By Curtis Bovee

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death  worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

More than 7.5 million deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease each year. Hypertension, which is considered a blood pressure of greater than 140/90 mm Hg, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts against your arterial walls during circulation. If this pressure remains high for extended periods of time, a higher chance of heart disease will occur due to the stress placed on your arteries.

High blood pressure over time will cause arteries to weaken and rupture, creating an aneurysm, which is life threatening. In sedentary individuals, plaque builds on arterial walls, making it more difficult for blood to pass through, inevitably increasing blood pressure.

Importantly, habitual physical activity can help decrease blood pressure, significantly reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), participation in a moderate amount of activity five days of the week can help decrease blood pressure. As little as 15 minutes of jogging each day will gain blood pressure benefits in hypertensive patients.

The benefits from creating a physical activity routine are endless. Regulating blood pressure is crucial to living a long, healthy life. Prolonged blood pressure can drastically reduce life expectancy and will prove to be a reoccurring issue should it not be corrected. As college students, blood pressure definitely rises due to stress, thus justifying the need to participate in daily physical activity.