Cardiologists Urge Inclusion of Physical Exercise in Heart Disease Prevention
21:36 15 October, 2026The American College of Cardiology has called for physical exercise to become an essential part of the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. In a new scientific statement published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), specialists emphasized that even a modest increase in physical activity can significantly improve health, particularly among people who lead sedentary lifestyles.
According to the evidence cited in the statement, walking approximately 5,000–7,000 steps a day can substantially improve cardiovascular health indicators and reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and other causes in many adults. Achieving these benefits does not necessarily require aiming for 10,000 steps every day or engaging in professional-level sports.
The authors note that low cardiorespiratory fitness — the ability of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels to supply the body with oxygen during physical exertion — predicts the risk of future cardiovascular disease at least as well as traditional risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, and diabetes.
Cardiologists recommend tailoring physical activity to each individual, taking into account their health status, physical capabilities, symptoms, and goals. Aerobic exercise should ideally be combined with strength training. Physical activity should be safe, manageable, and regular.
Most people who have no symptoms and whose health is clinically stable do not need exercise stress testing before starting an exercise program. However, patients with diagnosed cardiovascular disease may require an individualized training plan. Specialists also call for wider access to cardiac rehabilitation and greater integration of physical activity recommendations into routine medical practice.
“The most important message is that any activity is better than none,” emphasized Jonathan Myers, chair of the working group that prepared the statement.