The American Heart Association (AHA) has issued a statement encouraging doctors to advise healthy adults with mildly elevated blood pressure or cholesterol to adopt a more active lifestyle.
This proactive approach involves doctors writing exercise “prescriptions” tailored for individuals with slightly to moderately high blood pressure and cholesterol.
This recommendation is particularly relevant as an estimated 53 million U.S. adults, or 21%, have slightly high blood pressure.
This is indicated by a systolic blood pressure (the top number) ranging between 120-139 mmHg, or a diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) between 80-89 mmHg.
Additionally, about 71 million U.S. adults, or roughly 28%, have slightly elevated cholesterol levels, marked by a “bad” LDL cholesterol score above 70 mg/dL.
Current guidelines suggest that people with these slightly high ranges, who are otherwise at low risk for heart disease or stroke, should focus on lifestyle changes.
These changes include more physical activity, weight loss, a healthier diet, quitting smoking, and moderating alcohol consumption.
The AHA statement recommends that during every visit, doctors should discuss physical activity levels with their patients, helping them find enjoyable activities and connecting them to resources such as health coaches and community centers.
Celebrating small improvements, like more frequent walking or using the stairs, is also encouraged.
Research has shown that increased physical activity can significantly lower blood pressure (by an average of 3-4 mmHg) and decrease LDL cholesterol levels (by 3-6 mg/dL).
Moreover, being physically active reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 21% and lowers the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases by 36%, compared to inactive individuals.
The federal guidelines recommend that people engage in either 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week, in addition to at least two strength training sessions.
The AHA emphasizes that any amount of activity is beneficial. Even modest increases in daily physical activity, such as five to ten extra minutes per day, can have significant health benefits.
This study, led by Bethany Barone Gibbs and published in the journal Hypertension, highlights the critical role of physical activity in managing slight blood pressure and cholesterol issues.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about Prebiotic fiber could manage high blood pressure and results showing that Dietary fiber: A new approach to lowering high blood pressure.
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