Give Your Heart Some Lovin'

By LL

It's Valentine's Day. Whether that statement makes you cringe, roll your eyes, feel depressed, feel happy or flat out feel nothing, well that doesn't matter. Today is a day to give your heart some tender lovin' care, not just because it is Valentine's Day, but also because February is American Heart Month.

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 17 MILLION people die of cardiovascular disease each year. And, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women, with 1 in every 4 deaths caused by heart disease in 2009! Those are some scary statistics, especially when you have multiple risk factors - high cholesterol, poor diet, genetics....with the number one risk factor being a sedentary lifestyle.

So, why not give your heart a little lovin' on Valentine's Day? Get up and do a little extra physical activity today. Tack on an extra mile to your run. Add some strength training at the end of your usual cardio routine. Run up the stairs at work (after this post I would hope none of you are still taking the elevator). Add ankle rolls and leg lifts while sitting at your desk. Better yet, make a conscious effort to stand most of the day instead of sitting. Already got your workout in this morning? Add a shorter workout in after work.

Simply getting 20-30 minutes of moderate (we're not talking distance running or killer cardio routines here, more like walking or bike riding) physical activity each day has been shown to improve your HDL cholesterol, increase insulin sensitivity (which decreases your risk of diabetes), reduces your risk of heart disease (heart lovin') and some forms of cancer, and (the real kicker for Valentine's Day), it can boost your sex drive!

Don't wait for someone else to take care of your heart today. Do it yourself.