Not so long ago, we used to think that exercise was probably beneficial for cardiovascular health and the health of the heart and blood vessels. Now we know that regular physical activity is as important for heart health as the other three major lifestyle factors: quitting smoking, lowering blood cholesterol and controlling blood pressure.
What kind of exercise is best?

Regular physical activity is best. In other words, it's not so much the kind of exercise that is important, but the fact that you do something several times a week, week after week, month after month and year after year. Studies show that as little as 30 minutes a day of
moderately vigorous physical activity, such as walking, yardwork, housecleaning or climbing stairs, significantly reduces your risk of heart disease. Best of all, exercise need not be extremely vigorous to be beneficial to your health. Find activities that are convenient and fun, and make them a regular part of your life.

Why does exercise help?

Exercise helps to control blood pressure, and improve cholesterol, fat and blood sugar metabolism. It prevents obesity, slows the clotting rate of the blood and reduces stress. All of these things help to prevent artery disease, or atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is marked by a gradual build-up of deposits, called plaque, on the artery walls. Unstable plaque can eventually break off and trigger the formation of blood clots, which may block blood flow. This blockage can cause a heart attack if it occurs in the arteries feeding the heart, or a stroke if it occurs in arteries supplying blood to the brain. By slowing the rate of plaque deposition, exercise helps to keep arteries healthy.

Can't exercise be dangerous for some people?

Very rarely, strenuous activity can precipitate a heart attack. This is most likely to occur in someone with artery disease, or some other heart problem.

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