Regular exercise has many health benefits-including reducing your risk of heart disease. In fact, physical activity can play as big a role in lowering your risk as quitting smoking, improving your cholesterol, or lowering high blood pressure. Not only that, but it can help reduce those other risk factors too! The benefits of regular exercise are summarized below.

PHYSICAL BENEFITS

 Strengthens your heart muscle, making it a more efficient pump.

 Increases your blood volume and the capacity of your blood to carry oxygen.

 Reduces the stickiness of platelets in your blood, thus reducing risk of blood clots and artery blockages.

 Increases muscle strength and endurance, and improves your muscles' ability to use oxygen from the blood for energy.

 Maintains bone, ligament, and tendon strength, and helps prevent or slow osteoporosis (loss of bone density.)

 Improves your lipid profile by helping to lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol.

 Helps prevent high blood pressure, and helps lower blood pressure in people already diagnosed with high blood pressure.

 Burns calories and builds muscle mass, helping you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

 Reduces the risk of developing diabetes.

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS

 Increases confidence and self-esteem.

 Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety.

 Improves quality of life.