A new study shows that small improvements to sleep, physical activity, and diet can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
Small, everyday changes to how you sleep, move, and eat could significantly lower your risk of heart disease.
New research shows that even modest improvements across all three can help prevent heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
In a study of more than 53,000 adults followed over eight years, researchers found that just 11 extra minutes of sleep, 4.5 more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and a quarter cup more vegetables per day were linked to a 10% lower risk of major cardiovascular events.
That level of activity can include everyday habits like brisk walking, taking the stairs, or carrying shopping bags.
While these small changes help, researchers found the greatest benefits came from getting 8-to-9 hours of sleep, at least 42 minutes of activity a day, and eating a modestly healthy diet.
This combination was associated with a 57% lower risk compared to the least healthy lifestyle.
The lead author calls the results very encouraging, saying small, combined changes are more achievable and sustainable than major changes to a single behavior.
He says clinical trials are now needed to confirm the findings.
Source: European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
Author Affiliations: University of Sydney, Monash University, Universida de Federal de São Paulo, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, The George Institute for Global Health, The University of New South Wales, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney
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