The American Heart Association has released its latest guidelines for treating high blood pressure and cholesterol and now advises people to sit less and move more as a first treatment choice.
Lifestyle changes alone are effective in reducing mild to moderately elevated blood pressure and blood cholesterol in otherwise healthy adults, according to the AHA. Those changes include increasing physical activity, losing weight, improving diet, stopping smoking and drinking alcohol in moderation.
According to the AHA, the approximate 53 million Americans who have systolic (top number) blood pressure between 120 and 139 mm Hg or diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure between 80 and 89 mm Hg; and who have an otherwise low risk of heart disease or stroke, meet the new criteria for lifestyle-only treatment for high blood pressure. Another group that meets the criteria are the estimated 71 million people who have an LDL cholesterol score above 70 mg/dL, according to the AHA. Lifestyle changes include increased physical activity, weight loss, improving diet, stopping smoking and moderating alcohol intake.
The research concluded that people who are physically active have a 21% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease and a 36% lower risk of death from cardiovascular diseases compared to those who are not active. Increasing physical activity not only helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol, but studies show it can lessen the risk of some cancers, build bones, improve brain and mental health and improve your sleep.
SOURCE: Newswise June 2, 2021