Sprinting could potentially lower the likelihood of developing irregular heartbeats, study suggests
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Walking briskly could potentially reduce your chance of developing irregular heartbeats.
According to a recent study in the Heart journal, brisk or fast walking paces were associated with a 35% and 43% lower risk of all studied heart rhythm abnormalities compared to a slow pace.
Those abnormalities include atrial fibrillation, bradyarrhythmias, and ventricular arrhythmias. Atrial fibrillation is the most prevalent arrhythmia, characterized by an irregular and rapid heartbeat beginning in the upper chambers of the heart. Bradyarrhythmias are abnormally slow heart rates of typically below 60 beats per minute. Ventricular arrhythmias occur when the lower chambers of the heart beat too rapidly.
"Walking is a great exercise because it's accessible to everyone," said Dr. Jill Pell, senior study author from the University of Glasgow, Scotland. "You don't need to spend money on gym memberships or equipment. Just step out your front door and keep going."
Research suggests that around 60 million people globally have atrial fibrillation. With arrhythmias being linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and premature death, preventing their occurrence is crucial, according to Pell.
Previous research has shown that walking pace is linked to other positive health outcomes, and the team wanted to assess whether the same connection held true for heart rhythm abnormalities.
The study drew on health and activity data from adults who were part of the UK Biobank study, which follows the health outcomes of over 500,000 people aged 40 to 69 in the United Kingdom. Participants self-reported their walking pace as slow, average, or brisk.
During a follow-up period of approximately 13 years, 9% of participants developed arrhythmias. Researchers found that walking at an average pace for only 5-15 minutes daily was sufficient to lower one's risk.
The link was strongest among people under 60, non-obese individuals, those with hypertension, and those with two or more pre-existing conditions, as well as women.
Dr. Martha Gulati, director of preventive cardiology at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles found the study valuable, affirming earlier research on physical activity's benefits for arrhythmia prevention and stronger associations among women.
However, the researchers cautioned that since this is an observational study, a cause-and-effect relationship cannot be definitively established. Additionally, self-reported health data can be subject to inaccurate recollections or biases. The team is now planning an intervention study to further confirm the association.
Atrial fibrillation is associated with multiple factors, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Participants who walked faster were generally healthier, had better grip strength, smaller waistlines, lower levels of inflammation, and fewer metabolic risk factors like high cholesterol or blood sugar.
While brisk walking reduces the incidence of bradyarrhythmias and ventricular arrhythmias, these rhythms have numerous possible causes, and their association with lifestyle factors isn't as clear-cut as that of atrial fibrillation.
The team discovered that over one-third of the beneficial effect of brisk walking was due to reductions in cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure, as well as less weight gain—all of which lower the risk of heart rhythm abnormalities.
Remember, starting with a leisurely pace is fine. As you walk more consistently, your speed will naturally improve. A brisk walk is an easy, cost-effective intervention that can help promote heart health and prevent arrhythmias.
Enrichment Data Highlights:
- Walking briskly offers significant benefits in reducing the risk of irregular heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation, bradyarrhythmias, and likely ventricular arrhythmias.
- The advantages of brisk walking are attributed to lower inflammation, obesity, and improved metabolic and cardiovascular health.
- Even 5-15 minutes daily of brisk walking can provide substantial heart rhythm protection.
- Brisk walking's protective effects are particularly significant in women, people under 60, non-obese individuals, and those with pre-existing conditions.
- Brisk walking can potentially lower cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure, as well as help prevent weight gain—all factors linked to a lower risk of heart rhythm abnormalities.
- Participants who walked briskly had a 35-43% lower risk of developing various arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, bradyarrhythmias, and ventricular arrhythmias.
- Preventing arrhythmias is critical as they are linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and premature death.
- Dr. Martha Gulati affirmed that brisk walking benefits arrhythmia prevention, particularly in women.
- The study suggests that even walking at an average pace for 5-15 minutes daily can reduce arrhythmia risk.
- A large part of the benefits of brisk walking comes from improvements in cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure levels, as well as less weight gain.
