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| Being more active is a crucial one of the seven |
SEVEN simple measures could help stave off the likelihood of heart failure, according to research.
Scientists have concluded that to lessen our chances of heart disease we need to... manage our blood pressure, control cholesterol, reduce blood sugar, get physically active, eat better, lose weight and stop smoking.
Following "Life's Simple 7", they say, will radically boost your chances of a healthy heart.
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| A healthier diet can have countless benefits |
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| Not smoking can help protect your heart |
Assistant professor Dr Vanessa Xanthakis said of her work yesterday: "Even though there is awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, many people don't act on those messages. This study points to the importance of knowing your numbers and speaking to your doctor about improving your score on each health metric and trying to get as close to ideal status as possible."
Even though there is awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, many people don't act on those messages
The scientists followed 3,201 participants, with an average age of 59 for up to 12.3 years -188 developed heart failure.
They had a 23 per cent lower risk of heart failure for each one-point increase in their cardiovascular health "score".
The findings, published in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure, showed those scoring in the middle third cut their risk of heart failure nearly in half. The top third cut their risk further.
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| Controlling your blood sugar levels is vital |
Heart failure, when the muscle is too weak or stiff to pump blood properly, affects about 900,000 people in the UK, More than half are over 75.
The study was carried out by the American Heart Association at Boston University.
Co-author Dr Matthew Nayor of the Brigham and Women's Hospital said: "This is a useful metric for a healthy lifestyle that may not only help you reduce your chances of heart attack and stroke but also of developing heart failure."
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