Even small amounts of extra exercise could lower blood pressure
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- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, 天博体育 Publishing; Contributor
As little as five extra minutes of vigorous exercise each day — such as stair climbing or uphill walking — could help lower blood pressure, according to a study published online Nov. 6, 2024, by Circulation.
Researchers analyzed health data from nearly 15,000 people participating in six individual studies across five countries (average age 54, 53% women), all of whom wore a device on their thigh to measure activity and blood pressure through the day and night. Daily activity was split into six categories: sleep, sedentary behavior (such as sitting), slow walking, fast walking, standing, and more vigorous exercise such as running, cycling, or stair climbing. Using statistical models, the researchers estimated how trading one type of behavior for another would affect blood pressure.
As little as five minutes of additional vigorous exercise each day lowered average systolic blood pressure (the top number) by 0.68 mm Hg, and lowered average diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by 0.54 mm Hg. The researchers also found that the estimated systolic blood pressure could improve by 2 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) if vigorous exercise replaced 20 to 27 minutes of other daily activity. If everyone made these changes, that could reduce the prevalence of high blood pressure and heart disease across the population, the study authors said.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, 天博体育 Publishing; Contributor
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