February is Heart Health Month, a time dedicated to increasing awareness around heart disease and the everyday actions that support heart-healthy living. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but it can often be prevented through lifestyle choices and ongoing care.¹
Heart Health Month is not about extreme changes or short-term goals. It is about understanding risk, building sustainable habits, and taking practical steps that support long-term heart health.
Understanding Heart Disease and Risk
Heart disease is a general term used to describe conditions that affect the heart’s structure and function. Coronary heart disease, the most common type, occurs when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle.²
Preventing heart disease starts with knowing what your risk factors are and what you can do to lower them.³ This makes prevention and risk awareness especially important.
The NHLBI identifies several risk factors for heart disease. Some cannot be changed, such as age, sex, and family history. Others are modifiable and can be addressed through lifestyle changes. These include:³
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Overweight or obesity
- Prediabetes or diabetes
- Smoking
- Lack of regular physical activity
- Unhealthy eating behaviors
Each risk factor increases the likelihood of developing heart disease, and having multiple risk factors raises overall risk.³
Why Physical Activity Matters for Heart Health
Regular physical activity plays an important role in heart-healthy living. The NHLBI notes that getting enough physical activity helps lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.¹
Cardiovascular endurance, sometimes called aerobic fitness, describes how well the heart and lungs supply oxygen to the body during physical activity. According to Cleveland Clinic, people of all ages can improve cardiovascular endurance by adding aerobic activity to their routines and gradually increasing duration or difficulty.⁴
Aerobic exercise includes rhythmic, repetitive movements that use large muscle groups and increase heart rate and oxygen use. Examples include walking, cycling, swimming, and using cardio equipment such as treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, and rowers.⁵
The Cleveland Clinic also notes that adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, which can be broken into shorter sessions if needed.⁴
Making Physical Activity More Manageable
Heart-healthy movement does not need to be complicated. The NHLBI encourages adults to move more throughout the day and reminds people that physical activity can be done in short bouts on busy days, such as 10 minutes at a time.¹
Choosing activities that feel accessible and repeatable can make it easier to stay consistent. Walking, incline walking, cycling, and other forms of aerobic exercise can be adjusted in speed, resistance, or duration to match individual comfort levels.⁵
The Cleveland Clinic also recommends paying attention to how the body responds during exercise. One simple method is the “talk test.” If speaking clearly becomes difficult, the activity may be too intense.⁵
Heart Rate Awareness and Guided Training
Heart rate monitoring is one way people track exercise intensity. iFIT’s ActivePulse™ feature uses heart rate data from a compatible monitor to automatically adjust workout intensity during trainer-led sessions. According to iFIT, ActivePulse is designed to help maintain a target heart rate zone by adjusting speed or incline during workouts.⁶
ActivePulse does not diagnose, treat, or prevent disease. It is a training feature intended to support guided workouts by responding to heart rate data in real time.⁶
For those interested in learning more about heart rate–based workouts, iFIT offers the ActivePulse Training Series, a six-part program led by iFIT Trainer Tommy Rivs Puzey that introduces heart rate zones and how the heart responds during exercise.⁶
Heart-Healthy Living Goes Beyond Exercise
Physical activity is one part of a broader heart-healthy lifestyle. The NHLBI emphasizes additional actions that support heart health, including:¹
- Getting enough quality sleep
- Following a balanced eating plan such as DASH
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Managing stress
- Not smoking
- Monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar
The NHLBI also stresses the importance of partnering with a healthcare provider. Regular checkups and discussions about risk factors help people understand their heart health and make informed decisions.³
Moving Forward During Heart Health Month
Heart Health Month is a reminder that small, consistent actions matter. Understanding risk, staying physically active, and choosing routines that are sustainable can support heart-healthy living over time.
Whether that means adding short walks to your day, using guided workouts for structure, or exploring home cardio equipment, the goal is progress that fits your life, not perfection.
Explore More
- Which Cardio Machines Are Worth the Investment?
- What Heart Rate Zones Should You Really Be Training In?
References
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Take Action for Your Heart: Get Started!
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Coronary Heart Disease.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Heart-Healthy Living: Understand Your Risk for Heart Disease.
- Cleveland Clinic. Cardiovascular Endurance.
- Cleveland Clinic. Aerobic Exercise.
- iFIT. Explore Heart Rate Training with ActivePulse™ Training Series.
Disclaimer: The primary purpose of this blog post is to inform and entertain. Nothing on the post constitutes or is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Reliance on any information provided on the blog is solely at your own risk. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, and please consult your doctor or other health care provider before making any changes to your diet, sleep methods, daily activity, or fitness routine. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of information available on this blog. NordicTrack assumes no responsibility for any personal injury or damage sustained by any recommendations, opinions, or advice given in this article. Always follow the safety precautions included in the owner’s manual of your fitness equipment.
