Heart and lung ailments are easily among the most common health issues that Americans suffer from. To make matters worse, their victims seem to be getting younger and younger each year. Because of this, health experts all over the nation are alarmed, and they have started disseminating information that helps individuals take better care of themselves.

When it comes to diet, health professionals recommend the consumption of foods that are rich in healthy fats, with examples including tuna, salmon, seeds, and nuts. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is also recommended, and this is because such items contain vitamins and minerals that are generally good for the body.

But, eating healthy is not always enough. As many fitness enthusiasts would suggest, a good diet really has to be paired with an active lifestyle so that the optimum level of fitness is achieved.

But what types of exercises are good for the heart and lungs? Read on to find out.

Stretching and Flexibility Exercises

Physical therapists acknowledge that some of the physical pains that people feel might just be due to their wrong use of their musculoskeletal system. Painful knees, for example, might be a direct effect of a wrong way of walking/poor gait. Lower back pain might be caused by poor posture.

Aside from bodily discomforts, wrong muscular utility is also seen as among the most significant causes of a person’s inability to take advantage of their body’s full range of motion. Because of this, proper stretching and flexibility exercises are seen to be at the foundation of every exercise regimen. They sufficiently prepare the body for the execution of more directed exercises, including those that are directed at the heart and the rest of the cardiovascular systems.

Aerobics

In gym terms, aerobic exercises are also referred to as cardio because they target the cardiovascular system as well. They help the heart become stronger and better at its job of pumping blood all throughout the body. Cardio workouts also help improve blood circulation and keep blood pressure in check. As far as the lungs are concerned, aerobic exercises help them become stronger, too.

Now, even if the cardiovascular system is kept strong, there is still the probability that a serious issue will arise without prior warning. Hence, there is still a need to master the principles behind advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) or even just cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) just in case there is a cardiovascular malfunction of some sort. This is especially true for individuals who serve as trainers for others, and courses such as those offered by lifesavered.com are often required for certification. Newbie exercisers might need some extra attention, achieved through a targeted and progressive exercise programme and a support network.

Resistance Exercises

Working out with weights is among the best ways to keep the body’s fat and cholesterol levels in check. Fat is a major concern because it is actually the substance that clogs up veins and arteries, causing issues such as hypertension and cardiac arrest.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends performing resistance training on two consecutive days per week in order to get the best results. Knowing which exercises need to be done in order to keep the heart and lungs strong is the responsibility of every person. They might experience some difficulty during execution, but the challenges that they encounter are a small price to pay for the long-term benefits that they get to enjoy because of such exercises.