While many studies have shown that regular exercise is beneficial to the health of your heart, it is estimated that less than half of United States adults meet the guidelines prescribed by the federal government of 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise or 75 minutes of intense exercise per week.

A new report from the American College of Cardiology and the Exercise Cardiology Council, and cited on business-standard.com,  found that exercise in even lower amounts that that recommendation result in a reduction of cardiovascular disease when compared to those with a lack of physical activity.

The study started out to look at the research that had been done on amounts of exercise and the impacts the levels of exercise had on improving cardiovascular health, and sought to make a determination if a certain amount of exercise led to an increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers found no evidence that an upper limit of benefits from exercise existed, and also that any amount of exercise lowered the risk.

Researcher Michael Scott Emery said media had embraced the idea that too much exercise could be harmful to your heart, and by sending out this message, was taking the attention away from the benefits of exercise.

As the evidence of the advantages of exercise continue to unfold, it is imperative that physicians and clinicians should recommend low to moderate exercise programs for the majority of patients, added Emery.  Initiatives to promote population health overall through physical activity are equally important in preventing cardiovascular disease also, according to Emery.

The council reports that both moderate and intense physical activity lower the mortality risk across populations across the world, even at levels well below the recommended amount of activity cited in the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines.

The American College of Cardiology, which published the findings in their journal, says even small amounts of exercise, including standing, are associated with lowering the risk, but adds more exercise leads to an even greater reduction.