The American Heart Association (AHA) has released new advice that could help millions of people improve their heart health.
Instead of giving medicine right away, doctors are now being encouraged to “prescribe” exercise to patients with slightly high blood pressure or cholesterol.
About 53 million adults in the U.S. have blood pressure that is a little above normal, and 71 million have slightly high cholesterol. While these levels aren’t yet dangerous, they can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke over time if not addressed.
Luckily, lifestyle changes like getting more exercise, eating healthy food, and quitting smoking have been shown to lower both blood pressure and cholesterol. Exercise is one of the most effective and affordable tools we have to protect the heart.
The AHA recommends that doctors ask patients about their activity levels at every visit and connect them with helpful resources, such as health coaches or local community fitness programs. Even small increases in daily movement can make a big difference.
For example, studies show that regular exercise can lower blood pressure by 3 to 4 points and reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) by 3 to 6 milligrams per deciliter. That may not sound like a lot, but over time, it can lower the risk of heart problems.
People don’t need to make huge changes overnight. The AHA says that even simple habits—like walking more, using stairs instead of elevators, or stretching during breaks—can add up. The goal is to slowly build up activity in a way that feels doable.
Experts recommend getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise (like brisk walking or biking) or 75 minutes of more intense activity (like running) each week. In addition, strength exercises, such as lifting weights or using resistance bands, are also encouraged twice a week.
Exercise doesn’t just lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It also improves overall heart health. Studies show that people who move regularly are 21% less likely to develop heart disease and 36% less likely to die from heart-related issues than those who stay inactive.
This new advice from the AHA highlights the importance of preventing health problems before they start. By helping patients make small, healthy changes early on, doctors can support long-term wellness without relying only on medication.
The study, led by Bethany Barone Gibbs and published in the journal Hypertension, backs up the idea that small steps toward physical activity can bring lasting heart health benefits.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that Changing blood pressure readings is a hidden sign of heart disease and common type 2 diabetes drugs may raise heart risk.
For more about heart health, please read studies about root cause of heart rhythm disorders and Warning signal from the kidneys can predict future heart failure risk.
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