According to the latest reports, taking 2,000 daily steps could lead to lower heart failure risks for older women. Check out the latest details about this important medical discovery.
2,000 daily steps drop heart failure risks
A recent study has found a correlation between daily physical activity and a decreased risk of heart failure in older women. Researchers discovered that women who walked at least 2,000 steps per day were less likely to develop heart failure as compared to those who led a sedentary lifestyle.
A study was conducted at the University at Buffalo-SUNY and published in JAMA Cardiology.
The study examined 5,951 women between the ages of 63 and 99. These participants were comprised of 49.2% white, 33.7% black, and 17.2% Hispanic women. None of the participants had been diagnosed with heart failure at the time of the study.
A group of women were asked to wear a 24-hour monitor for seven days while being monitored.
After approximately seven years, researchers conducted a follow-up and found that participants who engaged in higher physical activity (regardless of the level of intensity or strenuousness) and at least took 2,000 steps per day showed a lower risk of developing heart failure.
On the other hand, participants who were more sedentary and took less than 2,000 steps per day demonstrated a higher risk of developing heart failure.
The researchers noted that these findings have “profound public health and clinical relevance,” explaining that heart failure disproportionately impacts women and minorities and that 2,000 steps per day are “far less than the often touted 10,000 steps per day for promoting health benefits.”
“This study highlights the importance of physical movement to improve the risk of heart failure in aging women,” Michelle Routhenstein, a preventative cardiology dietitian, said recently.
“These results are not surprising because research has consistently shown the benefits of regular physical movement on heart health. However, the additional focus on accelerometer-measured activity provides more reliability to these findings.”
Check out more details about all this in the official notes of the study.
