February is Heart Health Month: Show Your Heart Some Love

February is American Heart Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and the steps we can take to prevent it. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., but the good news is that many of its risk factors—like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity—can be managed with a heart-healthy lifestyle. One of the best ways to strengthen your heart and improve your overall cardiovascular health? Regular cardio exercise.

Just like your biceps or legs, your heart is a muscle, and it needs regular training to become stronger and more efficient. When you engage in cardiovascular exercise, you challenge your heart to pump blood more effectively, improve circulation, and increase oxygen flow throughout your body. Over time, this can lead to lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol levels, and a decreased risk of heart disease.

Cardio workouts come in different forms, and both steady-state and interval training have unique benefits for heart health. Steady-state cardio (like walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming at a consistent pace) builds endurance and improves your heart's ability to sustain activity over time. It's great for lowering blood pressure and reducing stress. Interval training (like HIIT or cardio kickboxing) involves alternating between bursts of high-intensity effort and periods of lower-intensity recovery. This type of training boosts heart efficiency, improves metabolism, and can provide big benefits in a shorter amount of time. Incorporating both styles of cardio into your routine ensures that your heart gets a well-rounded workout!