Health Benefit of Exercise

Regular exercise can help protect you from heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, non-isulsin-dependent diabetes, obesity, back pain, osteoporosis, and can improve your mood and help you to better manage stress.

For the greatest overall health benefits, experts recommend that you do 20 - 30 minutes of aerobic activity three to five times a week and some type of muscles strengthening activity and stretching at least twice a week.  However if you are unable to do this level of activity, you can gain substantial health benefits by accumulating 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity a day, at least five times a week.

If you have been inactive for a while, you may want to start with less strenuous activities such as walking or swimming at a comfortable pace.  Once you are in better shape, you can gradually do more strenuous activity.

How Physical Activity Impacts Health

Regular physical activity that is performed on most days of the week reduces the risk of developing or dying from some of the leading causes of illness and death in the United States.

Risk of dying prematurely

Risk of dying prematurely from heart disease

Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure

Reduces the risk of developing diabetes

Helps reduces high blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure

Reduces the risk of colon cancer

Reduces the feelings of depression and anxiety

Helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints

Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move about without falling