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Show Lack of exercise may increase j risks of having a heart attack i program, you can enjoy the other benefits of aerobic exercise: Help control weight, with the proper diet. Give you more energy and increase in-crease resistance to fatigue. Improve self-image. Relieve tension and help you relax and sleep. Tone muscles. Increase stamina. Aerobic dancing can be a very rewarding and beneficial type of exercising. However, when you stop exercising the beneficial effects are lost rapidly. To main- , tain cardiovascular fitness, exer- j cise regularly and control the prim- i ary risk factors of cardiovascular disease high blood pressure, j high cholesterol levels and i smoking. : The AHA has a pamphlet, ! "Dancing For A Healthy Heart," ; available. To obtain a free copy, send a stamped, self addressed business size envelope to: American Amer-ican Heart Association, Utah Affiliate, Affi-liate, 645 E. 400 S:, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102-2803. When combined with overeating, overeat-ing, lack of exercise may lead to excess weight, which is a contributing contri-buting factor to the risk of developing develop-ing heart disease. Many Americans find that regular exercise can help improve the way they look, feel and work. "Exercise alone will not prevent or cure heart disease, but not exercising ex-ercising may increase the risk of having a heart attack, and regular exercise is considered one important impor-tant influence in reducing that risk," says William Barry, M.D., president of the American Heart Association (AHA) Utah affiliate. Whatever the reason, more and more people are adopting the healthy heal-thy habit of exercising. The AHA supports aerobic dancing as a lifelong activity because be-cause it can improve and maintain cardiovascular and physical fitness. fit-ness. Aerobic dance is a combination combina-tion of rhythmic movements and simple dance steps set to music. "Before starting an aerobic dance program," said Barry, "you may need to see your doctor. Age, medical history, heart trouble, high blood pressure, shortness of breath after mild exertion, and other factors fac-tors influence whether or not aerobic aero-bic dancing can help or harm you. Under these conditions, it's best to first seek your doctor's approval." During the dancing sessions, the heart rate must reach a certain level called the target heart rate zone to achieve cardiovascular fitness. fit-ness. The target heart rate zone depends de-pends on your age and maximum heart rate. Your maximum heart rate is determined by subtracting your age from 220. The target zone is 60-75 percent of your maximum heart rate. "Aerobic dance is gaining popularity popu-larity because it emphasizes fun and fitness rather than skill or competition," com-petition," said Barry. Dancing can condition the heart and lungs by increasing the oxygen available to the body and by enabling enabl-ing the heart to use oxygen more efficiently. Regular aerobic exercise exer-cise is recommended at least three times a week for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. In addition to the cardiovascular benefits of a regular aerobic dance |