SYDNEY, April 15 (Xinhua) -- For those who dislike structured workouts, daily chores and brisk activities might still do their heart good, according to a new study by the University of Sydney researchers.
The study, published in Circulation on Monday, examined over 24,000 adults who didn't engage in formal exercise. It found that moderate to vigorous incidental physical activity, like fast-paced housework, brisk walking, or carrying groceries, was linked to a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
The study tracked participants' movements via activity trackers over a week and found that those who incorporated more vigorous or moderately intense activities into their daily routines showed a clear reduction in heart-related events, strokes, and early death. Light-intensity activities, by contrast, showed little effect.
Just one minute of vigorous activity offered the same heart benefit as roughly 3 to 3.5 minutes of moderate activity, according to the study.
For people unable or unwilling to follow a structured fitness regimen, the authors suggest that focusing on more intense everyday movements could be a powerful, realistic way to protect heart health. ■
