Endorphins and other are by your body during exercise, causing an experience known as “runner’s high”. But these chemicals may also protect you from heart attacks.
Researchers showed that blocking the receptors that bind morphine, endorphins and other opioids eliminates the cardiovascular benefits of exercise.
Studies have long demonstrated that regular vigorous exercise reduces the risk of heart attacks and improves survival rates following heart attacks. Exercise also decreases the risk of atherosclerosis, stroke, osteoporosis and depression. However, how exercise produces these benefits is still not well understood.