Exercise and Fitness

Exercise and Fitness

Being active is key to having a healthy heart. A great goal is aiming to be active in as many ways as possible throughout the day and reduce the amount of sitting for long periods.

Doing just 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, even in 10 minute chunks, can help to reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes as well as reducing your risk of developing a stroke and high blood pressure.

Along with healthy eating and not smoking, physical activity improves heart health by preventing heart disease as well as helping you to recover if you have had a heart event.

Why be active?

Your heart is a muscle and needs exercise to help keep it fit so that it can pump blood efficiently around your body. Without regular physical activity, the body slowly loses its strength, stamina and ability to function well.

Lifelong physical activity, such as a brisk walk for as little as 30 minutes a day, is important for:

• Preventing heart disease
• Lowering your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke
• Helping to fight the battle to quit smoking
• Aiding cardiac rehabilitation
• Establishing good heart healthy habits in children
• Building stronger immunity
• Reducing blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure
• Helping to reduce stress, tension, depression and anxiety
• Helping to control weight
• Improving overall health and wellbeing, prolonging your optimal health
• For each hour of regular exercise you get, you’ll gain about two hours of additional life expectancy, even if you don’t start until middle age!