Aerobic exercise: Top 10 reasons to get physical

Regardless of age, weight or athletic ability, aerobic exercise is good for you. See why — then prepare yourself to get moving.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Regular aerobic activity, such as walking, bicycling or swimming, can help you live longer and healthier. Need motivation? See how aerobic exercise affects your heart, lungs and blood flow. Then get moving and start reaping the rewards.

How your body responds to aerobic exercise

During aerobic activity, you repeatedly move large muscles in your arms, legs and hips. You'll notice your body's responses quickly.

You'll breathe faster and more deeply. This maximizes the amount of oxygen in your blood. Your heart will beat faster, which increases blood flow to your muscles and back to your lungs.

Your small blood vessels (capillaries) will widen to deliver more oxygen to your muscles and carry away waste products, such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid.

Your body will even release endorphins, natural painkillers that promote an increased sense of well-being.

What aerobic exercise does for your health

Regardless of age, weight or athletic ability, aerobic activity is good for you. Aerobic activity has many health benefits, no matter your age. As your body adapts to regular aerobic exercise, you'll get stronger and fitter.

Consider the following 10 ways that aerobic activity can help you feel better and enjoy life to the fullest.

Aerobic activity can help you:

  1. Keep excess pounds at bay
    Combined with a healthy diet, aerobic exercise helps you lose weight and keep it off.
  2. Increase your stamina, fitness and strength
    You may feel tired when you first start regular aerobic exercise. But over the long term, you'll enjoy increased stamina and reduced fatigue.

    You can also gain increased heart and lung fitness and bone and muscle strength over time.

  3. Ward off viral illnesses
    Aerobic exercise activates your immune system in a good way. This may leave you less susceptible to minor viral illnesses, such as colds and flu.
  4. Reduce your health risks
    Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of many conditions, including obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, stroke and certain types of cancer.

    Weight-bearing aerobic exercises, such as walking, help decrease the risk of osteoporosis.

  5. Manage chronic conditions
    Aerobic exercise may help lower blood pressure and control blood sugar. It can reduce pain and improve function in people with arthritis. It can also improve the quality of life and fitness in people who've had cancer. If you have coronary artery disease, aerobic exercise may help you manage your condition.
  6. Strengthen your heart
    A stronger heart doesn't need to beat as fast. A stronger heart also pumps blood more efficiently, which improves blood flow to all parts of your body.
  7. Keep your arteries clear
    Aerobic exercise boosts your high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good," cholesterol, and lowers your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad," cholesterol. This may result in less buildup of plaques in your arteries.
  8. Boost your mood
    Aerobic exercise may ease the gloominess of depression, reduce the tension associated with anxiety and promote relaxation. It can also improve your sleep.
  9. Stay active and independent as you age
    Aerobic exercise keeps your muscles strong, which can help you maintain mobility as you get older. Exercise can also lower the risk of falls and injuries from falls in older adults. And it can improve your quality of life.

    Aerobic exercise also keeps your mind sharp. Regular physical activity may help protect memory, reasoning, judgment and thinking skills (cognitive function) in older adults. It may also improve cognitive function in children and young adults. It can even help prevent the onset of dementia and improve cognition in people with dementia.

  10. Live longer
    Studies show that people who participate in regular aerobic exercise live longer than those who don't exercise regularly. They may also have a lower risk of dying of all causes, such as heart disease and certain cancers.

Take the first step

Ready to get more active? Great. Just remember to start with small steps. If you've been inactive for a long time or if you have a chronic health condition, get your doctor's OK before you start.

When you're ready to begin exercising, start slowly. You might walk five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the evening. Any physical activity is better than none at all.

The next day, add a few minutes to each walking session. Pick up the pace a bit, too. Soon, you could be walking briskly for at least 30 minutes a day and reaping all the benefits of regular aerobic activity. You can gain even more benefits if you exercise more.

Other options for aerobic exercise could include cross-country skiing, aerobic dancing, swimming, stair climbing, bicycling, jogging, elliptical training or rowing.

If you have a condition that limits your ability to participate in aerobic activities, ask your doctor about alternatives. If you have arthritis, for example, aquatic exercises may give you the benefits of aerobic activity without stressing your joints.

Feb. 05, 2020 See more In-depth

See also

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  3. Exercise warm-up
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  5. Air pollution and exercise
  6. Ankle weights for fitness walkers
  7. Barefoot running shoes
  8. Buying athletic shoes? Check your arch
  9. Buying new workout shoes? Get the right fit
  10. Choose the right walking shoes
  11. Cycle your way to better health
  12. Do you need to warm up before you exercise?
  13. Elliptical machines: Better than treadmills?
  14. Exercise: Are you working hard enough?
  15. Exercise for weight loss: Calories burned in 1 hour
  16. Exercise: How much do I need?
  17. Exercise intensity
  18. Exercising: Does taking the stairs count?
  19. Exercising? Take it up a notch
  20. Focus on fit when shoe shopping
  21. Walking schedule
  22. Healthy heart for life: Avoiding heart disease
  23. How much exercise do you need?
  24. Interval Training
  25. Kids and exercise
  26. Vary your cardiovascular workouts
  27. Exercise and opioids
  28. Interval training
  29. Should people with atrial fibrillation participate in physical activity?
  30. Aquatic exercises
  31. Step it up with an activity tracker
  32. The real secret to a healthy heart
  33. Time for new walking shoes?
  34. Tired of walking alone? Team up!
  35. Walking for fitness: Overcoming setbacks
  36. Walking for fitness: Staying motivated
  37. Walking for fitness: Warm up, cool down
  38. Walking group
  39. Walking and trackers
  40. Walking poles
  41. Walking shoes
  42. Walking for fitness
  43. Walking with ankle weights? Stop!
  44. Want a strong brain? Exercise!
  45. Want to get more active? Try an activity tracker
  46. Want to maximize your daily walk?
  47. Weighted hula hoops: Hoopla or good exercise?
  48. What's in an athletic shoe?
  49. Whole-body vibration
  50. HIIT at any age
  51. What is Zumba?