Fitting just 20 minutes of exercise into your day can help decrease heart disease risk, especially if you are over 70.
Research found that keeping active can help you avoid heart failure in later life.
The findings - led by the University of Padua in Italy and published in the journal Heart - were concluded following a long term study and reinforce the maxim of "better late than never" when it comes to a healthy lifestyle.
According to the study, 20 - 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise helped heart health, especially in those 70-75-years-old.
Researchers drew data from the Progetto Veneto Anziani (ProVA), a study of more than 3,000 Italians aged 65 and over.
Researchers then tracked heart disease - including heart failure and coronary heart disease - among the participants across two decades.
The physical activity levels of participants was also closely monitored throughout the duration of the study.
Walking, playing bowls and fishing were all considered as moderate activity with gardening, gym workouts, cycling, dancing and swimming all considered vigorous activity for the purposes of the study.
Overall, physical activity was associated with lower rates of cardiovascular diseases.
But further analysis found that those ages 70-75 who completed 20 minutes or more of exercise every day enjoyed the greatest benefits.
The benefits were more apparent in people in their early 70s compared with those in their late 70s and beyond.
The protective benefit seemed to reduce as people aged, which “suggests greater cardiovascular benefits might be achieved by improving physical activity earlier in late life” the researchers said.
They continued: "These results suggest that public health policies should be targeted at promoting or beginning physical activity in mid- and early late life, given a probable greater effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular risks.
“At least 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day should be recommended to achieve the greatest cardiovascular benefits.”
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