The 5 daily lifestyle steps are nothing more than common sense, and most people have likely already heard they should be doing them. Below are the 5 steps people should take in order to reduce their chances of getting heart disease by 80%:
- Stop Smoking: 36% reduction
- Consume a Healthy Diet (this should include plenty of whole grains, low/no-fat diary products, vegetables, nuts, fruits and legumes): 18% reduction
- Keep Fat off Your Belly (your waist should be less than 37 inches): 12% reduction
- Drink Moderate Amounts of Alcohol (this should be less than two drinks per day): 11% reduction
- Get Daily Exercise (this should be 40 minutes per day): 3% reduction
The study followed over 20,000 (20,721) Swedish men who were in good health, and who had no history of cardiovascular disease, cancer, high cholesterol, hypertension or diabetes. The men who participated in the study tracked their diet and lifestyle choices over a 12 year period.
The results found that common sense healthy lifestyle choices could make a huge impact on preventing heart disease from developing. One of the study leaders, Agneta Akesson, summed it up succinctly by saying, “It is not surprising that healthy lifestyle choices would lead to a reduction in heart attacks. What is surprising is how drastically the risk dropped due to these factors.”
Most surprising was that virtually nobody is following these five simple steps. The researchers found only 1% of the men actually did all five steps noting, “Only 1 percent of the population comprised the low-risk group, and thus followed this set of healthy lifestyle practices of their own accord.”
While the number of people dying from heart disease has fallen over the last few decades, much of that reduction has come from better medical therapies. Better therapies are good, but they shouldn’t be the first line of defense. It would be much better to prevent heart disease before it happens through better lifestyle choices, since this circumvents the costs and possible side effects of medication. Prevention is always a better solution than having to treat the heart disease, even if it can be effectively treated.
(Photo courtesy of Kevin)
If only 1 percent of men are doing it, then the steps must not be all that easy.
Or all men are lazy and have no self control.
Or woman cause us to indulge heavily in those behaviors janet
Or the information isn’t getting out to the necessary parties. Dean, I partially agree with you although most of these steps are not very difficult. Quitting smoking is a very difficult task that usually only succeeds when outside parties are encouraging this. Most smokers tend to hang out with other smokers and the nicotine is very addicting. Eating healthy and exercise are much easier steps to take. Yes, Janet, some men are lazy but to have such a generalized comment on the entire population is quite petty and small-minded.
“Less than 2”. Is that 1? Or is it 2 or less?
does that imply that 99% of men develop heart disease?
Giving up smoking and moderation in alcohol plus healthy diet is indeed a must for all. However, TENSION is the most damaging factor for heart ailments as well as morbid effects on brain leading to mental chronic conditions requiring neurological treatment. Stress/tension can be lessened by radical changes in life style but there are limitations owing to economic conditions. Mostly poor people are more exposed to such risks. Rich and wealthy people too are not free from it but can buy time.
The remedy for stress and tension in my opinion is as follows:
1. Faith in God
2. Faith in your own self
3. Get your spouse to support you.
4. Educate your family to unite and help each other.
5. Either spouse must be loyal to the other.
6. Get financial education. How to manage your finances?
7. Get help for foreseeable problems from experts.
Remember this quote by ‘Napolean Hill’ in his best seller
TINK AND GROW RICH.
O’ life! You cannot hurt me. And when you hurt, I laugh. and laughter knows no pain.
Good luck.
Hameed Alwi
The low fat recommendation is causing obesity and killing people. This website should be sued for posting this nonsense!
Indeed Fatty. Diet recomendations from the 90’s. Stop believing in this bullshit diet tips. No one, and I mean NO ONE will get healthier on a low fat diet.
Follow some healthy diet advice instead.