What are the benefits of aerobic exercise?

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Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of many health conditions, ranging from heart disease to dementia. Although all forms of physical activity provide some benefits, aerobic exercise is particularly effective because it causes the heart and lungs to work harder than usual.
National physical activity guidelines recommend at least 150 minutesTrusted Source of aerobic activity per week.
Some examples of aerobic exercise include:

• running
• cycling
• walking
• swimming
• aerobics classes

In this article, we discuss some of the benefits that aerobic exercise offers the body and brain.

Benefits for the body​

Aerobic exercise benefits the body in many different ways. These include:

1. Preventing heart disease​

Aerobic exercise is essential for keeping the heart, lungs, and blood vessels healthy. Regular aerobic exercise can help prevent heart diseaseTrusted Source and reduce the risk of death from this condition.

2. Maintaining a healthy weight​

Share on PinterestAerobic exercise can help prevent heart disease and control blood sugar levels.
People wishing to lose weight will need to ensure that they burn more calories than they consume, resulting in a caloric deficit.
Aerobic exercise causes the body to burn calories for energy. It is a great way to push the body into a caloric deficit, leading to weight loss. However, to reach a caloric deficit, most people will also need to reduce the number of calories that they consume.
Read more about the differences between cardio and weightlifting for weight loss.

3. Controlling blood sugar levels​

Keeping blood sugar levels under control is important for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetesTrusted Source. It is essential for people with diabetes to keep their blood sugar levels within a healthy range. High blood sugar can damage blood vessels and lead to heart disease.
Insulin is necessary for regulating blood sugar. Aerobic exercise can increase insulin sensitivity so that the body requires less insulin to control blood sugar levels.
During exercise, the muscles also use glucose from the blood. In this way, exercise helps prevent blood sugar levels from rising too high.

4. Lowering blood pressure​

High blood pressure puts stress on the blood vessels and heart. Over time, this can have serious consequences, such as increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Aerobic exercise can help keep blood pressure within a healthy range. A review of 391 trials in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that exercise is as effective as blood pressure medications in reducing high blood pressure.

5. Preventing and managing stroke​

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to an area of the brain becomes obstructed. It can have serious and life threatening consequences. Regular aerobic exercise reduces the risk of a stroke by keeping the blood vessels and heart healthy.
It is also important for people who have had a stroke to stay as active as possible to support recovery and reduce the risk of another stroke. A doctor will advise a person on the best way to build up activity and start exercising again after a stroke.

6. Increasing lifespan​

Aerobic exercise has such a broad range of health benefits that it helps people live longer. Higher levels of aerobic activity reduce the risk of deathTrusted Source, regardless of the intensity of the activity.

7. Improving physical functioning​

The ability to perform tasks for daily living is important in maintaining independence and well-being. Aerobic exercise improves the physical capabilities that are necessary for a person to function on a daily basis. Physical fitness also helps prevent falls and the resulting injuries.