### Benefits of Aerobic Exercise Regardless of your age, weight, or physical abilities, aerobic exercise is crucial for your health. It improves circulation, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, helps manage weight, and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes. These factors collectively lower the risk of heart disease. ### Additional Benefits Aerobic activity also increases stamina, strengthens the immune system, improves mood, and helps you stay active and independent as you age. For optimal heart health, aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week. This should be complemented with muscle-strengthening activities, like resistance and weight training, two days a week. ### Getting Started If you're new to working out, start with 10 to 15 minutes at a time and gradually build up to longer sessions. Routine activities like gardening and household chores can be as effective as structured exercise routines. Engaging in any physical activity for the recommended 150 minutes per week can reduce the risk of heart disease by 20% and the risk of death from any cause by 28%. ### Strength Training Muscle-strengthening exercises, or resistance training, make your muscles work against a resistance, increasing their strength, size, power, and endurance. Stronger muscles help with everyday activities and protect the body from injuries. They also boost your metabolic rate, helping you burn more calories even at rest. ### Stretching and Balance Flexibility workouts like stretching benefit musculoskeletal health, helping with joint pain and muscle cramping. Yoga, in particular, offers numerous health benefits, including increased lung capacity, improved respiratory function, lower resting heart rate, and better circulation and muscle tone. Yoga and meditation can also reduce stress, a risk factor for heart disease. ### Post-Heart Attack or Stroke After a heart attack or stroke, regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of another major heart event. Cardiac rehabilitation programs, which include exercise counseling, heart-healthy living education, and stress reduction counseling, are often prescribed. After a stroke, an exercise routine tailored to your recovery stage and functional limitations can help counteract physical deconditioning and inactive lifestyles.