High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects billions worldwide and can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and dementia. A recent study found that maintaining physical activity during young adulthood is crucial for preventing high blood pressure later in life.
Conducted over three decades, the research tracked 5,100 adults’ health with regular assessments of their exercise habits, blood pressure, and lifestyle factors. The results showed that as people aged, their physical activity levels decreased, while rates of hypertension rose.
Young adulthood was identified as a critical window for intervention, where promoting exercise can prevent midlife hypertension. Nearly half of participants in young adulthood had suboptimal levels of physical activity, which significantly increased the risk of high blood pressure.
The study found that exercising at least twice the recommended minimum amount – around 10 hours per week – lowered the risk of hypertension considerably, especially if it was maintained throughout life. However, achieving this level of activity can be challenging due to life-changing decisions and growing responsibilities.
Racial disparities in physical activity levels were also evident, with Black men and women experiencing significantly lower physical activity levels than their White counterparts. By age 60, around 80-90% of Black men and women had hypertension, compared to just below 70% for White men and around half of White women.
The research team attributes these disparities to a combination of social and economic factors, including socioeconomic status, neighborhood environments, and work or family responsibilities. The study emphasizes the importance of promoting exercise in young adulthood as a key strategy to prevent high blood pressure later in life.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/study-reveals-how-much-exercise-you-need-to-control-your-blood-pressure