It is n great secret that staying physically fit has a long list of health benefits, especially throughout old age. According to a report from Medical Daily, a recent study from the American Heart Association reveals that staying fit during middle age can significantly reduce a person’s risk of suffering from a stroke later on in life.

The study, carried out by researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas found that maintaining a sufficient level of physical fitness is crucial for keeping a healthy heart in old age.

According to lead author and cardiology fellow Dr. Ambarish Pandey, “We all hear that exercise is good for you, but many people still don’t do it. Our hope is that this objective data on preventing a fatal disease such as stroke will help motivate people to get moving and get fit.”

The study used data gathered during the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study, which examined 19,815 adult participants. The sample was 79 percent male and 90 percent white. Data was collected on the participants’ tolerance for exercise by having them run a standardized treadmill test. Each participant was ranked based on their performance as having a low, middle, or high level of fitness.

The research revealed that participants with a high level of fitness were 37 percent less likely to experience a stroke by the time they reached age 65 than those with a low level of fitness. The link held strong even after the scientists controlled for factors like blood pressure, diabetes, and heart rate irregularities.

According to co-author Dr. Benjamin Willis, an epidemiologist at the Cooper Institute, “In this study we see an association between fitness and reduced risk of the serious health event of stroke even in the presence of other chronic conditions.”

The American Heart Association recommends that you get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, five days a week to maintain a sufficient level of cardiovascular health.

A press release from the American Heart Association describing the details of the study can be found here.