A recent study published in The LANCET Public Health suggests that short bursts of physical activity, even among non-exercisers, can significantly reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.
The study, involving over 25,000 participants from the UK Biobank, focused on individuals who did not engage in leisure time exercise. Participants wore Axivity AX3 accelerometers for a week to measure intervals of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
Key findings include:
- Short bursts of physical activity for at least 1 to 5 minutes throughout the day can lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and other major cardiac events by 29-44%.
- Even less than one minute of vigorous activity was associated with lower risk, provided it constituted at least 15% of the activity.
- The study accounted for factors like sex, education level, alcohol intake, and fruit and vegetable intake, with an average follow-up duration of 7.9 years.
The study author, Matthew Ahmadi, highlighted the health benefits of daily activities such as gardening, household tasks, or brisk walking to the store. However, the study faces limitations like potential misclassification of activities and changes in medication use over time.
Future research is needed to explore the mechanisms behind how these short bursts of activity improve cardiovascular health. In the meantime, incorporating even brief physical activities into daily routines, such as taking short walks, using stairs, or brisk walking while shopping, can contribute positively to heart health.
This study underscores the importance of physical activity, regardless of its duration, in promoting cardiovascular health and offers an accessible way for people to incorporate exercise into their daily lives.
Source: Medical News Today
