The American Heart Association has established that inactivity is a major risk factor contributing to coronary artery disease, and contributes to risk factors for obesity, high blood pressure and a low level of HDL cholesterol. With even modest levels of exercise, these risk factors can be lessened.
Exercise can help control blood lipid abnormalities, diabetes and obesity.
Studies show that if you include a regular exercise program in your daily routine after a heart attack, you have a better rate of survival than those who do not exercise. Healthy persons fair even better when they exercise on a regular basis in preventing coronary artery disease from taking hold. Even modest levels of exercise can be beneficial. Exercising the large muscles in your arms and legs will make your heart beat faster and work more efficiently. This is called aerobic exercise.