Exercise for Heart Health
There are many ways to help keep your heart healthy. This February, during American Heart Month, we’ll be sharing just a few of them. To start: Exercise. While it may not be everyone’s favorite way to stay healthy, it is one that’s accessible for many on campus at the University of Georgia – there’s the Ramsey Center, intramural trails, and (of course) lots of hills. Below is a bit more information on how to incorporate exercise into your schedule.
To promote heart health, the American Heart Association encourages Americans to increase physical activity with the aim of achieving 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week combined with strength training a couple of days per week. This can be accomplished in different ways such as five 30-minute sessions or three 75-minute sessions per week. (Note: It may be advisable to check with your health care provider before beginning a new physical activity routine.)
But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Small changes can make a difference. Try adding 10 minutes of physical activity at a time. Not a fan of the gym? Instead, find activities you enjoy. Take a walk around the building at lunch or park your car in a lot farther away from your classroom for a longer walk in. Join a team sport or walk your dog with a friend.
UHC is also offering another great way to kick-start your journey to a heart-healthy lifestyle. The University Health Center will host its first Heart Health Fair on Wednesday, February 8th, from 1pm-4pm.
In aligning with the University Health Center’s mission the goal of the fair is to provide education regarding the value of prevention in reducing the risks to heart disease. The health center, along with various UGA departments have partnered to deliver a comprehensive, hands on, interactive health fair.
The fair will host many activities: tasting tours with our Nutrition Educators, Mindfulness classes by CAPS, How to Stop the Bleed with the Office of Emergency Preparedness, BMI and VO2 max testing with Dawgs Move within the Kinesiology department, blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol screenings for at-risk participants by UHC Medical Clinics, and many more activities. Please check out our website for more details.
All activities are free, except a $10 fee is assessed for Cholesterol screenings for non-fees paid UGA students, UGA faculty/staff, spouses, domestic partners, and UGA retirees. To provide best results on screenings, participants must have no food or drink except water after midnight.