{"id":5397,"date":"2018-10-08T11:23:44","date_gmt":"2018-10-08T15:23:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naturalwellness.com\/nwupdate\/?p=5397"},"modified":"2019-05-02T09:42:25","modified_gmt":"2019-05-02T13:42:25","slug":"what-are-the-best-cardio-exercises-to-do-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naturalwellness.com\/nwupdate\/what-are-the-best-cardio-exercises-to-do-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are the Best Cardio Exercises to Do at Home?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If exercise was fun, they wouldn\u2019t call it exercise. Imagine a world like that, where leisure was flipped on its head. Instead of going to the movies, we\u2019d ask our friends to run laps. We\u2019d wake up early on the weekends overjoyed by the prospect of stretching. We\u2019d gobble up kale by the bowlful and take our sweethearts to yoga studios instead of dance halls.<\/p>\n

\"Yoga<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re already the sort of guy or gal who prefers healthy recreation over reclining, congratulations! Though, chances are, you feel the same way after a long day of work as the rest of us: Exhausted!<\/p>\n

We all know that exercise is good for us, but knowing and doing are not the same thing.<\/p>\n

And, for some people, that\u2019s a non-issue. Those blessed with good metabolism and moderate eating habits may never know the curse of love handles.<\/p>\n

Of course, exercise is more than vanity. Exercise keeps your body functioning efficiently. You may think you\u2019re in average shape, but you may not even recognize the warning signs your body is giving you.<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll discuss not only simple, easy cardio exercises to do at home<\/a>, but how to tell if your heart is at risk.<\/p>\n

9 Signs of an Unhealthy Heart<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you have diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or you\u2019re overweight, know that these are all potential risk factors to your heart. If you suffer from any of these conditions, you should be seeing your doctor regularly. Men and women 60-years-old and older are also at greater risk for heart disease, which remains the leading cause of death in the United States.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Chest pain is often cited as an indicator of heart disease, but do you consider chest \u201cdiscomfort\u201d in the same category? A heart attack may feel like an elephant is sitting on your chest, but it could also feel as mild as a pinch or a burning sensation. \u201cIf you’re not sure,\u201d says Dr. Charles Chambers, director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute, \u201cget it checked out.\u201d Women in particular may experience heart problems, even heart attacks, without any chest pain at all.<\/li>\n
  2. For both men and women, heart disease may manifest in the bedroom. Erectile dysfunction is a common side effect of arterial disease in men.<\/li>\n
  3. For women, a reduced libido often accompanies a post-menopausal state, which is not by itself a sign of heart disease but does manifest at the same time as other changes, like shifts in blood pressure and cholesterol level.<\/li>\n
  4. Unhealthy gums are another overlooked sign of cardiovascular distress. If you develop a serious gum infection (periodontitis<\/a>), it may lead to inflammation throughout the body and precipitate heart disease or attack.<\/li>\n
  5. Swelling in the legs and feet, too, can indicate congestive heart failure.<\/li>\n
  6. So can persistent gastrointestinal distress.<\/li>\n
  7. A sudden, persistent cough.<\/li>\n
  8. Trouble breathing when you sleep<\/li>\n
  9. Even hair loss on your legs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Don\u2019t ignore these telling signs. Remember that old adage: If you see something, say something! Specifically, to your doctor.<\/p>\n

    Why Cardio Exercise?<\/h2>\n

    When we say you should exercise, that doesn\u2019t mean you need to transform yourself into Arnold Schwarzenegger. Getting buff and getting in shape are two very different things.<\/p>\n

    Cardiovascular exercise is just exercise that raises your heart rate over an extended period of time. Your heart is a muscle, and when you exercise it you make it stronger. When you strengthen your cardiovascular system, it can deliver more oxygen to the cells in your muscles and enable you to burn more fat \u2013 not only when exercising, but even standing still.<\/p>\n

    You may not have the time or the money for an expensive gym membership, but there are easy exercises you can do at home \u2013 and for free \u2013 that will strengthen your heart.<\/p>\n

    Best Cardio Exercises to Do at Home<\/h2>\n

    As Trevor Thieme, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist<\/a>, explained to Beachbody on Demand, \u201cPeople tend to think of cardio in terms of steady-state exercise, like jogging. But really, cardio is anything that:<\/p>\n

    A. raises your heart and breathing rates and
    \nB. improves the function of your heart, lungs, and circulatory system.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Thieme went on to explain that this definition can encompass a wide range of activities not limited to strength training, such as raking leaves, moving furniture and carrying groceries up the stairs.<\/p>\n

    \"Raking<\/p>\n

    We think it\u2019s important to include this information because it dispels the common belief that exercise needs to be rigorous, difficult and intense. Actually, you\u2019re doing cardio exercises every day. With that in mind, we hope cardio seems less daunting.<\/p>\n

    So, what\u2019s an easy exercise you can do anywhere? Jumping jacks.<\/p>\n