Finding out how many minutes of walking each day can help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Everyone knows that exercise like walking is a great way to prevent many chronic diseases. However, when it comes to heart attacks and strokes, the exact amount of walking needed to be effective remains an unanswered question.

The good news is that a study recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has found an answer to the aforementioned question.

Scientists from Macau Polytechnic University, China, analyzed data from 17,088 participants from the UK Biobank, with an average age of 57. Participants wore activity trackers and had their maximum oxygen demand (VO2) measured during high-intensity exercise to assess cardiovascular fitness – the efficiency of the heart, lungs, and muscles in delivering and utilizing oxygen.

Exercising for 150 minutes per week can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by 7-8%.

Illustration: PH created from GM

During the follow-up period of approximately 7.8 years, 1,233 cardiovascular events occurred, including 874 cases of atrial fibrillation, 156 cases of myocardial infarction, 111 cases of heart failure, and 92 cases of stroke.

The results revealed:

Exercising for 150 minutes per week can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by 7-8%.

Notably, the greatest risk reduction, up to over 30%, was achieved with 560-610 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week, such as brisk walking, running, or cycling, equivalent to 80-87 minutes per day, according to the medical news website News Medical .

This figure is 3-4 times higher than the current public health recommendation that adults should exercise for at least 150 minutes per week at moderate to vigorous intensity, such as brisk walking, running, or cycling.

Cardiovascular fitness varies considerably from person to person and is considered an important indicator of overall cardiovascular health. Researchers say that people with poor cardiovascular fitness often face a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and premature death.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tim-ra-so-phut-di-bo-moi-ngay-giup-ngua-dau-tim-dot-quy-185260521065453885.htm