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Don't spend as much time exercising as you should? Maybe it's time to get to the heart of the matter. Regular exercise not only burns calories and shapes muscles but also protects your heart. How? Like other muscles, your heart becomes stronger with regular physical activity. As your cardiovascular fitness improves, your heart muscle doesn't have to work as forcefully to pump oxygen-rich blood through your body.

Promoting efficient blood flow is just one way exercise helps your heart. You probably know that regular exercise at a moderate or vigorous intensity lowers the risk of heart disease and heart attack. And having a strong heart helps you cope with other stresses in life, whether physical or emotional.