In a study from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes in Melbourne, scientists found just a few minutes of easy exercise daily can help lower blood pressure in overweight and obese people with type 2 diabetes.
They found some marked blood pressure reductions over trial days when people did the equivalent of walking to the water cooler or some simple body-weight movements on the spot.
For the study, the researchers monitored blood pressure levels in 24 overweight and obese adults as they sat for eight hours. The average age of the study participant was 62. All had type 2 diabetes.
The participants took brief breaks from sitting, and either walked slowly for three minutes or did three minutes of simple resistance exercises every half hour. Again, their blood pressure was monitored.
The resistance exercises included activities such as half-squats, calf raises, knee raises, or gluteal muscle squeezes.
The team found that compared to uninterrupted sitting, light walking led to an average 10-point drop in systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading).
Simple resistance exercise led to an average 12-point decrease in systolic blood pressure, the study reported.
The team says light activity breaks are not meant to replace regular, purposeful exercise. But they may be a practical solution to cut down on sitting time, especially if you’re at your desk all day.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies that blood pressure drops 14 years before death, and scientists give new advice for treating high blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about metal that plays a big role in treating high blood pressure, and results showing this diet could help reduce high blood pressure, and diabetes.
The study was conducted by Bronwyn Kingwell et al.
Copyright © 2022 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
