As a result, more blood flows to your muscles, and oxygen levels in your blood rise. Capillaries, your body's tiny blood vessels, also widen. This allows them to deliver more oxygen to your body and carry away waste products.

When done regularly, moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity can lower your risk for coronary heart disease. This is a condition in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside your coronary arteries.

These arteries supply your heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood. Plaque narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow to your heart muscle. Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture break open.

This causes a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery. Blocked blood flow to the heart muscle causes a heart attack.

Certain traits, conditions, or habits may raise your risk for coronary heart disease. Physical activity can help control some of these risk factors by:. Inactive people are more likely to develop heart disease than people who are physically active. Studies suggest that inactivity is a major risk factor for heart disease, just like high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking.

For people who have coronary heart disease, regular aerobic activity helps the heart work better. It also may reduce the risk of a second heart attack in people who already have had heart attacks. Vigorous aerobic activity may not be safe for people who have heart disease.

Ask your doctor what types of activity are safe for you. They can provide more information about recommended physical activities and steps to begin adding physical activity into your routine.

Physically active adults are at lower risk for declines in cognitive function as they get older. Physically active children, teens, and older adults show improved cognition.

Children show improved cognition after one session of physical activity. Physically active children, teens, and adults are at lower risk for depression than their peers. Physical activity can also decrease feelings of anxiety, and regular activity can reduce long-term feelings and signs of anxiety.

It also makes it easier to do daily tasks, such as climbing stairs and shopping. Some people will need to get it checked more or less often. Learn more about cholesterol testing.

High blood pressure has no symptoms. Get the facts about blood pressure testing. Your family history affects your risk for heart disease. Share the information with your doctor or nurse.

Talk with your doctor to find out if taking aspirin is the right choice for you. Use these questions to talk with your doctor about statins. Learn more about eating healthy. Heart-healthy items include high-fiber foods whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and certain fats like the fats in olive oil and fish.

Use this shopping list to find heart-healthy foods. For example, ask for a side salad instead of chips or french fries. Get heart-healthy tips for dining out [PDF — 3 MB].

That means 1 drink or less in a day for women and 2 drinks or less in a day for men. Learn more about drinking alcohol only in moderation.

Getting regular physical activity can help prevent heart disease. Adults need at least minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. Try fitting a quick walk into your day. Learn more about getting active.

For example, if you weigh pounds, that would mean losing 10 to 20 pounds. Find out how to control your weight. Call QUIT-NOW for free support and to set up your plan for quitting. Get more information about quitting smoking. Avoiding secondhand smoke is important, too — so keep your home smoke-free.

If you have guests who smoke, ask them to smoke outside. Managing stress can help prevent serious health problems like heart disease, depression, and high blood pressure.

Deep breathing and meditation are good ways to relax and manage stress. Get more ideas for how to manage stress. This content on heart disease was adapted from materials from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Reviewed by: Paula T. Einhorn, M. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by ODPHP or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. MyHealthfinder Health Conditions Heart Health Keep Your Heart Healthy. Health Conditions Keep Your Heart Healthy.

The Basics Take Action. What Is Heart Disease? Take Action. Take Action Signs of a Heart Attack What is a heart attack?