A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has found that short bursts of incidental vigorous physical activity, lasting less than a minute each, may almost halve the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes among women who don’t exercise regularly.
Researchers analyzed data from 81,052 middle-aged men and women from the UK Biobank, who wore an activity tracker for a full week. They found that women who incorporated short bursts of vigorous physical activity into their daily routine were significantly less likely to experience major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) compared to those who didn’t exercise.
The study showed that as little as 1.2-1.6 minutes of daily vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) was associated with a 30% lower risk of all MACE, and specifically, a 33% lower risk of heart attack, and a 40% lower risk of heart failure.
The researchers suggest that VILPA may be a promising physical activity target for major cardiovascular events prevention in women who are unable or not willing to engage in formal exercise. However, they emphasize that men should still aim to incorporate regular vigorous intensity structured exercise into their daily routines to lower their cardiovascular disease risk.
The study’s findings highlight the importance of incorporating physical activity into daily life, even if it’s just short bursts of vigorous movement, to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-small-amounts-incidental-vigorous-physical.html