Exercise Study Sets Weekly Blood Pressure Control Requirement

To maintain heart health and reduce the risk of high blood pressure later in life, it’s essential not to reach peak fitness too soon. Recent studies indicate that maintaining consistent exercise levels throughout middle age is crucial for long-term protection against hypertension.

However, social factors may present challenges for some individuals in maintaining consistent exercise habits, as indicated by a study involving over 5,000 participants across four US cities.

Lead author and epidemiologist Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), highlighted that while teenagers and young adults may initially engage in physical activity, these patterns often change with age.

Prioritizing Physical Activity in Young Adulthood

Published in April 2021 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the study suggests that sustaining physical activity levels during young adulthood, even higher than previously recommended, could be crucial for hypertension prevention.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a significant global health concern linked to heart attacks, strokes, and increased dementia risk in later life. Despite its prevalence—approximately one in four men and one in five women worldwide—the condition often goes undiagnosed, earning it the moniker “silent killer.”

However, the study emphasizes exercise as a pivotal factor in addressing high blood pressure. Over a three-decade period, the research tracked the health of over 5,100 adults through physical assessments and questionnaires detailing their exercise routines, smoking habits, and alcohol consumption.

At each clinical assessment, researchers measured participants’ blood pressure three times, one minute apart, and categorized them into four groups based on race and gender for data analysis.

Across all demographic categories—men, women, and both racial groups—physical activity levels declined between the ages of 18 and 40, accompanied by an increase in hypertension rates and a decrease in physical activity throughout subsequent decades.

Leveraging Young Adulthood for Midlife Hypertension Prevention

This trend underscores the significance of young adulthood as a critical period for intervening to prevent midlife hypertension through health promotion initiatives aimed at increasing exercise.

“Nearly half of our participants in young adulthood exhibited suboptimal levels of physical activity, which was strongly associated with the onset of hypertension, underscoring the need to raise the minimum standard for physical activity,” explained lead author Jason Nagata, an expert in young adult medicine at UCSF.

Further analysis revealed that individuals who engaged in five hours of moderate exercise per week during early adulthood—twice the current recommended minimum for adults—experienced a significantly reduced risk of hypertension, especially if they maintained this level of activity until age 60.

The researchers emphasized that exceeding the current minimum guidelines for adult physical activity could provide greater advantages in preventing hypertension.

However, increasing physical activity levels can be challenging, especially during life transitions such as transitioning from high school to college, work, and parenthood. This transition often leads to reduced leisure time for physical activity, as noted by Nagata.

Furthermore, the study revealed disparities in health outcomes between Black and White participants. While physical activity levels stabilized among White individuals at age 40, they continued to decline among Black participants.

Racial Disparities in Midlife Hypertension Rates

By age 45, Black women surpassed White men in hypertension rates, while White women had the lowest rates during midlife. By age 60, hypertension affected 80 to 90 percent of Black individuals, compared to just under 70 percent of White men and approximately half of White women.

The researchers attributed these recognized racial disparities to various social and economic factors, although this study did not specifically assess these factors, aside from noting the level of high school education.

“While Black male youth may initially engage in sports at high levels, socioeconomic factors, neighborhood environments, and responsibilities related to work or family may hinder sustained physical activity into adulthood,” Nagata explained.

Read the original article on: Science Alert

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