Taking more exercise helps you look and feel better and can help keep your heart healthy. In addition to helping control blood pressure, blood glucose levels and cholesterol, exercise can also help you lose weight.

Even a short burst of activity, like running the vacuum cleaner or climbing the stairs, can get your heart pumping and help boost circulation. With regular exercise you’ll start to notice the difference in a matter of weeks.

Make your heart stronger

Your heart is a muscle and will get bigger and stronger through physical activity, especially cardiovascular exercise like walking, swimming and dancing, which works both your heart and lungs. The stronger your heart is, the slower it has to work to pump blood efficiently around your body. This places less stress on it, leading to a healthier and more relaxed cardiovascular system.

You don't have to join a gym or a special exercise class, just work more activity into your everyday life. Experts recommend we should be aiming to be moderately active for 30 minutes a day, most days of the week.