Effect of Minimal Lifestyle Modification on Resting Heart Rate in Corporate Employees

Abstract

Lack of physical activity along with improper diet, stress, sleep deprivation and habits like smoking negatively affects a corporate employee's long-term well-being. With repeated waves of COVID-19 pandemic happening, the proportion of those working from home in this group is rapidly increasing. It makes them more prone to a sedentary lifestyle thus raising the risk of future cardiovascular issues. Resting Heart Rate (RHR) is an established indicator of cardiac fitness. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of minimal lifestyle modification on RHR and thus the cardiac health of corporate employees. The study was conducted on 10 previously sedentary corporate employees who shifted to work from home mode post the pandemic. Participants incorporated a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity into their daily lifestyle according to the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO). In addition, they were also advised to implement other lifestyle modifications such as dietary alteration, sleep regularity, etc. Measurement of the RHR of each participant was done regularly for a period of three months and an overall analysis was done at the end of the study. A total of 90 data sets were analysed. It was found that RHR decreased in all the participants by the end of the study duration. In addition, it was seen that endurance training combined with other lifestyle modifications gives a greater reduction in RHR in comparison with other modes of exercise. This study concluded that incorporating the WHO recommended physical activity in daily routine greatly helped in improving the cardiac health of previously sedentary work from home corporate employees.