01/15/2026
Happy New Year! A new year often brings fresh motivation to move more and take better care of our health. I’m frequently asked which types of exercise are most beneficial – not only for heart health, but also for overall health and longevity.
Exercise is one of the most powerful tools we have to protect the heart and extend life. Large population studies consistently show that regular physical activity lowers cardiovascular risk, improves metabolic health, and reduces all-cause mortality – often as effectively as medications. Exercise also plays an important role in lowering stress and improving cortisol regulation.
Not all exercise works the same way. The four forms of exercise most strongly linked to heart health and longevity include high-intensity interval training (HIIT), moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, resistance training, and combined aerobic plus resistance training.
In this first post, we’ll focus on HIIT and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. A follow-up post will cover resistance training, combined training, and other important movement modalities that complete a heart-healthy exercise routine.
- Dr Mona Shah, One Heart Cardiology
Happy New Year! A new year often brings fresh motivation to move more and take better care of our health. I’m frequently asked which types of exercise are most beneficial – not only for heart…