Small and everyday alterations to how you sleep, move, and eat could noticeably lower your risk of heart problems.
A new research study, conducted by the European Society of Cardiology, shows that modest improvements across all three can help prevent heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
In one study involving over 53,000 individuals tracked for eight years, just an 11-minute increase in sleep duration, 4.5 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical exercise daily, and 0.25 cups of vegetables a day were enough to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 10%.
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This sort of physical activity can involve normal tasks such as walking quickly, taking the stairs, or lugging shopping bags.
However, while such measures significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the largest reduction was seen among those with 8-9 hours of sleep, 42 minutes of daily activity, and a relatively healthy diet.
This particular combination reduced risks by 57% when compared to the least healthy group.
Experts in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology call 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.
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This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting or changing any medication or treatment.