Even with risk factors for heart disease like hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol, people who enjoy regular physical activity have lower death rates than people who have no risk factors but who are not physically active. What’s more, people with heart disease that are physically healthy live longer and have fewer heart attacks than heart patients who aren’t physically fit.

Physical Activity for Your Muscles

As you become older, muscles lose strength and flexibility.  Frequent tasks become more complicated, such as bending over to tie shoes, opening a jar, lifting a bag of groceries or even getting out of a chair. When your muscles aren’t in good shape, you are more likely to lose your balance and fall. To help boost your metabolism, strengthening exercises can also help. By doing that, you get more benefit out of your aerobic activities and weight faster.

Physical Activity for Your Heart

Physical activities that involve steady, rhythmic movement of the arms and legs are called aerobic exercises and are particularly great for the heart. Examples include brisk walking, swimming, running, bicycling and dancing.

Healthy adults generally don’t need to consult a health-care provider before becoming physically active. However, if you’ve got a chronic condition, your doctor can help you plan an acceptable physical activity program and may refer you to some formal cardiac rehabilitation program that will help you learn to be active safely.