Inactivity Called Major Risk for Heart Disease

The American Heart Assn. on Wednesday declared lack of exercise a major risk factor for heart disease, ranking it with smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

The association has long said that physical inactivity raises heart disease risk, but the scientific evidence has recently grown strong enough to call it a major risk factor, the association said.

Even modest physical activity will lower a sedentary person’s risk of heart disease, the artery-clogging that sets the stage for heart attacks, specialists said at a news conference.