More than 600,000 individuals die each year of heart disease here in the United States. For both men and women, cardiovascular
disease claims more lives than any type of cancer. There is such a significant emphasis on prostate cancer for men and breast cancer, for women, but many people are unaware that females and men alike die from heart disease at a much higher rate and the number is continually growing.
Contrary to what many people believe, cardiovascular disease is exacerbated by inflammation and stress levels more than any other cause, due to their destructive complexities. Chronic inflammation is a build-up of adipose tissue and often is worsened by inactivity or a sedentary lifestyle.
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is entirely separate and different than your Central Nervous System (CNS). The central nervous system is primarily in control of your sensory structures, while the ANS Controls vital bodily functions and it does so somewhat unconsciously. ANS constantly tries to regulate your breathing, venous expansion, blood pressure, blood sugar, oxygen levels and manages energy production and storage along with many other vital functions.
The ANS is comprised of the sympathetic system (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (relax, digest and rest) system. Together the sympathetic and parasympathetic system, stimulate hormone production and balance and therefore regulate inflammation through an intricate process.
The body’s Autonomic Nervous System is constantly working, and for the most part, we are totally unaware of the functions taking place.
Sympathetic System
• Increases heart rate
• Elevates blood pressure
• Reduces appetite
• Constricts blood vessels
• Increases glucose and lipids in the blood
Parasympathetic System
• Decreases heart rate
• Decreases the blood pressure
• Stimulates appetite
• Dilates blood vessels
• Promotes energy storage
• Digestion
Anytime the sympathetic system is stimulated hormones that are released attach themselves to immune cell receptors, which causes a constant increase in inflammation.
Stress
Our bodies are continuously exposed to various types of stressors. For example, we experience emotional, mental, and physical stress. All stress causes inflammation in the body this is especially true of physical stress. For example, if you’re vigorously exercising at a high-intensity level your body will naturally try to heal and rebuild the tissue, muscles, joints, and organs that are being inadvertently exposed to exertion.
While physical fitness is important, too much high-intensity stimulation is bad for your overall health. It is well known and documented in various studies from researchers that a mix of low and high intensity has more health benefits. AND, it may be surprising to many individuals to learn that more low-intensity is more important as opposed high levels.
Of course, there is more to decreasing inflammation and stress than aerobic fitness. Nutrition and a healthy lifestyle including finding time to unwind are all essential elements for good cardiovascular health.
There is one further critical step that most people are unaware of; it is called heart rate variability (HRV). Your heart rate is the pulse and beats that your heart makes, but HRV measures the inter-beat intervals and notates the exact time and changes between your heart’s beat.
When your HRV is being tracked, you can naturally reduce stress, improve your mood, decrease anxiety, and you reset your ANS balance. When there are high HRV levels, individuals will have less stress, more stamina, a higher level of fitness, and better general health. When there are low levels of HRV, individuals will have health risks, an increased inflammatory state, high anxiety, and poor health.
At Naples Fitness Lab, they give you easy-to-follow, accurately science-based guidelines, and successful strategies to help build your stamina and HRV. They offer the highest level of beneficial health routines that you can use throughout your entire lifetime.
The Naples Fitness Lab believes that a proper exercise program offers much more than just being physically fit. They understand it’s about living your healthiest life at the highest potential to reduce stress, provide you with proper nutrition, teach you how to incorporate high and low-intensity workouts that are right for you, and partner with you helping you maintain your healthiest lifestyle.
Micah has been involved in the fitness industry for over 25 years. He is a Functional Movement, Functional Aging and Corrective Exercise Specialist as well as a Precision Nutrition Coach. Micah provides in-person fitness training and online nutrition coaching.
Chad is a retired professional baseball player, and current strength coach, pitching coach, and writer from Akron, Ohio. Playing 8 years with both the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins, Chad has spent a big part of his life training and learning alongside the best trainers and coaches in the world, including Eric Cressey and Tony Gentilcore.
Learn more from us in our private Facebook group Get Fit Naples.
Naples Fitness Lab
239.272.5786 | naplesfitnesslab.com
1236 Airport Pulling Rd. N., Naples, FL 34104