It makes the heart work more efficiently. A healthy heart pumps a large amount of blood to carry oxygen throughout the body. It does this with fewer beats than a weak or unconditioned heart.
Cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease as is smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Too much cholesterol in the blood can clog blood vessels. A blocked blood vessel supplying muscles of the heart can cause a heart attack and even death. Exercise lowers the bad cholesterol that clogs blood vessels and raises the good cholesterol that helps sweep out the blood vessels. Doing less than this will minimize your health benefits. Exercising 4 or more times a week will increase your health benefits.