Whether you’re trying to prevent a first heart attack, or a second, exercise is the cornerstone of any heart-healthy program.

As human beings, we are meant to be active. Before the Industrial Revolution, people had to be active to survive. As a bonus, all that activity kept them healthy.

Unfortunately, our prosperity has turned us into a nation of couch potatoes, and the spread of heart disease is one result.

The way to counteract the lack of survival activity is to make sure that you walk at least an hour a day — which will not only build your heart’s pumping power, but also grow collateral blood vessels that offer an alternative blood supply to help prevent a heart attack.

If you’ve already had a heart attack, ask your doctor about a cardiac rehabilitation program in which you will be able to exercise under medical supervision.