Your heart health does not depend on how much or intensely you exercised when as a young adult. Instead, a new study shows adults need five hours of exercise weekly to keep their heart healthy. This new research suggests that staying active through middle age is the key to preventing high blood pressure (hypertension) later in lifeA long-term study published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine. of over 5,000 people found that while many people start out active in their 20s, those habits often slip away as they get older. How Many Hours Do You Need To Exercise? The study, led by experts at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), tracked participants for 30 years. They found that the current minimum exercise recommendations for adults might not be enough to regulate high blood pressure. Currently, the standard advice is about 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week. However, scientists found that people who worked out for five hours a week, double the minimum right now, and significantly lowered their risk. The benefit was strongest for those who kept up this routine until they reached age 60.Why Does The Older Generation Need To Exercise More? Between the ages of 18 and 40, most people’s activity levels drop significantly. As young adults move into college, start careers, or become parents, leisure time disappears, and exercise often falls to the bottom of the priority list. Researchers noted that nearly half of the young adults in the study weren't active enough, which directly linked to seeing their blood pressure rise as they entered middle age. High blood pressure is often called a "silent killer" because most people don’t feel any symptoms, yet it affects billions of people worldwide. If left unchecked, it can lead to:Heart attacks and strokes.An increased risk of dementia.General heart disease.The World Health Organization reports that more than 25 percent of men and 20 percent of women deal with this condition. Researchers pointed out that things like neighborhood safety, work responsibilities, and socioeconomic challenges can make it harder for some groups to maintain a consistent workout routine over several decades.Easy and Cost Effective Ways To Control Hypertension Controlling high blood pressure doesn't have to be expensive. By making simple lifestyle adjustments, you can significantly improve your heart health. Mayo Clinic suggests,Move More and Sit Less You should aim for 30 minutes of daily aerobic activity like walking, cycling, or dancing. Adding strength training twice a week helps even more. Regular movement can lower your blood pressure by 5 to 8 mm Hg. Replacing habits like driving to a nearby place with walking and taking the stairs instead of the elevator can also help.Eat Smart and Reduce Salt Diets like the Mediterranean diets, which has fruits, vegetables, and whole grains helps a lot. By lowering salt intake to 1,500 mg daily and eating potassium-rich foods can drop blood pressure by up to 11 mm Hg. Mayo clinic suggest that one must avoid processed foods and use herbs instead of table salt. Ditch Harmful Habits Limiting alcohol and quitting smoking are two of the fastest ways to improve your numbers. Smoking spikes blood pressure immediately, while excessive drinking makes heart medications less effective.Prioritize Rest and Stress Relief Aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep, stress management is equally important, so practice saying "no" to extra tasks, focus on things you can control, and take time for hobbies.Monitor and Support Track your blood pressure at home and keep regular doctor appointments. Don't go it alone; involve friends or join a support group to stay motivated.