5 top aerobic workouts for your heart

It is known to all of us that physical activity and exercise is great for your heart as well as your mind, yet cardiovascular disease accounts for more deaths in the western world than any other.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada 34% of all female deaths in 2002 were due to cardiovascular disease.

Aerobic activity is one of the best ways to combat heart disease. It burns calories to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, it increases cardiac output which means more blood can be pumped with each heart beat, it lowers blood pressure, it lowers your resting heart rate so there's less stress on your heart, and it decreases the build-up of plaque in the arteries."
Physical activity is also fun, says Dr. Bob Haennel, professor and chair of physical therapy in the faculty of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Alberta. "When you've done something like walking or swimming or cycling, you usually feel pretty good afterwards," he explains.

The most important thing is to find an activity that you enjoy and one that is accessible. Here are 5 examples.

1. Running and walking  The most popular of all activities, walking doesn't require any specialized equipment and is perfect for cardiac patients, says Haennel. In the winter, do a mall walk or walk in your apartment complex -- the location is not important just so long as you keep moving. Running will burn double the calories of walking but it's harder on your joints. "Buy the best running shoes you can afford," says Fenton. "Shop at a store that fits you properly for your foot and activity."