Engaging in just 30 minutes of morning exercise can have a profound effect on controlling blood pressure for the entire day, especially for individuals who are overweight or obese, according to a study conducted by Australian researchers. The study also revealed that incorporating frequent short breaks from sitting throughout the day can offer additional benefits, particularly for women.
The research involved 67 participants aged between 55 and 80 years. Each participant underwent three different laboratory sessions, randomly assigned and separated by at least six days. The sessions included the following:
1. Uninterrupted sitting for eight hours.
2. One hour of sitting followed by 30 minutes of moderate-paced walking on a treadmill, followed by 6.5 hours of prolonged sitting.
3. One hour of sitting followed by 30 minutes of treadmill walking, with sitting interrupted every 30 minutes by three minutes of light-intensity walking for 6.5 hours.
The study findings demonstrated that both men and women experienced a reduction in average systolic (top number) and diastolic (lower number) blood pressure when engaging in morning exercise compared to periods of no exercise.
For women, there was an additional significant reduction in average systolic blood pressure when they combined morning exercise with regular breaks from sitting throughout the day.
These results emphasize the importance of morning exercise for managing blood pressure, especially for those who are overweight or obese. Furthermore, the incorporation of brief activity breaks during the day can be particularly advantageous for women in maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. By making exercise a part of our daily routine, we can take proactive steps towards maintaining better cardiovascular health throughout the day.