What is the ideal duration of exercise to protect the heart?

A recent scientific study has concluded that humans may need to exercise at a higher rate than previously thought to maintain heart health and prevent blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, and artery-related diseases.

The study, whose results were published by the British newspaper The Independent, indicated that engaging in physical activity for up to 610 minutes per week—equivalent to roughly four times the current recommendations—may provide optimal benefits for cardiovascular health. These findings challenge the currently accepted recommendation for adults, which advises at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week.

The study, conducted by Macau University of Science and Technology using data from more than 17,000 middle-aged Britons, found that adhering to current guidelines reduces the risk of heart disease by 8 to 9 percent, whereas exercising for between 560 and 610 minutes per week could lower this risk by more than 30 percent. Researchers concluded that optimal cardiovascular protection may require levels of physical activity significantly higher than those currently recommended.

In contrast, some commentators warned that recommending more than one hour and 20 minutes of exercise daily does not constitute an appropriate public health message, urging a continued focus on the minimum recommended target of 150 minutes per week, while emphasizing that increased physical activity provides additional health benefits whenever achievable.