Cardiologists Say Doctors Should Prescribe Exercise

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is urging doctors to prescribe exercise the way they prescribe pills: with a clear plan tailored to each patient. The scientific statement was published on October 15, 2026, in the journal JACC. The headline for everyday readers: 5,000 to 7,000 steps a day can already benefit your heart. You do not need 10,000.

What cardiologists recommend

A scientific statement is a document in which a professional body sums up the evidence and advises doctors. This one calls physical activity a foundation of preventing and treating heart disease. Key points:

• Talk about exercise at every visit. Not a vague "move more", but a plan based on a person's condition, symptoms, fitness and goals.
• Walking plus strength work. Most adults should add resistance training to aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling or swimming.
• No routine testing needed. Most people without symptoms or with a stable condition do not need an exercise test before starting.
• Cardiac rehab comes first for many people with heart disease. Those who cannot attend a program should still get a personal exercise plan.
• Tech can help. Wearables and home-based or virtual programs help people stick with it.

How much is enough

According to the evidence the authors reviewed, about 5,000 to 7,000 steps a day are linked to lower risk of death from heart disease and from any cause in many adults. Real benefits start well below 10,000.

Our math: at a normal stride, 5,000 to 7,000 steps is roughly 2 to 3 miles, or 40 to 60 minutes of easy walking spread across the whole day. That includes walking to the bus, the grocery store and the stairs, not just a dedicated walk.

"The most important message is that some activity is better than none," said writing committee chair Jonathan Myers, a health research scientist at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. "Patients do not need to become athletes to improve their cardiovascular health."

Why it matters

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and exercise, Myers said, is "one of the most effective therapies available" for preventing and managing it. Unlike pills, it costs almost nothing. The problem is that doctors rarely prescribe it in specific terms, and patients rarely stick with it. That is why the authors call for more research on long-term adherence.

If you already have heart disease, talk through an exercise plan with your cardiologist. If not, start small: check your phone for today's step count and add 1,000. For why the 10,000 target exists and why it is outdated, see our piece on how many steps a day you actually need.