Moving our muscles and getting regular exercise is good news for our heart health, and 10 minutes is better than zero minutes. I always feel better, sharper, and healthier even after a 15-minute yoga session or bout of cardio. Especially as the years go on, people tend to become less physically active, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular events. Researchers wanted to uncover how many minutes of daily activity reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event, and you might be surprised by the results. It turns out that a little physical activity goes a long way when it comes to protecting your heart. Let’s look at the research.
The study
In a study published in the journal Circulation, cardiovascular and public health researchers assessed data for 24,149 people from the UK Biobank with an average age of 62 years. Participants wore wrist monitors tracking their activity levels for a minimum of seven days during the years 2013 and 2015. The researchers also wanted to understand the effects of incidental activities, which refer to daily activities like shopping for groceries or completing household chores.
The results
Some participants’ wrist monitors showed they took part in frequent moderate activity, while others were more or less active. The researchers compared these groups and concluded the following:
- Those who engaged in frequent moderate incidental activity had a lower risk of developing a cardiovascular event.
- Participants who remained moderately active for at least three minutes on a regular basis lowered their likelihood of having a stroke, heart attack, or other cardiovascular event.
- When people engaged in more incidental activities (like household chores), and when those incidental activities were more intense, they experienced even more health improvements.
Concluding thoughts
This study adds to the multitude of other studies showing that exercise benefits your heart health and overall wellness. The best part is that even grocery shopping or doing your household chores regularly for a few minutes lowers your risk of a cardiovascular event, and it’s protective for your heart health. I think it’s time I started some laundry or prepared my grocery list, ideally with some heart-healthy foods like fatty fish, nuts, and olive oil.
