Exercise should be a planned part of heart care, not simply a vague instruction to become fitter. A new American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific statement, published on 15 October 2026, calls for activity plans that are safe, achievable and adapted to the person. Its encouraging message is that moving from inactivity to some activity can matter, even before someone reaches a larger goal.
What has been published?
The statement in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology brings together evidence and expert recommendations for adults across cardiovascular prevention and treatment. It is not a new clinical trial, a medicine approval or proof that one exercise programme works for everyone. Its focus is helping clinicians turn established evidence into a practical plan.
That distinction matters when reading the news. There is no single new group of trial participants, treatment comparison or follow-up period behind this announcement. Different recommendations draw on different types of evidence, including trials and observational studies.
Everyday movement counts
The World Health Organization describes physical activity more broadly than a gym session. Walking, cycling, wheeling, recreation, transport and movement during everyday tasks can all contribute. Activity does not have to be competitive, expensive or performed in specialist clothing to count.
WHO guidance also stresses that some activity is better than none and that time spent sitting should be limited. The familiar population-level target of at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week is a general reference point, not a personal starting prescription. Someone who is currently inactive may need a gradual, adapted approach.
This is a useful way to discuss barriers without blame. A plan that ignores pain, accessibility, work patterns or a safe place to move may look reasonable on paper and still be difficult to use. WHO highlights that social and environmental conditions affect opportunities to be active.
What should a personal plan include?
The ACC describes exercise planning in terms of how often, how hard, how long and what kind of activity, together with how it progresses. These decisions should account for symptoms, medicines, other conditions, physical capacity and personal preferences. The statement also includes resistance exercise alongside aerobic activity.
In its announcement of the statement, the ACC emphasises that meaningful benefits need not depend on reaching 10,000 daily steps. This is not a reason to replace that number with another compulsory step target. The practical question is what amount and type of movement is suitable and sustainable for the individual.
Diabetes still needs its own safety plan
For people living with diabetes, an activity discussion also needs to cover glucose. The American Diabetes Association explains that muscle activity and improved insulin sensitivity can lower glucose during and after exercise. The response varies with the activity and the person.
People using insulin or medicines that stimulate insulin release can develop low glucose during activity or afterwards. Ask your diabetes team how your existing monitoring, food and low-glucose treatment plan applies when activity changes. Do not change insulin or other medicine doses on the basis of this news article.
Keeping notes about the activity, glucose patterns and symptoms can give that conversation a concrete starting point. The aim is to understand your own response, not to copy another person’s readings or routine. Our beginner guide to exercise with diabetes offers more questions to discuss with your care team.
Heart disease can change the route
The ACC’s announcement highlights cardiac rehabilitation as an important treatment for many people with cardiovascular disease and calls for wider access. It also describes home-based, virtual and wearable-supported approaches as possible ways to support participation. A tracker can assist a plan; buying one is not the same as receiving appropriate care.
The statement does not require routine exercise testing for every person without symptoms. However, particular heart conditions, new symptoms or plans for strenuous activity may need assessment. New symptoms suggestive of a heart problem during exercise are a reason to stop and seek medical attention, not push through to finish a target.
What the evidence cannot promise
Much of the long-term evidence relating activity to cardiovascular events is observational. This limits how confidently an association can be turned into an exact prediction for one person. The statement also identifies gaps in long-term adherence, diverse populations and scalable delivery. It should not be read as a guarantee of a particular weight change, HbA1c reduction or protection from a heart attack.
Questions worth taking to an appointment
- What activity would fit my current health, abilities and preferences?
- What symptoms or glucose patterns should make me stop and seek help?
- Do I need cardiac rehabilitation or another supervised programme?
- How will we review whether the plan is manageable and useful?
The positive development is the emphasis on practical support. A conversation can move beyond a large target towards an agreed starting point, relevant precautions and a way to review progress.
Reader questions
Is this a new diabetes exercise guideline?
No. It is an ACC scientific statement about cardiovascular health in adults. Diabetes-specific precautions and your existing treatment plan still matter.
Does exercise replace heart or diabetes medicines?
No. This statement is not an instruction to stop prescribed treatment. Discuss changes to activity with your healthcare team when medical conditions or medicines make a tailored plan necessary.
This article provides general information, not an individual exercise or treatment prescription.