Health and fitness is one of the most important aspects of our everyday lives. As we get older, our bodies slowly adjust to the effects of time and aging, and we become more susceptible to certain medical conditions. One such condition that is common as we age is heart disease.
Heart disease refers to conditions that narrow or block blood vessels due to the accumulation of plaque and cholesterol. This can lead to chronic chest pain, or in worse cases, strokes or heart attacks.
As plaque thickens and stiffens artery walls, it inhibits the flow of blood to other organs and tissues. The decreased oxygen and nutrient levels in the heart has an adverse effect on our overall health and wellness, and puts us at risk.
Heart disease is a serious condition, and is caused by unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise, smoking, and obesity. An average of 600,000 people die of heart disease every year in the United States alone, and is the leading cause of death for both men and women.
It’s time to regain control of our health and win the fight against heart disease. One way to combat heart disease is through consistent physical exercise, such as martial arts. Martial arts is a great way to get in shape and achieve optimal health.
Today, Evolve Daily shares four ways martial arts helps fight heart disease.
1) Regular Exercise Is Great For Heart Health
When you begin training in martial arts, you expose yourself to an engaging, new, and effective way to get fit and lead a healthier lifestyle. Martial arts is one of the most efficient health and fitness programs available. Because you’ll be hooked on martial arts training, you subject yourself to regular exercise which is obviously great for heart health.
Just 30 minutes of daily exercise improves heart health immensely. The techniques performed in Muay Thai and boxing are vigorous enough to raise the heart rate and train cardiovascular endurance. Practicing striking combinations, hitting the heavy bag, or honing techniques through constant repetition are just some examples of how martial arts stimulates the body.
Through daily training and practice, we increase the flow of blood within our bodies, widening the arteries and reducing the symptoms of heart disease.
2) It Strengthens The Heart Muscle
A strong heart is imperative to overall good health.
Not only does martial arts strengthen the entire body, training all essential muscle groups, it also directly engages the heart muscle, allowing it to operate with more efficiency in pumping blood throughout the body. This means that the heart pushes out more blood with each beat, in turn allowing it to beat at a slower rate while keeping blood pressure at normal levels.
Through constant martial arts training, human body tissue, which includes the heart, does a better job of absorbing oxygen and nutrients carried by blood. This then trains your heart to function better under stress and prevents you from gassing out during high-intensity workouts.
The rigorous cardiovascular and endurance training principles of martial arts also allows for better blood flow in the many small blood vessels around the heart. There is recent evidence that exercise helps the human body make more connections between blood vessels, providing more routes for blood to travel.
3) It Makes You Happier
They say the key to a happy life is a happy heart, and martial arts has the ability to make everyone happier overall.
Martial arts, more than its physical nature, imparts a more positive outlook on life. Its teachings push us to celebrate the human capacity, and discover our own true potential. Furthermore, constant training releases a wave of endorphins, happy hormones that are responsible for brightening up our days.
Of course, the happier we are, the healthier our heart is both physically and emotionally. We are less stressed and can handle pressure much better day in and day out. Through martial arts training, we become generally happier people.
4) It Introduces You To A New Lifestyle
Martial arts is the perfect building block to start creating your healthy lifestyle around.
Positive change doesn’t happen in a day. When you decide to train in martial arts, you are making a decision to change your life. It introduces you to a new lifestyle, one that is ultimately good for your health in the long run.
Along the way you’ll meet like-minded people, those who will share your martial arts journey. You’ll help each other and motivate each other to keep training and honing your technique. You’ll learn to make better food and diet decisions, as you begin to view food as fuel for functioning physically. Most important of all, martial arts teaches many values that benefit our lives in various ways.
Heart disease is a serious condition, and one of the worst realities we have to face as we get older. But through the power of martial arts, we are given an opportunity to fight heart disease and lead healthier, happier lives. Give martial arts a try. Start your journey by booking a trial class today!
Book your complimentary trial class with our World Champions below!
If you have any other questions regarding Evolve MMA and the programs we offer, you can get in touch with our membership executives at the following locations:
Evolve MMA (Far East Square)
26 China Street
Far East Square #01-01
Singapore 049568
Phone: (65) 6536 4525
Evolve MMA (Orchard Central)
181 Orchard Road
#06-01 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Phone: (65) 6536 4556
Evolve MMA (KINEX)
11 Tanjong Katong Road
#02-52 KINEX
Singapore 437157
Phone: (65) 6288 2293
Evolve MMA (Clarke Quay Central)
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#04-18 Clarke Quay Central
Singapore 059817
Phone: (65) 6226 2150
Evolve MMA (Star Vista)
1 Vista Exchange Green
#02-26A The Star Vista
Singapore 138617
Phone: (65) 6539 9590
