Healthy Lifestyle Has Bigger Impact on Cardiovascular Health Than Genetics, Studies Show

Two large studies from Northwestern Medicine confirm a healthy lifestyle has the biggest impact on cardiovascular health. One study shows the majority of people who adopted healthy lifestyle behaviors in young adulthood maintained a low cardiovascular risk profile in middle age. The five most important healthy behaviors are not smoking, low or no alcohol intake, weight control, physical activity and a healthy diet. The other study shows cardiovascular health is due primarily to lifestyle factors and healthy behavior, not heredity.

The studies will be presented Nov. 15 at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2010 in Chicago.

"This means it is very important to adopt a healthy lifestyle at a younger age, because it will impact you later on," said Kiang Liu, lead author of the study and a professor of preventive medicine at the Feinberg School.

Source:

http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/news/2010B-November/Cardio_Study.html