The type of cardio activity that is beneficial is the type that raises your heart rate and benefits your heart by improving cardiorespiratory fitness. During moderate-intensity exercise your heart should beat faster and you should breathe harder than normal. Vigorous-intensity exercise requires more effort and for you to push your body further, this should cause you to sweat and be out of breath additional effort and will push your body further.
Increasing physical activity is possible for everyone and if you are starting out, set an achievable goal every day. You can start slow but it is important that you persist. You can work up toward the recommended amount by increasing your time as you get stronger. The simplest way to get moving and improve your health is to start walking.
Increased physical activity has several well-established benefits including reducing the risk of heart disease, strokes, type 2 diabetes and dementia. Other advantages are better sleep, including improvements in insomnia and improved cognition, including memory, attention and processing speed. As well as physical benefits, exercise is associated with improved mental health with improved symptoms of depression and anxiety and a better quality of life and sense of overall well-being.