Exercise as Medicine: Your Prescription for a Healthier Heart

If you could bottle the benefits of exercise, it would be a blockbuster drug for heart health. Cardiologists increasingly emphasize that physical activity should be “prescribed as medicine” because its effects on cholesterol and the cardiovascular system are potent, multifaceted, and essential for long-term well-being.
This “medicine” works in several ways. Regular aerobic exercise has been proven to help lower levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides. At the same time, it is one of the most effective ways to increase levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol, the crucial particle that helps remove cholesterol from your arteries.
The prescription also benefits your blood vessels directly. Exercise helps maintain their elasticity and health, improves blood pressure, and promotes better blood flow. It strengthens your heart muscle, making it a more efficient pump. These adaptations make your entire cardiovascular system more resilient to the stresses that can lead to disease.
For the prescription to be effective, it must be realistic and consistent. The goal is not to become a marathon runner overnight, but to incorporate regular, moderate-intensity activity into your daily life. This could be 30 minutes of brisk walking, cycling, swimming, or any activity that raises your heart rate and makes you breathe a bit harder.
Like any medicine, adherence is key. Sporadic bursts of activity are less effective than a sustained, long-term routine. By viewing exercise as an essential part of your treatment plan—just as important as any pill you might take— you can unlock its powerful therapeutic benefits and write your own prescription for a healthier heart and better cholesterol control.