Just 5 minutes of exercise could reduce high blood pressure, study finds

A recent study published in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, has found that incorporating just a few minutes of exercise into your daily routine can have a significant impact on your blood pressure. Researchers at University College London (UCL) and the University of Sydney conducted the study, which involved 14,761 participants across six countries wearing activity trackers while performing short physical tasks such as walking, running, cycling, or stair climbing.

The study found that on average, participants spent approximately seven hours sleeping, 10 hours engaging in sedentary activities, three hours standing, one hour engaging in slow walking, one hour engaging in fast walking, and just 16 minutes of exercise activities throughout a 24-hour day. When researchers analyzed the impact of replacing less active behaviors with just five minutes of exercise, they found that it resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in blood pressure.

According to Dr. Jo Blodgett, the first author of the study, exercise is key to reducing blood pressure for most people, with more strenuous forms of movement being the most beneficial. The study also found that incorporating an additional 10 to 20 minutes of exercise per day could lead to a 10% reduction in heart disease risk.

Elevated blood pressure, or hypertension, affects 1.28 billion adults worldwide and is a leading cause of death. Despite the absence of symptoms, hypertension can contribute to serious health conditions such as heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and kidney damage. Regular exercise not only helps lower blood pressure but also improves metabolic health, glucose metabolism, and supports healthy weight management.

While exercise alone may not be enough to fully control hypertension in some individuals, adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise can help prevent high blood pressure altogether. The human body functions best with daily physical activity, and incorporating just a few minutes of exercise into your routine can have a significant impact on your overall health.

The study was supported by the British Heart Foundation and highlights the importance of incorporating regular exercise into your daily routine for better cardiovascular health. For more health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.