06 Jan 2015
New study shows three in four women could prevent heart attacks with exercise
BY Ashley Harrison
A new study that followed nearly 70,000 women for two decades has found that three quarters of heart attacks in young women could be prevented if women followed six healthy lifestyle practices.
The research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has revealed that by practicing healthier lifestyle choices, such as exercising regularly, watching less TV and consuming less alcohol, three out of four women in the 35-44 age bracket could prevent the onset of heart disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every four female deaths is attributed to heart disease, making it the leading cause of death for women in the US.
"Although mortality rates from heart disease in the US have been in steady decline for the last four decades, women aged 35 to 44 have not experienced the same reduction," said Dr Andrea K Chomistek from the Indiana University School of Public Health.
Researchers defined healthier lifestyle choices as not smoking, having a normal BMI, participating in 2.5 hours of physical activity per week, watching seven or fewer hours of TV a week, drinking only one alcoholic drink per day, and consuming a diet in line with the the Harvard School of Public Health healthy eating plate.
Women who practiced all six healthy lifestyle choices were able to lower their chances of suffering a heart attack by 92 per cent and lower their risk of developing a risk factor for heart disease by 66 per cent.
For women who were diagnosed as being at risk factor of heart disease, adherence to at least four of the healthy lifestyle factors was associated with a significantly lower risk of going on to develop heart disease when compared to those who did not follow any of the healthy lifestyle practices.
Interestingly, women who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol – approximately one drink per day on average – saw the lowest risk compared to those who did not drink at all or those who drank more.
Data on 69,247 women was used, including 456 who suffered heart attacks and 31,691 who were diagnosed as being at risk from cardiovascular disease, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or possessing high levels of blood cholesterol. The average age of women in the study was 37.1 years at the outset. The average age of a heart disease diagnosis was 50.3, and for diagnosis with a risk factor for heart disease, it was 46.8 years old.
Research done by the University of Queensland, Australia, and published in May last year also found inactivity poses a greater risk of heart disease in women over 30 than obesity, high blood pressure or smoking.
Meanwhile, Public Health England, in collaboration with a host of public health agencies, launched a strategy back in November aimed at using exercise and healthy diet to reduce high blood pressure and promote a culture of regular GP check ups.
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