While some people exercise solely for aesthetic reasons or to help burn off stress, the positive effects it can have on the heart should not be overlooked. When you schedule an appointment with our telemedicine cardiologist on Long Island, one of the first questions they will ask is how much you exercise. If you’re looking to become healthier, one method of exercise our team at Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island will recommend is interval training. To learn more about interval training and how it can help your heart, please contact our cardiologist today. 

What Is Interval Training?

Before jumping into the heart benefits that interval training can bring, our telemedicine cardiologist on Long Island would like to break down exactly what this form of exercise entails. Interval training involves performing short bursts of intense workouts, followed by periods of slower activities to allow for recovery time. Doing so will enable one to get vigorous exercise even under tight timing circumstances.

The Heart Benefits 

If you’re someone who’s new to exercising and has just begun to brush up on the basics, you’ve likely seen various sources claiming that both keeping your heart rate steady and getting it pounding is the best way to improve heart health. Fortunately, interval training allows for both to take place. Your heart begins to race during the heavy exertion interval, and you begin to bring it back to a steady rate during rest periods. The constant back and forth is great for your heart health, as it allows for the below benefits to take place:

  • Increased metabolism.
  • Decreased glucose in the bloodstream.
  • Helps burn off fat.
  • Improves oxygen consumption.
  • Lowers resting heart rate and blood pressure. 

How To Start

One of the primary reasons our telemedicine cardiologist on Long Island will recommend new patients try out interval training is that it is easy to do for most people. The only equipment that is needed is a device that can be used as a timer. Running, walking, and bodyweight exercises are all that are required to improve your heart health. Examples of the activities that you can incorporate into each interval include:

  • Pushups.
  • Sit-ups.
  • Squats.
  • Lunges.
  • Jumping jacks.
  • Mountain climbers.
  • Knees-to-chest.

Schedule An Appointment

With the COVID-19 pandemic still altering certain aspects of our lives, our office offers both in-person and telemedicine appointments to meet the needs of all of our patients! If you’re concerned with your heart health, our telemedicine cardiologist on Long Island will help. Through the virtual appointments offered here at Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island, our team can determine if there is an issue that needs to be taken care of without you ever having to leave home. To schedule your appointment to learn more about the importance of interval training, be sure to contact us today!