Study Reveals Weekly Exercise Needed to Manage Blood Pressure

To maintain heart health and prevent high blood pressure as you age, it’s important not to peak too early in life. Recent research suggests that sustaining regular exercise into middle age is key to long-term protection against hypertension.

Social factors can make maintaining physical activity more challenging for some individuals, according to a study of over 5,000 people across four U.S. cities.

“Teenagers and young adults may be physically active, but these habits often change with age,” explained Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, an epidemiologist from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Her comments came in April 2021, when the study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

While many studies confirm that exercise lowers blood pressure, this research highlights the importance of sustaining physical activity at higher-than-recommended levels during young adulthood to help prevent hypertension.

Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a widespread condition affecting billions globally, increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and even dementia later in life. According to the World Health Organization, about one in four men and one in five women have hypertension. Yet, many are unaware they have it, earning the condition the nickname “silent killer.”

Fortunately, exercise, the focus of this study, is one effective way to reduce high blood pressure.

A study of over 5,100 adults tracked their health over three decades through assessments and questionnaires on exercise, smoking, and alcohol use. Blood pressure was measured, and participants were grouped by race and gender.

The study revealed that physical activity declined between ages 18 and 40, while hypertension rates increased. This underscores the importance of promoting exercise in young adulthood to prevent midlife hypertension.

Hypertension Risks Linked to Low Activity Levels in Young Adults

Lead author Jason Nagata emphasized that nearly half of young adults showed low activity levels, linking them to hypertension. Those who maintained five hours of moderate exercise weekly significantly reduced their risk of hypertension, especially if sustained until age 60.

The researchers emphasized that “achieving at least twice the current minimum adult physical activity guidelines may be more effective for preventing hypertension than merely meeting the minimum.” However, increasing weekly exercise can be difficult due to life changes and responsibilities. Nagata pointed out that this is especially true after high school, when opportunities for physical activity decline as young adults enter college, the workforce, and parenthood.

The study also revealed significant health disparities, showing that Black men and women experience different health trajectories compared to White individuals.By age 40, physical activity stabilized for White participants but declined for Black individuals. By 45, Black women had higher hypertension rates than White men, with White women having the lowest rates. By 60, 80-90% of Black men and women had hypertension, compared to under 70% of White men and 50% of White women.

The research team attributed these disparities to various social and economic factors, although the study did not assess them. Nagata noted that while Black male youth may engage in sports, socioeconomic conditions, neighborhood environments, and family responsibilities can hinder ongoing physical activity into adulthood.

Read the original article on: Science Alert

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