This February, South Central Regional Medical Center encourages you to learn more about #OurHearts. Be heart smart!

It’s important to aim for 150 minutes of physical activity each week.

The benefits of regular physical activity are undeniable. Something is better than nothing, and we all have to start somewhere. Even if you’ve been sedentary for years, today is the day you can begin to make healthy changes in your life.

Move More, Sit Less: Get up and move throughout the day. Any activity is better than none. Even light-intensity activity can offset the serious health risks of being sedentary.

Add Intensity: Moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise is best. Your heart will beat faster, and you’ll breathe harder than normal. As you get used to being more active, increase your time and/or intensity to get more benefits.

Add Muscle: Include moderate- to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity (like resistance or weight training) at least twice a week.

Feel Better: Physical activity is one of the best ways to keep your body and brain healthy. It relieves stress, improves mood, gives you energy, helps with sleep and can lower your risk of chronic disease, including dementia and depression.

Move more, with more intensity, and sit less.