Middle-Aged Women: Little Exercise Better than None

All it takes is just a few rounds of moderate exercise each week to help your heart, according to a new British study published in the journal Circulation.

Researchers tracked more than 1 million women and found that moderate exercise, enough to make you sweat or raise your heart rate, could cut a middle-aged woman's risk for heart disease, blood clots, and stroke.

One U.S. expert told Health Day News that it doesn't take the commitment of an athlete; just two to three times a week is enough to help protect the heart.

The study found more frequent physical activity did not result in further cuts in risk, but those who participated in activities every three or four days found they were doing enough to protect their health.

"Inactive middle-aged women should try to do some activity regularly. However, to prevent heart disease, stroke, and blood clots, women don't need to do very frequent activity as this seems to provide little additional benefit," Dr. Miranda Armstrong, the study's lead author and an epidemiologist at Oxford University, said.

Exercising included walking, cycling, and gardening.