Context:

A recent study highlights the importance of Life's Simple 7, guidelines from the American Heart Association, for achieving optimal cardiovascular and overall health. The guidelines include not smoking, eating a nutritious diet, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, optimal blood pressure, controlled blood sugar, and well-managed cholesterol. The study found that even small improvements in these areas can lead to significant health benefits, including reduced risks of dementia, eye disease, fatty liver disease, and chronic kidney disease. The guidelines have been updated to Life's Essential 8 to include avoiding secondhand smoke, vaping, and the importance of sleep. Despite the benefits, less than 4% of people worldwide meet the criteria for ideal cardiovascular health, highlighting the need for greater support, especially for young people and women, in adopting these health measures.

Dive Deeper:

• Life's Simple 7, endorsed by the American Heart Association, emphasizes seven key factors for cardiovascular health: not smoking, maintaining a nutritious diet, regular exercise, healthy weight, optimal blood pressure, controlled blood sugar, and well-managed cholesterol.

• The study reviewed 483 studies and found that adhering to at least three of the Simple 7 factors significantly lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases, even for individuals with a genetic predisposition.

• The benefits of following these guidelines extend beyond cardiovascular health, impacting brain function, lung health, vision, hearing, and muscle strength, as well as reducing risks of several chronic diseases.

• Life's Essential 8, an update to the original guidelines, includes additional factors such as avoiding secondhand smoke and emphasizing the importance of sleep, with specific recommendations for different age groups.

• Dr. Liliana Aguayo and Dr. Nour Makarem emphasize that small lifestyle changes, such as improving diet and increasing physical activity, can lead to meaningful health improvements across multiple body systems.

• Adopting a heart-healthy diet focusing on plant-based foods and lean proteins while limiting processed foods, sodium, and sugar-sweetened beverages is recommended for overall health improvement.

• Despite the proven benefits of these lifestyle changes, less than 4% of the global population meets the criteria for ideal cardiovascular health, necessitating more accessible and affordable health support, particularly for young people and women.