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Exercise should be prescribed as a foundational component of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and treatment, according to a new American College of Cardiology scientific statement published in JACC.

The statement emphasizes that the greatest reduction in cardiovascular risk occurs when sedentary individuals become even modestly more active, and the best exercise prescription is one that is safe, individualized, achievable and sustainable over time.

Low cardiorespiratory fitness is a predictor of future CVD that is on par with traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes; however, exercise prescription is inconsistently integrated into routine cardiovascular care.

The scientific statement highlights extensive evidence showing that regular physical activity, structured exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness improve exercise capacity, reduce hospitalization and enhance quality of life.

"The most important message is that some activity is better than none," Jonathan N. Myers, Ph.D., a health research scientist with the Palo Alto VA Healthcare System and chair of the statement's writing committee, said. "Patients do not need to become athletes to improve their cardiovascular health. Small increases in physical activity can produce meaningful benefits, particularly for those who are currently inactive."

For example, the statement highlights growing evidence that meaningful cardiovascular benefits can be achieved with fewer than 10,000 daily steps. Data suggest that approximately 5,000 to 7,000 steps a day are associated with clinically important improvements and substantial reductions in cardiovascular and all-cause mortality for many adults.

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