Ten hours of weekly exercise may cut heart disease risk by 30%, study finds
A new study suggests people may need more exercise than previously thought to protect heart health and prevent strokes and related diseases.
A recent scientific investigation reveals that individuals may require more than the standard recommendation of weekly exercise to safeguard heart health effectively, according to a recent study published in The Independent. The research, led by academics from Macau University of Science and Technology, suggests that up to 610 minutes, or ten hours, of physical activity per week could offer the most substantial cardiovascular protections.
This finding contradicts the current public health advice, which advocates for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each week.
The study, which analyzed data from over 17,000 middle-aged adults in the United Kingdom, determined that adhering to the existing guidelines decreases the likelihood of heart disease by 8 to 9%. However, the researchers discovered that engaging in physical activity for 560 to 610 minutes weekly could reduce the risk by more than 30%. The lead author of the study emphasized that optimal protection for the heart and blood vessels might necessitate substantially higher levels of exercise than currently advised.
Critics of the findings argued that recommending over an hour and a quarter of exercise daily may not be an effective public health message. They suggested maintaining the minimum 150-minute weekly guideline while still acknowledging that additional physical activity offers further health benefits.
Written by urgent.news from Ajel English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
