Worried about heart health? Apollo doctor recommends one exercise that can reduce risk of heart attack by 96%

Looking to reduce your chances of suffering a heart attack? You might want to start doing more push-ups. According to Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist trained at Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore and currently affiliated with Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad, the ability to complete around forty push-ups in one go is a strong indicator of physical fitness and is linked to a much lower likelihood of heart attacks or strokes.

A study published in JAMA Network Open in 2019 examined more than a thousand male firefighters to understand the relationship between push-up capacity and heart health. The findings were eye-opening. Participants who managed over forty consecutive push-ups had an impressive 96% lower risk of experiencing major cardiovascular incidents—such as heart attacks, strokes, or cardiac arrests—over a ten-year period compared to those who could do fewer than ten.

The researchers also found that the number of push-ups a person could perform served as a simple yet effective measure of overall fitness, especially upper-body strength and cardiovascular endurance. Additionally, push-up performance showed a strong connection with aerobic capacity (VO₂ max), which is considered a critical indicator of heart health.


However, the researchers noted certain limitations to the study. It focused solely on middle-aged men, with an average age of around forty, who were already physically active firefighters—meaning the findings may not directly apply to the general population. Moreover, the study only established a correlation rather than a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Essentially, being able to do forty or more push-ups is a reflection of strong cardiovascular health, not necessarily the result of push-ups alone. The real protection comes from maintaining a high level of fitness and endurance.

Push-ups themselves, though, offer numerous health benefits beyond heart health. According to a report by WebMD, this simple bodyweight exercise helps burn calories efficiently, strengthens and protects the shoulders and lower back from injury, enhances balance and posture, boosts flexibility, and improves overall athletic performance. Regularly practicing push-ups can therefore play a key role in building strength, endurance, and resilience—cornerstones of a healthy, active life.