Even Light Physical Activity May Lower Stroke Risk in People With AFib

Light physical activity should be integrated alongside treatment for atrial fibrillation (AFib) to improve cardiovascular health. MoMo Productions/DigitalVision/Getty Images Physical activity was associated with a lower risk of stroke and death among people with atrial fibrillation (AFib), according to new research. Even relatively low levels of exercise were linked to meaningful benefits compared with inactivity. Exercise should complement, not replace, standard AFib treatments, including medications. Even small amounts of physical activity may help reduce the risk of stroke and premature death among people with atrial fibrillation (AFib), new research suggests. In a study involving more than 87,000 adults, researchers found that physical activity was associated with lower rates of stroke and death, regardless of whether participants had AFib. Among those with the condition, even small amounts of activity were associated with a significantly lower adjusted risk of stroke over 15 years compared with being sedentary. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association on August 5. “The results support current recommendations that exercise is critically impo…