Even small amounts of extra exercise could lower blood pressure
Research we're watching
- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Researchers analyzed health data from nearly 15,000 people participating in six individual studies across five countries (average age 54, 53% women), all of whom wore a device on their thigh to measure activity and blood pressure through the day and night. Daily activity was split into six categories: sleep, sedentary behavior (such as sitting), slow walking, fast walking, standing, and more vigorous exercise such as running, cycling, or stair climbing. Using statistical models, the researchers estimated how trading one type of behavior for another would affect blood pressure.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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