This article, entitledDear heart disease: You may be close to my family but you’re most certainly not a friend, comes from partner site Fat Fighter TV.

A few months ago, my desire to fight heart disease got much stronger when I found out I had high cholesterol. Despite living a healthy lifestyle, my genes caught up with me. My mom had high blood pressure and died of a stroke; my dad has had two heart attacks. There was only one thing left for me to do. Fight harder.

I tweaked my already healthy diet. And I upped my workouts – a powerful way to build a healthy heart because exercise can boost the levels of good cholesterol and lower your blood pressure.

Plus look at all the other amazing heart-healthy benefits of exercise:

• Improves blood circulation, which reduces the risk of heart disease


• Keeps weight under control


• Helps in the battle to quit smoking


• Helps manage stress


• Releases tension


• Counters anxiety and depression


• Helps you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly


• Reduces coronary heart disease in women by 30-40 percent


• Reduces risk of stroke by 20 percent in moderately active people and by 27 percent in highly active ones

[Source: American Heart Association]