Even men who take medication for high blood pressure
or cholesterol can dramatically cut their risk of
heart disease by adopting a healthy lifestyle, U.S.
researchers reported.
Middle-aged men on these medications can reduce their
chances of heart problems by 57 percent by eating
right, not smoking, drinking in moderation and maintaining
a healthy weight while exercising regularly, the researchers
said.
Those who do not take the drugs can cut their risk
of heart ailments by 87 percent if they adopt these
lifestyle choices.
"This shows there's no substitute for a healthy lifestyle,"
said Stephanie Chiuve, lead author of the study to
be published in Circulation: Journal of The
American Heart Association.
The study tracked 43,000 men between 40 and 75 who
were free of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic
conditions when the study began in 1986. They completed
biannual questionnaires and researchers used the data
to tease out correlations between heart disease and
lifestyle habits.
The benefits of the healthy habits were apparent
even if they were adopted over time.
"In other words, it's never to late to change," said
Chiuve. "You can still achieve benefits if you make
changes in middle age or later in life."
Men with the lowest risk of heart disease were those
who practiced all five healthy habits, but not smoking
alone reduced the risk of heart problems by 50 percent,
she said.
