Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14 by many people throughout the world. In the West, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for one another. The heart is the vital center and source of one's being, emotions, and sensibilities, which produces the feelings of love, affection, generosity and compassion. It is also, and more importantly the chambered muscular organ that pumps blood through the entire circulatory system, delivering oxygen and nutrients to our body.

Regular activity or "huffy puffy" exercise as I like to refer to it as, has a number of proven, positive health effects, especially on heart health. Cardiovascular exercise strengthens the heart as a pump, making it a larger, more efficient, muscular organ. The more efficient the heart is, the lower the resting heart rate becomes. Even moderate activity can boost HDL ('good') cholesterol, aid the circulatory system, increase lung capacity and oxygen intake, as well as lower blood pressure and blood fats. All these effects translate into reduced risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Cardiovascular activity (Cardio refers to the Heart while Vascular refers to the Lungs) can involve any type of exercise that raises a person's heart rate and metabolism. Some of the more popular exercises include swimming, cycling, walking, jogging, running, stair climbing, boxing and general aerobic workouts. However, any kind of activity or exercise will help to improve a person's fitness level and aid in a person's weight loss. For instance, performing household chores such as vacuuming and cleaning can also contribute towards raising a person's fitness level.

Any type of exercise will help you to get fitter as long as you do it regularly and it does not have to involve activities that are exhausting to perform either. In fact, doing regular light or moderate cardiovascular activities is easier to maintain and gives better results since they are more likely to be kept up than exercises that involve high intensity workouts. In any case, it is always best to start at a lower level and gradually increase your activity levels when you get fitter.

For a person who is new to exercising or someone who finds it difficult to get themselves motivated or stick to any form of cardiovascular exercise, the best place to start is with doing something you enjoy for around twenty to thirty minutes a day at least three to five times a week. For gradual progressions think FITT. FITT stands for Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type. Over time as your heart, lungs and body adapt to new stress levels being placed on it you will need to increase your cardiovascular workouts by challenging yourself with higher levels of difficulty based on these FITT principles.

Failing to take proper physical care of your own heart will shorten your life expectancy, thus taking away the precious moments you could be spending with family, friends and loved ones. This Valentine's day tell that special someone that you love them but remember your heart is also your life support system, so take care of it, because without it there will be no love to give and no life to live.