It is hard to overstate the benefits of a lifelong commitment to exercise and physical fitness. It has long been known that people who get regular exercise remain healthier and stronger than people who do not get regular exercise. Exercise has been linked to decreased rates of heart disease, stroke, cancer, osteoporosis, obesity and diabetes. Specifically, the benefits of exercise for heart patients are well documented. Exercise has been shown to:

• Decrease cholesterol levels and other harmful blood lipids
  
  
• Decrease blood pressure
  
  
• Increase the pumping efficiency of the heart and increase the overall health of the circulatory system
  
  
• Slow and even reverse the progression of “hardening of the arteries,” or atherosclerosis
  
  
• Reduce inflammation throughout the body, which has been linked to coronary artery disease
  
  
• Slow the progression of heart failure
  
  
• Contribute to weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity, both of which are components of the metabolic syndrome, which is associated with dramatically increased risk of heart attack and heart disease
  
  

Even slight amounts of exercise have been linked to improvements in health. Studies have shown that people who exercise once a week, for an hour at a time, have improved heart health. And the benefits increase with greater levels of activity. Based on these results, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2006, produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week to lower the risk of chronic disease. To prevent weight gain, or lose weight, the government recommends at least 60 minutes of exercise most days. These recommendations are in line with guidelines issued by leading medical organizations.

Despite these proven benefits, however, America is still facing a crisis of inactivity. By some estimates, almost 70 percent of adult of Americans are overweight or obese, and more than half of adult Americans do not get enough exercise. This lack of exercise causes an estimated 200,000 deaths every year, including deaths from coronary artery disease, colon cancer and type 2 diabetes. Alarmingly, the lack of exercise is also extending to children, prompting near-epidemic proportions of childhood obesity and a rise in diabetes among children.

Many people, however, find it difficult to initiate and remain committed to an exercise program. This has plagued researchers attempting to study the benefits of exercise because study subjects frequently drop out. One common problem is people beginning their programs exercise too strenuously at first, which results in painful recovery and decreasing motivation. It is important that any exercise program be launched under the guidance of a physician. This will include a pre-exercise screening to make sure the patient is not risking injury.

Once cleared, there are many ways to obtain the necessary exercise. Patients should choose a form of exercise that is enjoyable, fits with their lifestyle and is effective. Popular forms of exercise include yoga, aerobics, lifting weights, bike riding, hiking, walking, swimming and many others. Qualified physical trainers are widely available to help people get started after they have received clearance from their physicians.

A person should never begin an exercise program without a physician's approval.