regular physical activity can lower your risk of heart and circulatory disease by 35 percent when you are active the heat produced by your muscles increases your body temperature making you feel warmer your heart starts to beat faster pumping more blood to the muscles you are using your heart is also a muscle if you are active regularly it gets bigger and stronger your muscles are working harder so they need more oxygen you start to breathe faster so your blood can pick up more oxygen from your lungs your lungs work harder to make this happen once your blood has picked up oxygen it moves to the muscles you are using [Music] giving them the extra oxygen they need if you are active regularly more capillaries grow in the muscles you've been working this is one reason why activity starts to feel easier over time [Music] getting active is great for people with diabetes if you have type 2 diabetes you have too much glucose in your blood probably because you don't have enough insulin physical activity helps you use the insulin you do have it also helps your cells use glucose even when there is no insulin regular physical activity can improve your memory and attention span over time the bit of the brain involved in memory and learning seems to get bigger long-term physical activity leads to a lower resting heart rate and lower blood pressure this helps cut your risk of heart and circulatory disease and there are more reasons to smile when you're active your brain produces chemicals called endorphins these reduce feelings of pain and make you feel more positive getting active cuts down on stress hormones reducing anxiety combine activity with a balanced diet and you'll help yourself reach and maintain a healthy weight aim for 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week try to be active every day every 10 minutes counts