There’s a lot to know about physical activity and heart health.
Read each statement and decide whether it is true or false. You might be surprised at what you learn!

1. Regular exercise can reduce my chances of getting heart disease.
2. Most people get enough exercise from their normal daily routine.
3. I don’t have to train like a marathon runner to become more fit.
4. Exercise programs take a lot of time to be effective.
5. People who need to lose weight are the only ones who benefit from regular exercise.
6. Any exercise will give me the same benefits.
7. I don’t need to worry about exercising as I get older.
8. I can get hurt or injured when I exercise.
9. I should consult a doctor before starting a physical activity program.
10. People who have had a heart attack should not start exercising.

Exercise and heart disease IQ quiz answers

1. Regular exercise is extremely important. You are twice as likely to develop heart disease if you are inactive. Other risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and being overweight.
2. Most people do not get enough exercise just from going about their daily routine, unless they have a physically strenuous job. The ideal is for healthy adults to have 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week.
3. That’s right! Low- to moderate-intensity activities, such as walking, yard work, housework, and dancing can have both short and long-term benefits.
4. Well, not really! The best is to have 30 minutes at a time to exercise, but if you don’t, try to find two 15-minute periods or three 10-minute periods to exercise. At the very least, fit in more activity by walking more at the office or by parking farther away from work or the store.
5. Regular physical activity provides more energy, reduces stress, and promotes sleep. It helps lower high blood pressure and improves blood cholesterol levels. Physical activity helps tone muscles and burns calories. It’s not just for people who want to lose weight.
6. Regular, brisk, and sustained exercise for at least 30 minutes 3 to 4 times a week, such as brisk walking, jogging, or swimming, can improve the efficiency of your heart and lungs and burn off extra calories. Other kinds of activity — like yoga or stretching — give you other benefits, such as increased flexibility, muscle strength, or stress relief.
7. Regular exercise increases your capacity to do everyday activities. Older people benefit from regular physical activity just as young people do.
8. The most common risk in exercising is injury to the muscles and joints. Such injuries are usually caused by exercising too hard for too long, particularly if you have been inactive. To avoid injuries, build up your level of activity gradually and listen to your body for pains.
9. Ask your doctor before you start or increase your physical activity if you have a medical condition such as high blood pressure, have pains or pressure in your chest and shoulder, feel dizzy or faint, get breathless after mild exertion, or have not been physically active.
10. Regular exercise can help reduce your risk of having another heart attack. People who include regular exercise in their lives after a heart attack can improve their chances of survival and how they feel. If you have had a heart attack, consult your doctor to be sure you are following a safe and effective exercise program that will help prevent heart pain and further damage from overexertion.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute