"As you age, inactivity can lead to a variety of cardiovascular problems, one of which involves stiffening of the heart's left ventricle. That's the chamber responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. According to Dr. Benjamin Levine , Director of the Institute and Professor of Internal Medicine at University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW), "When the muscle stiffens, you get high pressure and the heart chamber doesn't fill as well with blood.""
"Previous studies at UTSW found that sedentary middle-aged adults often develop small, stiff heart chambers, while those who exercise regularly maintain larger, more elastic hearts. Even non-competitive athletes can reap significant benefits with just a few days of consistent exercise each week. Dr. John E. Lewis states that even small amounts of exercise, like "coming home from work, putting on your sneakers, and going for a 30-min walk," is better than remaining sedentary constantly."
Regular exercise begun before age 65 helps the heart adapt and repair, reducing damage from sedentary behavior in middle age. Inactivity contributes to stiffening of the left ventricle, impairing filling and raising pressure, which can ultimately lead to fluid backing into the lungs and heart failure. Maintaining consistent physical activity preserves larger, more elastic heart chambers compared with small, stiff chambers seen in sedentary adults. Even non-competitive, moderate routines performed a few days per week produce substantial cardiovascular benefits. Simple habits such as daily 30-minute walks offer meaningful protection compared with continuous sedentary behavior.
Read at Alternative Medicine Magazine
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