The most important muscle in the body...
We rarely give a thought to our hearts, but coronary heart disease – the result of fatty build-up in the coronary arteries reducing blood supply to the heart – is the UK’s biggest killer, causing the deaths of one in four men and one in six women.
And research by the World Health Organisation found that 20 per cent of coronary heart disease and 10 per cent of stroke cases in developed countries like the UK are due to a couch-potato lifestyle, although diet and other lifestyle factors also play a part. In fact, 38 per cent of deaths from heart disease in women in the UK are caused by inactivity.
Aerobic exercise plays an important role in strengthening your heart and helping it work more efficiently. The WHO says that people need to either exercise for more than 2.5 hours per week at a moderate intensity or for an hour per week at a vigorous level to reap any benefit.
The good news is that moderate levels of activity are easy to achieve as part of your daily life*. Aim to do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity – brisk walking, cycling, dancing, swimming or even climbing the stairs – on five or more days of the week, and your heart will thank you.
*Always check with your GP before starting a fitness regime.