New Study: Just This Much Exercise Could Lower Risk of Death from AFib

It’s been well demonstrated that heart disease is the leading cause of mortality in the U.S., accounting for 680,000 deaths per year. Heart attack is commonly considered the most dreaded effect of heart disease, but atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib, is a condition that can increase the risk of a life-threatening cardiac event. In fact, one 2024 study at Northwestern Medicine found that people who have been diagnosed with AFib are at a 29% increased risk of sudden death.

The Cleveland Clinic explains that with AFib, the upper chambers of their heart—the atria—beat quickly and irregularly. This prevents blood from flowing from the atria to the ventricles, the heart’s lower chambers. The consequences of developing this type of heart arrhythmia can be serious.

However, according to a recent study at NYU Langone Health in New York City, getting even moderate amounts of exercise can help lower your risk of developing AFib and its complications. “Our findings make clear that you do not need to start running marathons to help prevent atrial fibrillation and other forms of heart disease,” said study senior author Dr. Sean Heffron, MD, a preventive cardiologist at NYU Langone. “Just keeping moderately active can, over time, add up to major benefits for maintaining a healthy heart,” he said in an NYU news release.

To conduct their analysis, the research team tracked activity data from more than 6,000 Fitbit users across the United States. They then compared that data to medical records. The researchers concluded that people who got 2.5 to five hours of exercise per week had a 60% lower risk of developing AFib compared to those who didn’t.

The study participants saw even greater benefits when they increased their exercise volume or turned up the intensity of their workouts. Those who exercised for more than five hours reduced their AFib risk by 65%. Taking a brisk walk or cleaning your home could be enough to begin reducing your chances of AFib, cardiology researchers said in their report, which they were preparing to present at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting on November 16.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are several underlying reasons that a person might develop the condition. These can include:

• Changes or damage to your heart’s tissue and electrical system
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart failure
• Heart valve issues
• Hyperthyroidism
• Excessive alcohol use
• A stress response to sickness

However, high blood pressure is the number one cause of AFib, accounting for one in five cases. This is why many of the suggested interventions are also aimed at lowering blood pressure levels. Besides increasing your exercise levels, there are several additional ways to reduce your risk, according to the Cleveland Clinic:

• Eat heart-healthy foods
• Limit your alcohol consumption
• Quit smoking and using tobacco products
• Take any medications your doctor has prescribed to you

And, when you’re ready to get moving, be sure to discuss your plan with your doctor first before getting started. They can help you figure out your target heart rate for your age and monitor your heart rate during physical activity.

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• 5 Surprising AFib Triggers, from a Cardiologist
• 6 Silent Signs of AFib, According to a Cardiologist
• 5 Foods to Avoid If You Have Heart Palpitations, According to a Cardiologist