Exercise on a regular basis. Take medications as prescribed by your doctor. Learn stress-reduction techniques. The heart is a muscle and, as other muscles do, it becomes stronger with exercise. Studies show that even moderate levels of exercise, such as walking, reduce the risk of heart disease by improving circulation, enhancing efficient use of fats and sugars, and helping to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Exercise also offers several appealing fringe benefits.
It helps increase energy, improve muscle tone, manage weight, cope with stress, and even lowers the craving for cigarettes in smokers trying to quit. Aerobic exercise is the key to unlocking these benefits. Aerobic exercises are those which repetitively use the body's large muscle groups and so raise the heart rate, such as walking, jogging, swimming, biking, or rowing. Stretching after exercise helps make your muscles and joints more flexible and reduces the risk of pulls or strains. Excess body fat is also associated with high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and diabetes.