Physical activity lowers stroke and death risks for atrial fibrillation patients
Published On 06 Aug, 2026
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is when the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly or quiver. This condition raises the risk of blood clots, strokes, and heart failure. People with AFib are often less physically active than others.
But new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association shows that regular movement is an important way to help prevent problems. Researchers at UiT The Arctic University of Norway followed over 87,000 adults for 15 years, using national health records to study how exercise affects heart health.
The study found that adults who engaged in low, moderate, or high levels of physical activity reduced their risk of stroke by 9%, 19%, and 18%, respectively, compared with people who were not active at all. The most active people also had up to a 22% lower risk of death.
Importantly, these benefits were seen in people both with and without AFib. For those with an irregular heartbeat, being active was linked to living up to 1.2 years longer.
