More exercise for less fit people: New study pinpoints the exact number of minutes to sweat it out for heart health
Key Points:
- A large study tracking over 17,000 adults found that about 610 minutes (around 90 minutes daily) of physical activity per week offers the best heart protection, especially for less fit individuals.
- This challenges existing guidelines recommending 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise weekly, suggesting higher activity levels significantly reduce heart disease risk and increase longevity.
- Exercise benefits heart health by improving circulation, lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation, and enhancing overall fitness, while also positively impacting mood, stress, sleep, and weight management.
- Experts emphasize gradual increases in activity to avoid injury, encouraging a variety of enjoyable exercises and total daily movement beyond structured workouts to combat risks from prolonged sitting.
- The study supports personalized exercise recommendations based on individual fitness and health status, reinforcing that it’s never too late to start moving for better heart health.