Promoting Heart Health: The Role of Regular Running Explained by Doctor

Dr. Vijay DSilva, the Medical Director of Asian Heart Institute and the medical director of Mumbai Marathon 2024, highlights the significant benefits of regular running in promoting heart health and preventing heart diseases.

Connection Between Heart and Running: Dr. DSilva emphasizes the intricate link between running and heart health. Regular running acts as a powerful ally in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. It strengthens the heart muscle, improves circulation, and optimizes blood flow, creating an environment conducive to heart health.

Cardiovascular Fitness as a Lifelong Investment: Engaging in regular running provides long-term benefits beyond the immediate. Cardiovascular fitness achieved through running is a lasting investment in heart health. It enhances the heart’s efficiency in pumping blood, ultimately reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes.

Managing Risk Factors: Heart disease often results from various risk factors, including high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, diabetes, and obesity. Running serves as a holistic approach to managing these risk factors. Dr. DSilva notes that running helps regulate blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, improves insulin control, and aids in weight management—critical components in reducing the risk of heart disease.

Strengthening the Heart Muscle: The heart, being a muscle, benefits from regular exercise. The aerobic nature of running strengthens the heart muscle, enhancing its efficiency in pumping blood. This improved efficiency reduces the strain on the heart, lowering the risk of heart-related issues.

Mood Boosting and Stress Reduction: Apart from physical benefits, running positively impacts mental well-being, closely linked to heart health. Running triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural mood enhancers, contributing to a sense of well-being and aiding stress management. As stress is a known contributor to heart disease, the stress-relieving benefits of running are invaluable.

Weight Management: A Crucial Aspect: Maintaining a healthy weight is pivotal in preventing heart disease, and running is a potent tool for achieving and sustaining weight loss. Running effectively burns calories, helping individuals maintain a healthy body weight. By reducing excess body fat, running contributes to a lower risk of heart disease and associated complications.

Social Connection and Support: Beyond physical benefits, the social aspects of running also contribute to heart health. Group running events, like marathons, create a sense of community and support. Social connections play a vital role in reducing feelings of isolation and stress, further promoting heart health through positive interactions.

A Personalized Approach: While running offers numerous benefits, individuals should adopt a personalized approach based on their fitness levels and health conditions. Consulting with a doctor before starting a running regimen, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions, is crucial.

The benefits of running extend beyond physical fitness, impacting both physical and mental well-being. As a powerful and accessible form of exercise, running stands as a beacon in the journey toward preventing heart disease and promoting a heart-healthy life.