The American Heart Association (AHA) is encouraging doctors to help people with slightly high blood pressure or cholesterol become more active and spend less time sitting.
This new effort is meant to support better heart health and reduce the chance of getting heart disease or having a stroke.
Doctors are now being asked to write exercise plans like they do for medicine. These plans would tell patients to move more during the day and also guide them to places like health centers or help them talk to health coaches. The idea is to help people become more active in their daily lives in simple and easy ways.
In the United States, more than 50 million adults have blood pressure that is just a little higher than normal, and over 70 million adults have slightly high cholesterol levels. These people are not at high risk yet, but small lifestyle changes could keep their heart healthy and prevent problems in the future.
Experts believe that these small health issues don’t always need medicine right away. In many cases, people can manage them by changing the way they live. This includes doing more exercise, eating healthier foods, losing weight if needed, quitting smoking, and drinking less alcohol.
The AHA wants doctors to ask about physical activity during every visit and to help people find ways to move more. Even simple changes—like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking more often—can bring big health improvements.
Studies show that being more active can lower both the top and bottom numbers of blood pressure by about 3 to 4 points. It can also reduce the bad kind of cholesterol, called LDL, by 3 to 6 milligrams per deciliter.
People should feel proud of small wins, like walking to the store instead of driving, or standing up and stretching regularly if they sit for long hours. These small efforts can add up to better heart health.
According to U.S. health guidelines, people should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise, like brisk walking, or 75 minutes of more intense exercise, like running, every week. It is also good to do strength exercises, like lifting light weights, twice a week.
Research shows that people who stay active have a much lower chance of getting heart disease. They also have a lower risk of dying from heart-related problems. The AHA hopes that this new approach will lead to healthier lives and fewer heart problems for many Americans.
There are also tips to help prevent high blood pressure. Staying at a healthy weight, eating more fruits and vegetables, and avoiding salty and fatty foods can all help. It’s also important to sleep well, manage stress, drink less alcohol, and stop smoking.
Keeping track of your blood pressure at home or at the doctor’s office is a smart way to catch problems early. New studies even show that what you eat and when you eat can make a difference, and that your eyes might give doctors clues about your blood pressure.
This message is clear: moving more and sitting less can help your heart—and your whole body—stay strong and healthy.
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