Replacing just 30 minutes of daily sedentary time with physical activity reduces risk of further cardiac events or death by 61% in heart attack survivors. Digest
The first year after a heart attack is a critical period of vulnerability, with considerably higher risks of additional heart events or death. A person’s lifestyle—such as the amount of time spent sleeping, sitting, or being physically active—may influence this risk. A recent study found that substituting even small amounts of sedentary time with physical activity or sleep reduced the risk of adverse outcomes in the year after a heart attack by more than 60%.
Researchers enrolled 609 adults hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome over a four-year period. After discharge, participants wore a wrist accelerometer for 30 days to monitor their sleep, sedentary behavior, or physical activity. The researchers used medical records, participant interviews, and death registry data to identify those who experienced a cardiac event or died within the following year.
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People who sat for more than 15 hours a day were 2.6 times more likely to experience a cardiovascular event or die within a year, compared to those who were most active. Replacing 30 minutes of sedentary time with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduced the risk by 61%. Substituting even small amounts of sedentary time with physical activity or sleep reduced the risk of heart-related events or death in the year following a heart attack by more than 60%.
These findings suggest that even modest changes in daily routines—such as incorporating light activity or increasing sleep—improve recovery outcomes after hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome. Learn how to break up sedentary time with 1-minute activity “snacks” in this clip featuring Dr. Rhonda Patrick.