Researchers from Dalhousie University in Canada examined how different levels of daily activity influence blood pressure among older adults. The results indicate that substituting long periods of sitting with light to moderate movement can lower the risk of developing hypertension in older women, while more intense exercise appears to yield greater cardiovascular benefits for men. These findings were reported in the American Journal of Physiology, contributing to a nuanced view of how sex and activity intensity interact to shape heart health.
The study followed a large cohort of about 30,000 participants ranging from middle age to early senior years. Each person completed detailed questionnaires about their health status, typical activity patterns, dietary habits, overall well‑being, employment situation, and financial circumstances. In addition, participants underwent comprehensive medical evaluations and provided blood samples for laboratory analyses, enabling researchers to correlate lifestyle factors with measurable health outcomes over time.
Analysis revealed notable gender differences in baseline risk factors. Males, on average, tended to be overweight and exhibited higher blood pressure levels compared with female participants. While habitual sedentary time did not differ dramatically between groups, men generally engaged in higher levels of physical activity across all intensity tiers. The data also showed that men carried a greater history of cardiovascular events such as angina or myocardial infarction, whereas women more frequently presented signs of peripheral vascular disease, marked by changes in the vascular wall and plaque formation. These patterns helped researchers understand how sex-specific physiology might influence susceptibility to hypertension and related conditions.
Following a three‑year observation window, researchers reassessed health indicators and tracked how shifts in activity affected blood pressure trajectories. The findings indicated that reducing sitting time and incorporating higher‑intensity exercise contributed to lower blood pressure in both men and women. However, the benefits of light to moderate activity appeared more pronounced for women, with those activities offering meaningful protection against the development of hypertension and contributing to broader cardiovascular resilience in later life.
Beyond blood pressure, the study’s longer‑term implications point to a broader strategy for aging populations: balancing daily movement with routine exercise can support vascular health and potentially lessen the risk of fragility as people grow older. The researchers emphasize that even modest changes in daily habits—reducing uninterrupted sitting and gradually increasing activity levels—can produce measurable health gains over several years, particularly for women who may respond more positively to softer intensity ranges. These insights align with a growing body of evidence underscoring the role of lifestyle choices in shaping cardiovascular and overall aging outcomes, and they encourage individuals to tailor activity plans to their own health profiles and capacities.
Overall, the Canadian study adds a practical perspective to the ongoing discussion about how best to protect heart health across genders. It highlights the value of not only the amount of movement but also the pace and effort of activity in determining cardiovascular risk. Health professionals and policymakers may use these findings to craft gender‑sensitive guidance that encourages regular movement and safer exercise testing for older adults, supporting healthier aging across North America. (Dalhousie University study)”