A new statement from the American Heart Association says that doctors should encourage people with slightly high blood pressure or cholesterol to be more active and sit less.
Instead of giving medicine right away, doctors are advised to give “exercise prescriptions” to help people improve their heart health through movement.
These exercise prescriptions would include personalized tips on how to move more during the day. They could also include support like health coaches or local community programs to help people stay active. The main goal is to make exercise part of people’s daily habits, which can lower the chances of getting heart disease or having a stroke.
Right now, around 53 million adults in the U.S. have blood pressure that is a bit too high. This means their top number (systolic) is between 120 and 139, or their bottom number (diastolic) is between 80 and 89. Also, about 71 million adults in the U.S. have slightly high cholesterol. This means their “bad” LDL cholesterol level is over 70.
For people in these ranges who are otherwise healthy and not at high risk for heart problems or stroke, the best first step is changing their lifestyle. This includes moving more, eating better, keeping a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and cutting down on alcohol.
The AHA says doctors should ask their patients about how much they move at every visit. They should also help people find activities they enjoy doing. Even small changes like walking more steps each day or using stairs instead of the elevator can help and should be celebrated.
Studies have shown that being more active can lower blood pressure by about 3 to 4 points and lower LDL cholesterol by about 3 to 6 points. People who are physically active also have a 21% lower chance of getting heart disease and a 36% lower chance of dying from heart-related problems compared to people who are not active.
The U.S. government recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise (like brisk walking) or 75 minutes of hard exercise (like running) each week. They also suggest doing strength exercises, like lifting weights, two or more times a week. But the AHA says that even just adding five or ten minutes of activity each day can make a big difference.
This new advice comes from research led by Bethany Barone Gibbs and her team. It was published in the journal Hypertension. The message is clear: moving your body, even a little more each day, can help protect your heart and reduce your need for medication.
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