Exercise Promotes Heart Health

#1 of 7 reasons why daily exercise is your best friend

The added benefit of heart health is at the top of my list of reasons for why it’s important to exercise every day, and why exercise is your best friend. Why does exercise promote heart health? One reason is that it requires the heart to work hard and to pump harder over an extended period of time. This work strengthens the muscles of the heart. In turn, the strong muscles enable the heart to adequately supply the cells and muscles of the body with the energy and oxygen they need. The vascular system of the heart is well designed. The supply of freshly oxygenated blood returning from the lungs via the pulmonary vessels is pushed from the left atrium into the larger chamber beneath and then into the main artery — the aorta. The coronary arteries branch off from the base of the aorta, and flow directly  to the cardiac muscle cells. In other words, the first muscle to benefit from the increased blood flow is the heart itself.

Biological processes that enable life  The physical organs of the human body are relatively easy to describe and visualize. The microscopic chemical and biological processes that enable life to exist are what fascinate me. I do understand that this same fascination does not exist in all my readers. However, if you will bear with me as I describe just one of the microscopic processes that occur during exercise, this understanding may provide the impetus you need to make daily exercise a priority in your life! That is my hope in writing.

Blood labs for providing physical evidence  There are a number of labs that I typically order for each of my patients in order to assess for specific risk factors and for possible heart disease [i.e. CBC, CMP, hsCRP, HgbA1c, lipid profile (cholesterol levels and triglycerides)]. Over the years as I have worked with many patients from all walks of life, I have seen certain patterns in individuals with specific lifestyles and preferences in terms of their diet, stress level and exercise habits. Of course there may be genetic factors which predispose someone to any number of variations. However, these variations are the exception rather than the norm, and in almost all cases, the physical evidence of a sedentary lifestyle can actually be seen in the results of that person’s blood tests.

Would you rather “exercise” or  “take a drug”?  The physiological evidence of some high risk factors for heart disease are frequently scrutinized by health care providers. If a person is diagnosed with high risk factors for, say, elevated cholesterol levels, the first line of treatment should always be EXERCISE and lifestyles that promote health. If lifestyle intervention does not result in the desired result of lowering cholesterol levels, the medical standard of care treatment will be pharmacologic intervention, which always carries with it certain risks. For example, if a person is diagnosed with hyperlipidemia (which includes high cholesterol), and chooses NOT to exercise or practice healthy lifestyles, their doctor will more than likely prescribe a statin drug to lower their cholesterol level. If that sounds like your situation, be aware that the cholesterol-lowering drug will do a lot more than just lower your cholesterol levels. A statin drug (such as Lipitor) will also lower Coenzyme Q10. A lowering of this enzyme is why so many people who take statin drugs feel weak, have muscle aches, or experience a drop in their energy level. This is because CoA, acetyl CoA, Coenzyme Q10 and NADH are all critical components of the Kreb cycle which creates Adenosine  Triphosphate (ATP) – a high energy molecule. Without Coenzyme Q10, ATP cannot be made!!

Krebs cycle produces ATP  Ever since I first learned about the Krebs cycle, it has fascinated me. Other names for Krebs cycle are citric acid cycle, or tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle). Basically, it’s the process used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy, in the form of ATP, from carbohydrates, fats and proteins. This process takes place within eukaryote cells. Eukaryote cells contain a nucleus and other structures, or organelles that are enclosed within membranes. The organelle that fascinates me is the mitochondrion. These mitochondria are the power houses where the process of making ATP occurs. ATP is energy!

How to boost your body’s production of ATP  When you exercises, your body makes more mitochondrial cells. I like to remember this miraculous fact on those sometimes bleak mornings when I wake up and don’t feel like exercising. I remind myself that the more regularly I exercise, the more mitochondrial cells my body will make, the more ATP will be produced, and thus the more energy I will have. I am much smarter when I listen to my body!

The solution for having a higher energy level is pretty straight-ward. If you’re wanting to get rid of the doldrums (for those Dr. Seuss fans out there) and wanting to feel more energized, alive and motivated, then just exercise more! The good news is, it’s not necessary to go over-board and over-exercise. Listen to your body and it will let you know what’s right for you. If you’re not in the habit of exercising regularly, first get a check-up with your doctor, including blood labs, to make sure everything is in order.  By incorporating daily exercise into your routine, you will increase the overall health of your heart and enjoy all the benefits of increased energy.

P.S. Please be aware that the lack of exercise will produce the opposite results. If you choose to live a more sedentary life, your body will eliminate the superfluous mitochondrial cells that are not being used. The end result is that you will have less energy. Perhaps after reading my post you will reconsider, and even make a different choice.

In my next post I’ll expand on 2) Exercise increases lean muscle – another reason why exercise is your best friend.

1)         Exercise promotes heart health

2)         Exercise increases lean muscle

3)         Exercise decreases fat

4)         Exercise improves your mood (creativity, motivation, enjoyment of life)

5)         Exercise helps you sleep better

6)         Exercise increases your energy

7)         Exercise makes you look better (complexion, move easier, toned)

8)         What benefits have you personally experienced from exercising?