Regular exercise is the most reliable way to maintain weight and prevent a heart attack. But if you have a chronic condition and can't handle vigorous activity, here are some low-impact ways to protect your ticker…

When you've had a hectic day and your feet are dragging, it's more tempting to hit the junk-food drawer and curl up with an episode of "Desperate Housewives" than work out. But those guilty little pleasures could be setting you up for a big fall later.

"If [the heart's] not exercised regularly, blood and fluids start accumulating, and pressure rises in the chambers and blood vessels," says Nieca Goldberg ^[1], founder of the Women's Heart Program at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

That damages heart muscle and opens the door for cardiovascular disease – which strikes 1 in 3 adult women, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) – and, even worse, could lead to a heart attack.

But those issues are easy to prevent with just a few hours of exercise a week.

"Regular cardiovascular activity will rev metabolism, help you lose or control weight, boost confidence and improve mood," says James M. Rippe, a cardiologist and author of Heart Disease for Dummies ^[2] and The Healthy Heart Cookbook for Dummies ^[3] (Wiley Publishing).

It also helps manage hypertension and lower triglyceride levels – the amount of fat in your bloodstream – which helps to prevent heart disease.

Get a check-up first
Before you begin an exercise program, see your doctor, especially if you're diabetic, obese, or have had an embolism or are on heart medications. Some drugs can alter heart rates.

Once you get the green light, try these five easy ways to get your blood pumping: