If you want to effectively treat moderate hypertension, exercise is key – or so says a new statement from the AHA.
The American Heart Association (AHA) says that exercise is an effective way to treat cholesterol and high blood pressure. According to studies, physically active people have a lower risk of developing heart disease and dying from it.
Around 53 million adults in the U.S. have moderate hypertension (120-139/80-89 mm Hg). Moreover, 71 million adults in the U.S. have moderate LDL levels, the “bad” type of cholesterol.
“The first treatment strategy for many of these patients should be healthy lifestyle changes, beginning with increasing physical activity,” says Dr. Gibbs. Bethany Barone Gibbs, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, PA, is the chair of the group responsible for writing the paper.
Effective Amounts of Exercise
When it comes to treating moderate hypertension, exercise is key. “The message that we must be relentless in our pursuit to ‘sit less and move more’ throughout the day is more important than ever,” says Dr. Gibbs. AHA’s recommendation is based on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercises per week, with two days being strength training. As you put this plan into action, you will be able to reduce your blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
While the change may not seem drastic number-wise, it will cause a necessary drop in cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, you can achieve greater benefits the more you exercise – even going beyond these recommendations.
What Doctors Can Do
Doctors need to encourage their patients to be more physically active as a way to treat high blood pressure and high cholesterol. They can also help by checking in with patients about their physical activity and offering ways to increase physical activity.
Moreover, they can encourage patients to spend more time doing physical activities they enjoy. Finally, they can offer support when their patients undertake any level of physical activity.
“Every little bit of activity is better than none. Even small initial increases of 5–10 minutes a day can yield health benefits,” says Dr. Gibbs. By encouraging people to make small changes in their life and gradually increasing their activity levels, patients can benefit greatly.
The Outlook
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two significant factors in developing heart disease. Since cardiovascular disease is the top killer in the world, it’s important to take care of your health now.
Regular exercise, especially aerobic workouts, can make a huge difference in your heart health. Another thing you can try is eating well-balanced meals and taking heart supplements like L-arginine Plus.
Its ingredients work to naturally boost nitric oxide production, a compound that improves blood flow. As a result, L-arginine Plus helps promote healthy circulation, cholesterol, energy, and more – try it now!