There is now overwhelming evidence which shows that exercising moderately will cut your chances of having a heart attack by up to half. More than 40 scientific studies have now shown that moderate physical activity like brisk walking develops cardiovascular health and protects against heart disease.

• protects the heart by increasing its size and strength so it can pump more blood with fewer beats.
• increases the size and number of blood vessels for better and more efficient circulation.
• increases the amount of oxygen delivered to all tissues and cells.
• increases the efficiency of exercising muscles and blood circulation so that muscles and blood can process oxygen more easily.
• increases HDL (good) cholesterol which protects heart and blood vessels from fatty deposits.
• increases the ability to cope with stress which means you will be less prone to heart disease.
• decreases triglycerides (sugar fats) so they are not deposited on lining of arteries.
• decreases blood pressure by improving elasticity of blood vessels - giving less resistance to the flow of blood and increasing oxygen flow to tissues and cells.

The famous Paffenberger study at Stanford University in the USA found that people who were sedentary had a 30-40% greater risk of dying from coronary heart disease than those who exercised moderately. Research by the British exercise physiologist, Dr Adrianne Hardmann, of Loughborough University, found that fat levels in the blood after a fatty meal were lower in people who had taken a brisk walk the day before. It seems that brisk walking helps clear dangerous fats from the blood and cuts the risk of clogged arteries.

Exercise is not a cure-all to prevent heart disease - we are all subject to various risk factors, and diet and good nutrition also play an important part. But if you want to keep fit and healthy and keep your heart in shape, then you must take exercise to heart.

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