Just minutes of vigorous daily exercise may cut risk of 8 major diseases: Study

Just a few minutes of vigorous movement a day, such as climbing stairs or brisk walking, may dramatically lower the risk of dementia, diabetes, and heart disease, 24NewsHD TV reported on Monday. 

A new medical research tracking nearly 96,000 adults over seven years says just a few minutes of vigorous physical activity each day may significantly reduce the risk of several serious illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, and dementia, as well as lower the likelihood of premature death

The findings of the study, published in the European Heart Journal, examined whether short bursts of intense activity performed as part of daily life, rather than structured exercise routines, could help protect against eight major health conditions.

Researchers analysed one week of physical activity data from participants, and then tracked their health outcomes over a period of seven years to assess how brief periods of vigorous movement affected long-term disease risk.

During the follow-up period, researchers monitored how many participants developed cardiovascular disease, diabetes, inflammatory disorders, liver disease, respiratory illnesses, kidney disease, and dementia, among other major conditions.

The study found that just a few minutes of vigorous activity — such as climbing stairs, running briefly, or walking at a fast pace — was associated with a lower risk of developing a range of chronic illnesses, as well as a reduced risk of death from any cause.

According to the findings, the protective effect appeared particularly strong for inflammation-related conditions, severe cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes, and dementia.

Researchers said the results showed that even short bouts of intense daily movement were linked to a 63% lower risk of dementia, a 60% lower risk of diabetes, and up to a 46% lower risk of premature death.

The study also suggested that the type and intensity of physical activity may play an important role in protecting against specific diseases, with some conditions — such as joint-related inflammatory disorders — appearing to respond especially well to brief, vigorous movement.

The findings add to growing evidence that incorporating small amounts of high-intensity physical activity into daily routines may offer substantial health benefits, even for people who do not follow formal exercise programmes.