Two Lifestyle Changes Can Help Prevent Heart Disease

2023 Author: Abraham Higgins | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 23:16

Two lifestyle changes can help prevent heart disease

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People who spend a little time in front of the TV and regularly eat a heavy breakfast have significantly less atherosclerotic plaque and lower arterial stiffness, which indicates a reduced likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease or stroke. The results of this two-stage study are presented at the 68th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology.

“Environmental and lifestyle factors are important but underestimated risk factors for cardiovascular disease. These two studies highlight the many factors that contribute to heart disease and the need for comprehensive preventive approaches,”said study lead author Sotirios Tsalamandris, a cardiologist at the First Cardiology Clinic at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. University of Athens), Greece.

The study involved 2000 residents of Greece from 40 to 99 years old - both healthy and those with cardiovascular risk factors and established heart diseases. Physical activity and eating habits were assessed through a detailed questionnaire, and the condition of the arteries was assessed by two non-invasive tests.

According to the number of hours spent in front of TV / video per week, participants were divided into three groups: small (less than 7), moderate (7-21), or significant (more than 21).

After adjusting for risk factors and the presence of cardiovascular disease, the researchers found that the most frequent TV viewing almost doubled the chance of plaque formation in the arteries. And there is also an increased risk of developing hypertension (by 68%) and diabetes (by 50%) compared to those who sit in front of the TV for less than 7 hours a week.

“Even low-energy activities, such as hanging out with friends or doing housework, can provide significant health benefits compared to the time spent sitting and watching TV. Recreational activities, lifting weights, stretching or exercising on a treadmill while watching TV can be a healthy alternative,”said Sotirios Tsalamandris.

In the second part of the study, participants were divided into three groups according to the calorie content of their daily breakfast: high energy (more than 20% of daily calories), low energy (5-20%), or skipped (less than 5%).

Even taking into account the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, those who ate the high-energy breakfast had significantly healthier arteries than those in other groups.

However, the study has several limitations. First, the majority of participants generally followed a Mediterranean diet, so results may differ with other dietary regimens. Second, the study was observational, without establishing a causal relationship. Based on previous research, scientists have proposed two possible explanations:

people who eat breakfast tend to eat healthier foods and have fewer bad habits than those who skip breakfast;