(25-04-12) Heart disease risks lowered by five lifestyle modifications during youth

by John Phillip

(NaturalNews) Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of adults in all
Western cultures. Many people believe their fate has been sealed through the
inheritance of 'bad' genes, and no degree of healthy living will have any
effect on their risk of an untimely and early demise. More evidence that this
thought process could not be more flawed is underscored by the work of
researchers at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine as
published in the journal Circulation.

Scientists have found that maintaining a healthy lifestyle from childhood and
into your 40's and beyond can have a profound effect on reducing risk of
developing cardiovascular disease as you grow older. Consuming a heart-healthy
diet, regular physical activity, stress and blood pressure reduction and
maintaining a normal body weight combine to dramatically lower heart disease
risks compared to hereditary influences.

The lead study author, Dr. Kiang Liu observed "In this study, even people with
a family history of heart problems were able to have a low cardiovascular
disease risk profile if they started living a healthy lifestyle when they were
young." Many people engage in unhealthy and potentially deadly lifestyle
activities as they age that increasingly tip the scales toward the early
development of heart disease.

Five modifiable risk factors significantly lower heart disease risk
Researchers identified five independent lifestyle factors that directly
influence the development of cardiovascular disease later in life. These
modifiable factors include maintaining a lean body mass index (BMI), no excess
alcohol intake, no smoking, a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
Individuals able to modify these risk markers were able to significantly lower
heart disease risk in their middle-aged years and beyond.

The study found that when the study participants were in their mid-twenties
(average age of 24), nearly 44 percent had a low cardiovascular disease risk
profile. After a period of twenty years, only 24 percent fell into the low risk
category. Researchers found that sixty percent of the participants that
maintained a lifestyle optimized in all five established risk factors remained
in the low risk classification, compared to only five percent that followed
none of the healthy lifestyles.

Dr. Liu concluded "Many studies suggest that people who have low
cardiovascular risk in middle age will have a better quality of life and will
live longer in their older age... there are a lot of benefits to maintaining a
low-risk profile." It will come as no surprise to those following healthy
lifestyle patterns that small changes early in life can dramatically impact
risk of chronic disease and overall lifespan. This research provides further
evidence that children, teenagers and young adults must pay special attention
to lifestyle factors including diet, alcohol and smoking to significantly
reduce heart disease risk in later life.

Sources for this article include:
http://www.northwestern.edu
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-03/nu-hhc030212.php
http://www.sciencenewsline.com/medicine/2012030218230007.html
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/242456.php

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.