Aerobic exercise
Learning Center
Aerobic exercise: How to warm up and cool down
Learn how to warm up and cool down the safe way.
Aging: What to expect
Understand the natural changes that come with aging.
Alzheimer's genes: Are you at risk?
What role do genes play in developing Alzheimer's? Are you at risk?
Exercise intensity: How to measure it
To get the most out of exercising, aim for moderate to vigorous exercise intensity. See how to judge your exercise intensity.
Smokeless tobacco products
Learn the risks of using products such as chewing tobacco, snuff and snus.
What's your high blood pressure risk?
High blood pressure has many risk factors. Some you can't control, such as age, race and family history. But don't throw up your hands quite yet. Some risk factors are within your control, such as excess weight, inactivity, alcohol misuse and stress. Make healthy lifestyle changes a priority: 1. Lose excess weight. 2. Include physical activity in your daily routine. 3. If you drink, do so in moderation. That means no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. 4. Learn healthy ways to handle stress, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing. 5. Avoid excess salt in your diet.
Buying athletic shoes? Check your arch
Athletic shoes should be tailored to your arch type (high arch, neutral arch, low arch). Your arches play an important role in how you adapt to various surfaces as you walk. But there is no one "best shoe" for a particular foot type, and comfort and proper fit should be the main criteria you use.
Walking with ankle weights? Stop!
A well-rounded fitness program includes both aerobic exercise and strength training. But skip the ankle weights. Ankle weights may strain your ankle joint and leg muscles, which could increase your risk of injury. To get more out of your walking routine, simply pick up the pace. If you're in good shape, add short bursts of jogging into your regular brisk walks. If you're less fit, alternate leisurely walking with periods of faster walking.
How much exercise do you need?
For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. Moderate aerobic exercise includes activities such as brisk walking or swimming. Vigorous aerobic exercise includes activities such as running or aerobic dancing. The guidelines suggest that you spread out this exercise during the course of a week. The guidelines also recommend that you do strength training exercises for all major muscle groups at least twice a week.
Exercising? Take it up a notch
Want to get the most out of your workouts? Try interval training! This simply means alternating bursts of intense activity with intervals of lighter activity. Take walking. If you're in good shape, try incorporating short bursts of jogging into your regular power walks. If you're less fit, alternate leisurely walking with periods of faster walking. (For example, if you typically walk outdoors, walk faster between certain mailboxes, trees or city blocks.) The more vigorously you exercise the more calories you'll burn, even if you increase intensity for just a few minutes at a time.
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