American College of Cardiology recommends 5,000 to 7,000 daily steps

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is advocating for physical activity to be integrated as a formal, prescribed component of cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment. In a statement published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, experts suggest moving away from general advice toward concrete, individualized training plans.

A key recommendation is that achieving 5,000 to 7,000 steps per day can significantly reduce overall mortality and cardiovascular death rates. Jonathan Myers, chair of the relevant ACC committee, noted that low cardiorespiratory fitness increases cardiovascular risk at a rate similar to major factors such as smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

The ACC emphasizes that exercise prescriptions should be tailored to an individual's health status, functional capacity, and personal goals, with strength training serving as a supplement to aerobic activity. The organization also highlighted the potential of wearables and virtual or home-based rehabilitation models to support these goals.