‘Additional 3,000 steps per day can lower blood pressure in elderly’

Pescatello’s previous studies have highlighted  benefits of exercise in lowering high blood pressure

HARTFORD, Connecticut – A recent study has brought to light promising results for the approximately 80% of older Americans who suffer from high blood pressure.

Just increasing the number of daily steps by 3,000 can significantly reduce this risk factor for serious cardiovascular disease.

The study, conducted by Linda Pescatello of the University of Connecticut along with Elizabeth Lefferts and Duck-chun Lee of Iowa State University, was published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease.

Pescatello’s previous studies had already highlighted the benefits of exercise in lowering high blood pressure.

For this study, the researchers focused on sedentary older adults, ages 68 to 78, who typically walked about 4,000 steps daily.

Their goal was to increase that number by 3,000 steps to a total of 7,000, which is in line with recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID -19 pandemic, the team monitored the participants remotely with pedometers, blood pressure monitors and step diaries.

Remarkably, participants’ systolic blood pressure dropped by an average of seven points and diastolic blood pressure by four points after the intervention.

This corresponds to an 11% reduction in the risk of death and a 16% reduction in cardiovascular mortality.

The study highlights the importance of increased daily activity, regardless of walking speed or continuity of walking.