February is National Heart Month. Even if you are not an athlete and want to start exercising to promote cardiovascular health, here are some things you can do either at home or here on campus.

One of the things to do is to take long walks. Yes, it might sound simple, but walking a little faster can increase your heart rate, which is good for cardiovascular health. You can walk with a friend, or by yourself, wherever you want, and you can listen to music.

Another exercise you can do to help cardiovascular health is to go biking. Right now, it might be a little cold to go biking outdoors, but there are stationary bikes found in the Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-being. Going for a bike ride, or riding a stationary bike has been shown to reduce risk of heart issues, and uses the muscles in your legs, which increases your heart rate, which is better for your overall cardiovascular health. Biking has also been shown to not only reduce chances of heart issues over time, but  also increase mental health.

One more exercise you can do to improve cardiovascular health is to try interval training. Interval training is doing exercises where you give off a short burst of high intensity exercise, which is then immediately followed by longer periods of active recovery. This is not only a great way to help increase cardiovascular activity, but it is also a great way to increase cardiovascular health.