There is a strong link between physical activity and health. People who enjoy regular physical activity have lower death rates than people who aren't physically active. Even people with risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol will have a lower death rate if they are physically active than people who have no risk factors but aren't physically active. Furthermore, people with heart disease who are physically fit live longer and have fewer heart attacks than heart patients who aren't physically fit. The facts are clear that regular physical activity benefits everyone whether someone has heart disease or does not.

What Type Of Physical Activity Is Best For Your Heart?

The heart is a muscle and benefits from a workout just like other muscles in your body. Physical activities that involve steady, rhythmic movements of the legs and arms are called "aerobic" exercises and are especially good for the heart. Some examples of aerobic exercises are brisk walking, running, swimming, bicycling and dancing. Regular aerobic exercise conditions the heart to pump blood to the whole body. According to the American Heart Association these are the following recommendations for physical activity:

• Children 3-5 years old should be physically active and have plenty of opportunities to move throughout the day.
• Kids 6-17 years old should get at least 60 minutes per day of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, mostly aerobic.
• Include vigorous-intensity activity on at least 3 days per week.
• Include muscle- and bone-strengthening (weight-bearing) activities on at least 3 days per week.
• Increase amount and intensity gradually over time.

The simplest way to get moving and improve your health is to start walking. It's free, easy and can be done just about anywhere, even in place.Any amount of movement is better than none. And you can break it up into short bouts of activity throughout the day. Taking a brisk walk for five or ten minutes a few times a day will add up. Science has linked being inactive and sitting too much with higher risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, colon and lung cancers, and early death. It's clear that being more active benefits everyone and helps us live longer, healthier lives.

Here are some of the biggest reasons to be physically active:

• Lowers risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, dementia and Alzheimer's, several types of cancer, and some complications of pregnancy
• Better sleep, including improvements in insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea
• Improved cognition, including memory, attention and processing speed
• Less weight gain, obesity and related chronic health conditions
• Better bone health and balance, with less risk of injury from falls
• Fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Better quality of life and sense of overall well-being

Don't wait to get moving! Get going now!

Works Cited:

• "7 Heart Benefits of Exercise." Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2020, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/7-heart-benefits-of-exercise.
• "American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults and Kids." Www.heart.org, 2018, www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults.
• "How Much Physical Activity Do You Need? | American Heart Association." American Heart Association, www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-infographic.
• "Physical Activity and Your Heart." National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/physical-activity-and-your-heart.