Summary

A new study in Circulation suggests even five minutes of vigorous daily exercise—like running, biking, or brisk walking—can modestly lower blood pressure, while 20 minutes can significantly reduce heart disease risk.

Analyzing nearly 15,000 people, researchers found that small activity increases led to slight but beneficial drops in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Experts say that starting with short bursts of activity, as little as five minutes, is manageable and effective for cardiovascular health, emphasizing that any exercise—even brief—is beneficial.