One in three French adults is affected byhigh blood pressure according to Public Health France. Certain everyday elements such as smokingpoor diet or sedentary lifestyle can contribute to this problem of tension, which itself constitutes a major risk factor for cardio-neuro-vascular pathologies. For the youngest, adopt a balanced dietpractice a physical activity regular and moderate alcohol consumption and tobacco can limit the risks of hypertension. For older people, American researchers have questioned the impact of the duration of sitting on the risk of blood pressure. The verdict is clear: According to experts at the University of Washington, Seattle, reducing sitting time by more than 30 minutes per day could be a practical strategy to promote the health of older adults.
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To achieve these results, researchers conducted a clinical trial on 283 people aged 60 to 89. The latter were in a situation obesity (they presented a BMI greater than 30) and spent at least 6 hours sitting per day. Then, they were divided into two groups. The first received advice from a coach to improve diet and reduce a sedentary lifestyle. Additionally, they were equipped with a “standing desk.” Participants wore a movement tracker and were asked to reduce the amount of time they spent sitting by two hours per day.
The second group was a control group and followed coach recommendations to adopt a healthy lifestyle. For the second group, there was no follow-up. There arterial pressure was noted at the beginning of the study, after 3 months and then at the end of the follow-up. As a reminder, people with a systolic blood pressure (maximal blood pressure) greater than 140 mm Hg or diastolic greater than 90 mm Hg, are considered to have high blood pressure.
Hypertension: small changes in habits to combat a sedentary lifestyle in people at risk
Six months later, the researchers noticed that these interventions had reduced 31 minutes a day, on average the time spent in a seated position. Although the initial objective of two hours per day was not achieved, according to the authors, this made it possible to reduce systolic blood pressure (SBP), the highest value, of close to 3.5 mm Hg. The researchers point out that for comparison, aerobic physical activity (such as walking or dancing for example) reduces SBP by 4 mm Hg and weight loss by 3 mm Hg.
The researchers note that this intervention “resulted in significant improvements in blood pressure”particularly since the participants were at high risk of hypertension. In their conclusions, the authors of the study emphasize that in a population with a higher cardiovascular risk, “Small changes in sitting habits were enough to improve blood pressure.” The researchers, however, call for new research to deepen their results.
Sources :
- Sitting Time Reduction and Blood Pressure in Older Adults – Jama Open Network
- High blood pressure (hypertension) – Public Health France
