Heart health habits extend beyond the heart

A new review shows that heart health guidelines extend benefits beyond the heart to cancer, dementia, mobility and pregnancy outcomes.

4 Ways Healthy Heart Habits Benefit Your Whole Body

Researchers reviewed ten years of studies on Life’s Simple 7, the American Heart Association’s guideline that encourages a heart healthy diet, regular exercise, not smoking and healthy levels of weight, blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure. Sleep was added in 2022 when the list became Life’s Essential 8. The team found that sticking to these measures lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and is also linked to fewer cases of cancer and dementia, better mobility, and other functions.

The findings remind readers that heart health is linked to overall well being. By highlighting benefits beyond the heart, public health messages could encourage broader lifestyle changes. The review also points to aging, vision and hearing as areas that may improve with healthier habits, which matters for policy planning and resource allocation.

Highlights

Healthy habits are a long game that pay off across the body, not just in the heart.