New Recommendations Call for Exercise to Be Central to Heart Disease Management - Video

Could even a small increase in daily physical activity significantly reduce the risk of heart disease? A new American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Statement suggests that exercise should be prescribed as a fundamental component of cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment, emphasising that even modest activity can provide meaningful heart health benefits.

Published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), the statement highlights the importance of integrating personalised exercise recommendations into routine cardiovascular care, particularly for individuals who lead sedentary lifestyles.

According to the statement, low cardiorespiratory fitness is a major predictor of cardiovascular disease, comparable to established risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes.

The evidence suggests that the greatest reduction in cardiovascular risk occurs when physically inactive individuals begin incorporating even small amounts of exercise into their daily routines.

Importantly, achieving 10,000 steps daily may not be necessary to experience cardiovascular benefits. Research indicates that approximately 5,000 to 7,000 steps per day are associated with meaningful improvements in cardiovascular health and substantial reductions in cardiovascular and all-cause mortality for many adults.

The statement recommends individualising exercise prescriptions according to patients' cardiovascular conditions, physical capabilities, symptoms, treatment goals and preferences.

It also emphasises combining aerobic exercise with resistance training, while recognising the potential role of wearable devices, home-based programmes and virtual cardiac rehabilitation in improving long-term adherence.

For most asymptomatic or clinically stable individuals, routine exercise testing is not required before beginning physical activity. However, testing may help guide exercise prescriptions when clinically appropriate.

The statement concludes that exercise remains an underutilised yet highly effective approach to cardiovascular prevention and management, highlighting the need for sustainable, personalised activity plans that patients can maintain over time.

REFERENCE: Exercise Prescriptions for Cardiovascular Health in Adults: 2026 ACC Scientific Statement; American College of Cardiology Scientific Statement; The American College of Cardiology