I am

Show me:

Benefits of physical activity for your heart

Physical activity and exercise can do wonders for your physical and mental health.

Key takeaways

Physical activity and exercise lowers your risk of developing heart disease including heart attack, high blood pressure and heart failure.
Making physical activity a daily habit greatly improves your overall physical and mental health.
No matter how much or little physical activity you do, it’s never too late to start.
Being active is a great way to get more social, and connect with others.
People who are the least active stand to gain the most by getting more active.
Moderate intensity activities such as brisk walking, swimming helps your body feel energised and work at its best.

Moving your body more can reduce your risk of a heart attack, high blood pressure and some cancers.

Living a more active life, especially if you can do at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week, can significantly improve your heart health. It can also ease anxiety and depression, and help you feel better about yourself.

When physical activity becomes part of your daily routine, it can benefit you for the rest of your life.

Let’s take a closer look at why moving more and doing it regularly is great for your heart, body and mind.

Regular and adequate levels of physical activity and exercise can have immediate and long-lasting effects including:

Increase energy levels
Improve blood circulation
Strengthen bones, muscles and joints, which can improve strength and overall fitness
Help manage weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose
Encourage a positive self-image and mindset.

It can improve your sense of well-being

Physical activity can be great for your physical and mental well-being. It can:

Make you feel more confident, happy and relaxed
Improve self-esteem
Prevent and help manage depression and anxiety, especially when exercising in nature, such as parks, gardens or at the beach
Help you sleep better
Lower your risk of dementia later in life.

It can be a fun way to socialise with friends, family or neighbours

Physical activity can be great for socialising with other people. Here are some ideas to get started:

Go for a walk by yourself, or with a friend, family member or neighbour or join a Heart Foundation Walking group
Join a gym or exercise class with a friend or family member
Become part of a sport or recreation club community and make new friends as you get active
Swap out a restaurant meal with your friends or family with a picnic in the park – and take a frisbee, football, or cricket set with you
Go on an outing to the zoo
Take a hike in a forest
Swim at the beach.

If you have a heart condition, high blood pressure or other elevated risk factors, talk with your doctor, nurse or another health professional for advice before starting any physical activity or exercise program.

Make your move to get more active today.

Join a Heart Foundation Walking group

Benefits of physical activity for your heart

Physical activity and exercise can do wonders for your physical and mental health.

Key takeaways

It can improve your sense of well-being

It can be a fun way to socialise with friends, family or neighbours

More on this topic

Heart Foundation Walking

Heart Foundation Walking

Heart Foundation Walking

Physical activity and your heart health

Physical activity and your heart health

Physical activity and your heart health

Types of physical activity

Types of physical activity

Types of physical activity

You might also be interested in

7 tips for staying healthy over winter

7 tips for staying healthy over winter

7 tips for staying healthy over winter

MyMarathon

MyMarathon

MyMarathon

Get your family moving

Get your family moving

Get your family moving

Physical activity after a heart attack

Physical activity after a heart attack

Physical activity after a heart attack

Active Australia Innovation Challenge

Active Australia Innovation Challenge

Active Australia Innovation Challenge

Physical activity action plan

Physical activity action plan

Exercises to do at home

Exercises to do at home

Exercises to do at home

Get active during winter

Get active during winter

Get active during winter

Heart Foundation Walking

Heart Foundation Walking

Heart Foundation Walking

Healthy Active by Design

Healthy Active by Design

Healthy Active by Design

Building physical activity into urban planning and design

Building physical activity into urban planning and design

Building physical activity into urban planning and design

Jump Rope for Heart

Jump Rope for Heart

Jump Rope for Heart

Getting active at school

Getting active at school

Getting active at school

Surprising ways your family can meet the challenge to keep active

Surprising ways your family can meet the challenge to keep active

Surprising ways your family can meet the challenge to keep active

Physical activity in the workplace

Physical activity in the workplace

Physical activity in the workplace

This Father’s Day share the ways you protect your heart

This Father’s Day share the ways you protect your heart

This Father’s Day share the ways you protect your heart

Physical activity and your heart health

Physical activity and your heart health

Physical activity and your heart health

Walk away from heart disease

Walk away from heart disease

Walk away from heart disease

Get started with more physical activity

Get started with more physical activity

Get started with more physical activity

Sit less, move more

Sit less, move more

Sit less, move more

Staying active for better heart health

Staying active for better heart health

Staying active for better heart health

Types of physical activity

Types of physical activity