Healthy habits cut men's risk of heart disease

July 5, 2006 in Heart Health, Men's Health, Nutrition Topics in the News

Healthy habits cut men's risk of heart disease

The latest findings of a 16-year study have found that adopting a healthy lifestyle by maintaining a healthy diet and weight, exercising regularly, not smoking, drinking in moderation, can help prevent heart attack and heart-related death among men.

This is true not only for healthy men, but also for those being treated for high blood pressure or high cholesterol, conditions known to increase a person's risk of heart disease.

These findings suggest that when taken in combination these lifestyle factors may provide an even greater benefit when combined, compared to when they are on their own.

Researchers analyzed data from 42,847 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, who were 40 to 75 years old and disease free when the study began, in 1986.

By 2002 -- 16 years into the study -- there were a total of 2,183 cases of heart attack or death from heart disease among the study participants.

Over half (62 percent) of these events might have been prevented if the men had adopted or adhered to a low-risk lifestyle that included the five healthy habits.

While adhering to even one healthy habit was associated with a lower risk of heart attack or death from heart disease, men who followed all five healthy lifestyle factors were the least likely to experience a heart-related event.

Researchers suggest that a healthy lifestyle can be an effective, nonpharmacological approach to reducing coronary heart disease among men.

All research on this web site is the property of Leslie Beck Nutrition Consulting Inc. and is protected by copyright. Keep in mind that research on these matters continues daily and is subject to change. The information presented is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. It is intended to provide ongoing support of your healthy lifestyle practices.