Researchers found that women who add just four minutes of high-intensity routine activities, such as climbing stairs or taking the bus quickly, can halve their risk of heart attacks by doing so daily. Brief bouts of exertion in everyday life also have a significant effect on heart health, reducing serious cardiovascular events.
A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine analyzed 81,052 middle-aged people who wore activity trackers for seven days between 2013 and 2015. The results showed that women who recorded daily averages of three to four minutes of intense physical activity were significantly less likely to experience heart attacks, strokes, or heart failure compared to those with no reported activity.
Women who managed an average of 3.4 minutes a day, but did not engage in formal exercise, saw their risk reduced by 45%. Specifically, the risk of heart attack decreased by 51%, while the risk of developing heart failure dropped by 67%.
The associations were less clear and significant in men, with only those who recorded 5.6 minutes of intense activity a day experiencing a 16% lower risk of cardiovascular events.
Experts emphasize that even short periods of vigorous physical activity can make a difference to having a healthy heart, particularly for women who do not exercise regularly due to various reasons. However, the recommendation remains that individuals aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week if they are able to exercise.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/dec/03/women-high-intensity-routine-four-minutes-daily-halve-heart-attack-risk-uk-biobank-study