surgery

During open heart surgery, a team of experienced medical professionals will work together to bypass blocked arteries, replace or replace damaged heart valves, or any other issues that caused the heart disease. You will be given general anesthesia, meaning you’ll be unconscious during the surgery.

The surgeon will make a chest incision in the breastbone to get access to the heart. A heart-lung bypass machine takes over the heart’s function during this time to ensure the blood keeps circulating in the body and that it keeps getting oxygen.

 

Going Home

Before being discharged, you will likely have to spend some time in the hospital. During this time, your healthcare team will instruct you on how to care for yourself once you go back home. If you want to ensure a smooth recovery, it’s vital to follow these instructions daily.

Eating a Healthy Diet

Eating a balanced and nutritious diet plays a crucial role in the recovery process and reduces the risk of any unexpected complications. You should eat a wide range of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

Limit your intake of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and cholesterol. Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated throughout the day is also imperative.

Caring for Your Wounds

Proper wound care is vital if you want to prevent infection and optimize recovery. Your medical team will guide you on how to care for the incision area. Generally, this involves keeping the wound clean and dry, changing the dressing as instructed, and keeping an eye out for any risk factors, such as pus, redness, or swelling, which may be a sign of infection. If you have any unusual signs or symptoms, you need to report this to your doctor as soon as possible.

 

Should You Exercise After Open Heart Surgery?

Regular exercise plays a crucial role in the recovery process. It can help strengthen your heart and improve cardiovascular rehabilitation; however, it must be done under the supervision of a cardiac rehab team in the first few weeks.

Initially, you should start with a light walking program. After this, you can gradually increase your home exercise program with the assistance of your cardiac rehab team. They might recommend a cardiac rehabilitation program tailored to your specific needs. This type of program generally includes structured exercises, such as riding a stationary bike.

Having an exercise routine after the surgery helps improve your physical health as well as mental health by reducing stress and anxiety. However, always remember to listen to your body. Don’t do any exercises that cause chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, or lightheadedness.

We also recommend that you exercise indoors if it’s extremely cold outside. You should also try to avoid climbing stairs as much as possible. Only climb stairs when absolutely necessary and with the assistance of someone.

You should also monitor your heart rate during this period, which is something your cardiac rehabilitation team can assist with. This can be measured using the Perceived Exertion Scale, where your rate of perceived exertion should be between 11 and 13.

 

Other Useful Tips

To make the recovery process easier, here are some other useful tips:

1. Gradually Increase Your Daily Activities:

Gradually reintroduce your daily responsibilities and activities after your surgery. Start with smaller tasks, and as you see progress, gradually increase your level of activity.

2. Get Emotional Support:

Naturally, you’ll experience a range of emotions after surgery. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your loved ones for extra support during this time. You could also consider joining a support group to speak to others who have been through something similar.

3. Take Care of Your Mental Health:

This is a mentally challenging process. Therefore, you should get professional help if you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues after surgery.

4. Practice Relaxation Techniques:

Meditation and deep breathing exercises are excellent ways to promote overall well-being and reduce stress during recovery.

 

The Bottom Line

Heart Care

Whether you’re preparing for bypass surgery or a valve replacement, it’s crucial to plan properly and ensure you have an understanding of the process. By packing your hospital bag, familiarizing yourself with the surgery, and sticking to your post-surgery recovery plan, you’ll be able to optimize the recovery process and return to your normal life in no time.

Eating a healthy diet, taking care of your wounds, and gradually incorporating strength and flexibility exercises into your routine are vital. Remember to take your medication and attend your follow-up appointments. It’s also important to get emotional and mental support during this time, so try to surround yourself with loved ones as much as possible.

By following these guidelines and working with your doctor, you should have a smooth and successful recovery process after open heart surgery.

Finding a Watch that Monitors Heart Rate – Which Are the Best Ones?

Are you planning to buy a watch that monitors heart rate for yourself or a loved one? Before investing in these items, you should know if their heart-monitoring features actually work.

Many people know and use digital watches. These devices have been around for decades! However, modern ones are quite different. Actually, you can find many “smart” versions.

While old digital watches were limited to telling you the time not long ago, modern smartwatches have many impressive features. Many allow users to keep up with the news, communicate with their loved ones, or monitor their health. Also, they have a powerful battery life, so you can use them for hours or even days!

As people become more conscious about their overall health, smartwatches that monitor people’s lifestyles have also become popular. Many of these devices count steps or have sleep-tracking features, for example.

However, the most recent and interesting technology targets common cardiovascular conditions. Can these watches provide accurate health metrics to a person with heart disease?

Here’s everything you need to know about these devices and how to choose the best one for your heart health.

 

What Do These Smartwatches Do?

Heart-rate monitor watches have features specifically designed to monitor a person’s cardiovascular health.

In this regard, these are some of the common features of these devices:

  • Heart monitors or heart-monitoring tools
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG) tracking
  • Heart rate variability (HRV) tracking

To sum up, these smartwatches have been designed to display a user’s heart rates in real-time, detect irregular heart rhythm, and more. Many scan blood flow, considering factors such as blood pressure or oxygen saturation levels to provide this information.

However, you may be wondering if these smartwatches provide accurate data when it comes to heart health and can really benefit your loved ones.

 

What Do Experts Say?

What Do Experts Say

The effectiveness of smartwatches in offering accurate heart rate data and monitoring a person’s cardiovascular health has been the subject of debate since these devices first appeared.

Opinions are mixed. Many experts consider that these smartwatches can be beneficial for patients with existing cardiovascular conditions, especially seniors.

These devices could also help people with a history of heart disease in their families to monitor their health.

Many experts have also highlighted smartwatches’ great potential for detecting cardiac arrhythmias. As a result, many recommend these health-tracking devices to their patients at risk of heart disease and stroke.

Smartwatches can be a great solution to monitor your health on a daily basis. In addition, these devices often have other impressive features, such as stress tracking. They can help people take care of their bodies and seek help early if they detect something is wrong.

However, people should not rely solely on smartwatches to monitor their health, especially if they are diagnosed with heart disease. These devices do not replace visits to the doctor.

 

Can Smartwatches Help Detect or Monitor Cardiovascular Conditions?

As mentioned, many experts agree that smartwatches with heart-rate-monitoring capabilities can really benefit people.

If this device has a heart rate monitor, users can improve their stamina, spot important signs, and boost their athletic performance. That’s key to many people’s overall health.

However, many devices have additional features that can serve other functions. Some models measure users’ oxygen saturation levels. Others monitor a person’s blood pressure.

Although users should not self-diagnose using this information, the history data provided by these devices can help doctors identify trends and warning signs.

Based on this data, users can learn to identify symptoms or signs that something should be discussed with their scholars.

Plus, HRV tracking and EKG measurements can also be game changers. Here’s more information about each feature:

HRV tracking: Modern smartwatches with HRV tracking sample users’ heart rate multiple times per second, expecting to measure the variance between each heartbeat recorded.

  • EKG: This feature also monitors the heartbeat to determine if it’s too fast, slow, or irregular. Doctors can teach users to identify if this is a cause for concern and determine if they should seek help.
  • Like HRC tracking, EKG tracking can alert users when their stress levels rise. This feature is also key to identifying irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias.

Here’s An Example

In order to understand how these smartwatches work, take a look at this example.

Atrial fibrillation or A-Fib results from erratic electrical impulses, which cause an irregular heartbeat. This affects this important organ’s ability to pump blood effectively.

If the heart does not pump blood to the rest of the organs and tissues as it should, people can develop blood clots or suffer a stroke.

Many smartwatches detect signs that may indicate these conditions and alert users if the heartbeats are irregular. Fortunately, these devices can issue alerts in a relatively short period, helping people to seek help in time.

However, not all heart rate irregularities indicate a life-threatening disease or condition. People should not panic if they receive an alert from these devices. Instead, they should use their data in conjunction with doctors’ advice.

 

Why People Shouldn’t Replace Their Physician With a Smartwatch

Why People Shouldn’t Replace Their Physician With a Smartwatch

Using an Apple watch to monitor your overall health sounds tempting. It’s easier than visiting the doctor. However, these devices should not replace your physician.

Modern smartwatches can give you information about irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular conditions. However, you must set up an appointment with your physician after receiving these alerts.

Experienced doctors can perform the required tests and evaluate the symptoms to give you a proper diagnosis.

If you are part of the at-risk population, these devices can help you monitor your health on a daily basis to improve your quality of life. However, no technological solution can replace a face-to-face appointment with your doctor.

 

Final Thoughts

Smartwatches with features to track a user’s heart rate can be very beneficial for many people. However, these devices should only serve monitoring and lifestyle purposes.

Even if it has the best and latest technology, a smartwatch can never replace a cardiologist with years of experience in the area.

Instead, users can use these smartwatches’ data to detect signs that may be a cause for concern and help their physicians have more information about their overall health.