How can swimming improve your heart health?
Taking care of your cardiovascular health is one of the most important things you can do if you want to live a long, fulfilling life. The problem is that many people don’t know a lot about heart health or which types of exercise offer the best solution.
Swimming just a few times per week can have an amazing effect on your heart health and the rest of your body. To give you an idea of why you might want to consider making swimming your go-to physical activity, here are eight ways that swimming is good for cardiovascular health:
Swimming Reduces Heart Rate
Since the heart is a muscle just like other muscles in your body, you can strengthen it with different forms of physical activity. A strong heart will pump more blood with each beat, making it more efficient and reducing your risk of heart disease. Swimmers will often have a resting heart rate of around 40 beats per minute while the average person will typically hit between 60 and 70.
Swimming Lowers Blood Pressure
Millions of people suffer from high blood pressure, leaving them vulnerable to heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems. By strengthening your heart through swimming, you’ll achieve better blood flow, thereby lowering your blood pressure. Swimming just a few hours per week is enough to keep your heart healthy and is often more effective than other forms of exercise.
Improve Circulation
Poor circulation can lead to several health problems, often starting with numbness or tingling in a person’s limbs. With a lower heart rate and better blood flow, you can reduce the severity of the sensation or even eliminate it altogether. This can often be achieved by swimming just 30 minutes per day.
Swimming Lowers Stress
Stress can have an enormous negative effect on your heart health, which is a big reason why you need to learn how to relax. Swimming has proven to be a very relaxing activity that can significantly lower a person’s stress level. This is achieved by the exercise itself, but also because swimming is typically known to be a fun activity, which helps release endorphins and put us in a better mood.
Helps with Weight Loss
It’s no secret that obesity is a leading cause of heart disease and other cardiovascular problems. If you’re looking for a great weight loss method, jumping in the pool should be at the top of your list. Depending on the type of swimming you do, the average person will burn between 150 and 400 calories every 30 minutes, making it one of the best exercises for shedding weight.
Improves Breathing
Given how swimming works, swimmers can breathe faster and longer in a single breath than most people who shy away from the water. While you’re swimming, you’ll be engaging the large muscle groups and elevating your heart rate, which makes your lungs work more efficiently. This can lead to better stamina and extended workouts, which will improve your heart function even more.
Swimming Builds Strength
Having a strong body has an incredible effect on the functioning of our internal organs. Whenever you build strength, this means that you’re taking part in some form of physical activity which, in turn, will strengthen your heart and improve its overall function. The added muscle will also help you burn calories much faster, which will help you lose weight and improve your heart health.
Boosts Metabolism
For whatever reason, people typically overlook metabolism when discussing various forms of exercise. Boosting your metabolism will not only improve the way in which your heart functions, but will also make your body more efficient and, as most people are aware, you’ll burn calories more quickly. A 30-minute swimming session is equivalent to 45 minutes of land-based exercise, which makes it a perfect addition to a healthy lifestyle.
Contact Larsen’s Pool & Spa to Build Your Dream Swimming Pool!
As you can see, swimming isn’t just good for cardiovascular health – it’s great! As the most popular custom pool builders in Tampa Bay, Larsen’s Pool & Spa can help you design a pool that accurately reflects your need for physical activity. If you have any questions about new pool construction, swimming pool renovations, or our pool financing options, call our staff at (727) 786-POOL (7665) today.
