Brief Physical Activity May Lower Cardiovascular Risk in Women: Study

Sydney: An Australian study has revealed that short bursts of intense physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in middle-aged women. Published by the University of Sydney, the research suggests that just four minutes of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) daily can lower the likelihood of heart attacks and other serious heart conditions.

The study, based on data from the UK Biobank study, found that women aged 40-79 who engaged in an average of 3.4 minutes of VILPA per day had a 45% lower chance of experiencing a major cardiovascular event compared to those who did no such activity. VILPA includes short, intense bursts of activity such as climbing stairs, carrying groceries, or even playing with a child or pet.

Lead author Emmanuel Stamatakis emphasized the benefits of integrating brief physical activities into daily routines, especially for women who may not be interested in or able to commit to structured exercise. He told IANS that incorporating simple tasks, like uphill walking or carrying shopping, could be an effective way to improve heart health without the need for a formal exercise regimen.

The research focused on data from 22,368 UK Biobank participants who wore activity trackers between 2013 and 2015. Cardiovascular health was monitored through hospital and mortality records until November 2022. Among the findings, women who averaged 3.4 minutes of VILPA daily were 51% less likely to suffer a heart attack and 67% less likely to develop heart failure compared to those who did not engage in VILPA.

The study also found that even a minimum of 1.2 minutes of VILPA per day was associated with a 30% reduction in the risk of major cardiovascular events, a 33% lower risk of heart attacks, and a 40% lower risk of heart failure.

Interestingly, the health benefits of VILPA were less pronounced in men. Those who averaged 5.6 minutes of VILPA daily had only a 16% reduced risk of major cardiovascular events, suggesting that women may experience more significant heart health improvements from short bursts of activity than men.

This research highlights the potential of short, daily intervals of vigorous physical activity as an easy, accessible way for middle-aged women to significantly improve their cardiovascular health.