A new study conducted by New York University Langone Health revealed that adding just one hour of weekly physical activity can reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation—a common irregular heartbeat condition—by 11%. Using Fitbit data from over 6,000 participants across the United States, researchers found that those who exercised between 2.5 and 5 hours per week showed a remarkable 60% lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation, while those exercising more than 5 hours saw a slightly higher reduction of 65%.
The study, which tracked participants for a full year and followed up for five years, is notable for using objective fitness tracker data rather than relying on self-reported activity levels. Dr. Sean Heffron, the study’s senior author, emphasized that one does not need to run marathons to prevent heart disease, as moderate activity can provide significant benefits over time. While the study showed a strong association between exercise and reduced atrial fibrillation risk, researchers noted that the participant pool was primarily composed of college-educated white women and that further research is needed to understand the direct causation and other contributing factors.
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