What counts as a cardiovascular activity?

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and I'm looking to incorporate more cardiovascular activities into my daily routine. I know that cardiovascular activities are important for heart health, but I'm not sure what counts as a cardiovascular activity. Can anyone help clarify?

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Hello Hannah! Cardiovascular activities, also known as aerobic activities, are any exercises that increase your heart rate and breathing for a sustained period of time. Some examples include walking, running, cycling, swimming, and dancing. These activities help improve your heart and lung function, reducing the risk of heart disease.

It's great that you're looking to add more cardiovascular activities to your routine, Hannah! Just a quick note that it's important to start slow and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts to prevent injury. And don't forget to mix in some strength training exercises too for overall fitness.

Some people think that cardiovascular activities only include high-intensity exercises like running or cycling, but that's not true! Even low-impact activities like walking or water aerobics can count as cardiovascular if they're done at a moderate-to-vigorous intensity for a sustained period of time. Just find what works best for you and your body, Hannah!