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Engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for just over two hours a week may protect against heart disease and reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation, according to a recent study by researchers at New York University-Langone Health. The study, released on Monday, highlights that activities like brisk walking, household cleaning, swimming, and jogging can have profound benefits on heart health with as little as 2.5 hours of exercise each week.
The study zeroed in on arrhythmia, specifically atrial fibrillation—a common condition where the heart’s upper chambers beat irregularly and rapidly, potentially leading to stroke, heart failure, and other cardiovascular complications if untreated. The NYU researchers found that moderate activity within the recommended range of 2.5 to 5 hours weekly lowered the risk of developing atrial fibrillation by up to 60 percent. Those who engaged in even more physical activity, exceeding five hours weekly, saw a slightly higher reduction in risk, around 65 percent.
“Our findings make clear that you do not need to start running marathons to help prevent atrial fibrillation and other forms of heart disease,” said Dr. Sean Heffron, a preventive cardiologist and assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “Just keeping moderately active can, over time, add up to major benefits for maintaining a healthy heart.”
For this study, researchers used data from fitness trackers like Fitbit, gathering objective measurements of physical activity from more than 6,000 participants across the United States. The data consistently showed that individuals with higher weekly activity levels were less likely to develop atrial fibrillation.
These findings support the American Heart Association’s guidelines recommending 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate-to-vigorous activity weekly for optimal cardiovascular health. They are set to be presented at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Heart Association, where they will contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting moderate exercise as a key preventative measure for heart disease.
