Dr Mosley says short bouts of exercise could cut heart disease risk by 16%

Heart disease is a major killer that claims around 160,000 lives each year in the UK alone, according to the British Heart Foundation.

Therefore, it’s imperative to minimise your risk of developing the potentially deadly condition.

Fortunately, physical activity could do this with gusto, according to Dr Michael Mosley.

Despite not being someone who loves exercise, the doctor admitted that the practice comes with “big benefits” for your heart on his podcast Stay Young.

While you might think you need to invest hours of time and hundreds of pounds into gym memberships and equipment, exercising to stave off the major killer might be surprisingly easy.

Whether you do a five-minute workout at home or head to the local gym, all types of exercise are undoubtedly good for your health.

But Dr Mosley explained that small bouts of exercise could be potent enough to benefit your cardiovascular system.

He said: “Incredibly, after just 30 minutes of exercise, you start releasing stem cells from your bone marrow to help you make new blood vessels. 

“But even shorter, two-minute stints of vigorous activity can improve your heart health.”

The doctor’s advice is even backed by a recent study that followed over 70,000 adults.

The research team found that just 10 two-minute bouts of exercise per week were associated with a 16 percent lower risk of heart disease.

When it comes to the type of exercise to do, the doctor recommended a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) which is based on short bouts of maximal-intensity exercise, ranging from cycling to quick walking.

Apart from keeping your heart ticking away nicely, the doctor said it’s also one of the “best” things you could do to stay young.

He said: “I am not someone who loves exercise, but this is a very simple way to rejuvenate mitochondria cells and keep my muscles, my heart, my immune system, brain and skin younger for longer and all in a remarkably short period of time.”

From walking up some stairs to increasing your pace during a daily walk, high-intensity intervals are versatile and can be easily incorporated into your daily routine. 

To check if you’re doing HIIT correctly, you shouldn’t be able to carry on a conversation during the maximal-intensity period.

Before adding this exercise to your routine, Dr Mosley recommended speaking to your GP first.