Muscat: A recent study published in Circulation finds that vigorous exercise, such as cycling, stair climbing, or running, is more effective at lowering blood pressure than low-intensity activities like walking. Researchers analyzed health data from 14,761 individuals across five countries, who wore activity trackers to monitor physical movement. Participants' daily activities were categorized into six groups: sitting, sleeping, slow walking, fast walking, standing, and vigorous exercise. According to Oman News Agency, findings showed that while any movement helps, activities that significantly raise heart rate yield the most substantial blood pressure benefits. Study lead Jo Blodgett from UCL emphasized that even an additional five minutes of exercise daily can positively impact blood pressure. Alongside vigorous exercise, improved sleep duration and increased standing and walking time also showed meaningful benefits.