The American Heart Association (AHA) has released new recommendations urging doctors to encourage people with slightly high blood pressure or cholesterol to be more active. Instead of immediately turning to medication, doctors are now advised to “prescribe” exercise as a way to improve heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Millions of Americans could benefit from this advice. About 53 million adults in the U.S. have slightly high blood pressure, and 71 million have slightly high cholesterol. While these levels are not yet considered dangerous, they can increase the risk of heart disease over time.
Fortunately, research shows that lifestyle changes—such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and quitting smoking—can effectively lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
To support these changes, the AHA suggests that doctors ask patients about their physical activity levels at every visit and connect them to resources such as health coaches and community centers.
Even small increases in daily movement can have a significant impact on heart health. For example, studies show that regular exercise can lower blood pressure by 3-4 mmHg and reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by 3-6 mg/dL.
The AHA emphasizes that people don’t need to make drastic changes all at once. Simple actions like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking more throughout the day, or stretching during breaks can make a difference. The goal is to gradually increase physical activity in a way that feels manageable.
Current guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking or cycling) or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise (such as running) each week. Strength training exercises are also encouraged twice a week.
The benefits of staying active go beyond just lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Research shows that people who exercise regularly have a 21% lower risk of developing heart disease and a 36% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular-related issues compared to those who are inactive.
This new AHA recommendation aims to shift the focus toward prevention. Instead of waiting until health problems arise, doctors can now help patients take early action through simple lifestyle changes.
The study, conducted by Bethany Barone Gibbs and published in Hypertension, reinforces the idea that small steps toward physical activity can lead to long-term heart health benefits.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and people with severe high blood pressure should reduce coffee intake.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing plant-based foods could benefit people with high blood pressure.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
