How Much Exercise Do You Need for Heart Health?

Do you know how much exercise you should be doing for your heart health? You may be surprised at how little you need to do to have an impact. New research  now indicates that all you need is a minimum of thirty minutes per day, five days per week, and you’ll make a difference.

The research was published in the Journal of Physiology. It looked at the impact of doing regular exercise over the long term. It indicated that five days per week at a half hour a pop is all you need to boost your heart health.

Government Recommendations for Heart Health

Government recommendations currently state that you should get 150 minutes of exercise per week for wellness. That said, if you are looking for a number more specific to your heart health, then there has been quite a bit of debate. It is for this reason that researchers have been trying to investigate the number.

This figure will be particularly important because studies are starting to show that people who are at risk of heart disease or even those who don’t have it aren’t getting enough exercise. Therefore, by getting to know just how much exercise is needed for heart health, at least those patients can have a specific goal in mind.

Hardening of the Arteries

It is well known that arteries can get harder with age. Arteries are critical for transporting the blood in and out of the blood and throughout the rest of the body. As we age, they stiffen up. The more this happens, the greater our risk of disease.

The new study indicates that if people exercise five days per week, thirty minutes at a time, it reduces this stiffening. Instead, the arteries remain healthier and better able to pump the blood through the body. This can help to keep better control over blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. This can also lower the risk of death from heart disease.

Heart Health Over Time

It is important to note that this study looked at people’s activity rates over years, not just weeks or months. The idea of exercise for heart health doesn’t just require people to exercise occasionally. The key is to keep up the five days per week, thirty-minute exercise sessions over many years. This is meant to be a lifestyle in order for it to be truly effective.