When you're told that exercise improves your heart health, you
probably think of cardio exercise, right? After all, "cardio" is
short for "cardiovascular" exercise, named as such because it
utilizes the cardiorespiratory system, which consists of your
heart, lungs and blood vessels, which work together to supply
oxygen and nutrients to all of your vital organs. But did you
know that heart-pumping cardio isn't the only exercise that
helps to keep your heart healthy? That's right, pumping iron in
the gym can help your most important muscle in the body—your
heart—pump better, too!| The latest research shows that strength
training doesn't just build strong muscles and bones; it offers
big benefits for your ticker, too. That's why the American Heart
Association (AHA) recommends it as a tool in maintaining heart
health, preventing heart disease, and even helping those with
heart disease to improve their condition. In 2000, the AHA's
Committee on Exercise, Rehabilitation, and Prevention, Council
on Clinical Cardiolo