New Delhi:
Staying physically active beyond youth and well into middle age can significantly reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure later in life, according to a long-term US study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
The research tracked more than 5,100 adults from four US cities over nearly 30 years, monitoring their physical activity levels, blood pressure readings, and lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption.
Exercise Drops Just As Hypertension Risk Rises
Researchers found that while many people remain physically active in their late teens and early 20s, exercise levels drop sharply between the ages of 18 and 40 — precisely the period when the risk of hypertension begins to increase.
High blood pressure, often referred to as the “silent killer”, affects billions globally and is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and dementia.
More Exercise, Lower Risk
The study revealed that individuals who maintained higher-than-recommended activity levels — around five hours of moderate exercise per week — had a much lower risk of developing hypertension, particularly if they continued exercising into their 60s.
Those who reduced physical activity in early adulthood were far more likely to develop elevated blood pressure as they aged.
Nearly Half Of Young Adults Fall Short
Lead author Dr Jason Nagata from the University of California, San Francisco, said nearly half of young adults in the study failed to meet ideal physical activity levels.
“This shortfall in exercise during early adulthood was strongly linked to the development of high blood pressure later in life,” he noted.
Racial Disparities Highlighted
The research also exposed significant racial disparities. Physical activity among Black participants declined more steeply with age compared to White participants, while rates of hypertension were substantially higher among Black men and women by midlife.
Researchers attributed these differences to social and economic challenges, including demanding work schedules, family responsibilities, and limited access to safe spaces for regular exercise.
Call For Lifelong Fitness Support
Experts say the findings underline the urgent need for public health programs that promote and support regular physical activity throughout adulthood, rather than focusing only on youth.
Maintaining an active lifestyle well beyond the early years, the study suggests, could be one of the most effective ways to curb the growing global burden of high blood pressure.