Pedometers and smartwatches can motivate us to do more sports and exercise.
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Mon. March 23, 2020
Smartwatches are also used for research: Scientists at the University of San Francisco have investigated the relationship between daily step counts and blood pressure, and observed that people with higher steps had lower blood pressure on average than those who did less walking.
638 study participants had used a smartwatch to measure their number of steps daily and also determined their blood pressure weekly. The participants’ systolic blood pressure (the upper value) was found to be approximately 0.45 mmHg lower per 1,000 steps. This means that a person who walks 10,000 steps a day has 2.25 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure than a person who only walks 5,000 steps. On average, the study participants had completed 7,500 steps a day. They showed a slightly increased systolic blood pressure of 122 mmHg. An increase of 5,000 steps a day could easily put blood pressure in the healthy range (
Promote health with smartwatches
The results are consistent with previous research suggesting that more exercise can naturally lower blood pressure. Obesity and BMI probably also play an important role in the observed relationship. Study author Dr. Mayank Sardana of the University of California at San Francisco said, “It would be useful to consider how smartwatches can be used to promote physical activity, reduce obesity, and possibly prevent hypertension.”
The results will be presented at the annual conference of the American Heart Society and the World Cardiology Congress, which will be held virtually for the first time this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
ZOU
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