Heart-Healthy Habits Linked to Comprehensive Body Health Benefits, Study Finds

A comprehensive review of studies spanning a decade has underscored the extensive benefits of maintaining heart-healthy habits, as defined by the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7™ metrics. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, reveal that ideal cardiovascular health is not only pivotal for heart function but also enhances overall body health, reducing the risk of conditions ranging from dementia to cancer.

The Life’s Simple 7 metrics, which include not smoking, healthy nutrition, regular physical activity, and maintaining healthy weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, were expanded in 2022 to include sufficient sleep, now known as Life’s Essential 8™. This review marks the first systematic examination of how these metrics benefit organs beyond the heart, offering a holistic view of health optimization.

Lead study author Liliana Aguayo, Ph.D., M.P.H., emphasized the surprising breadth of benefits, noting that optimal levels of Life’s Simple 7 metrics positively affect every aspect of health, from brain function to muscle strength in aging populations. The study also highlighted economic benefits, with ideal cardiovascular health linked to lower healthcare costs and reduced incidence of chronic diseases.

Despite the low global prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health, the study reinforces the importance of healthy lifestyle choices in preventing not just cardiovascular disease but a wide array of health issues. The American Heart Association’s Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, pointed out that these findings align with the organization’s mission to promote longer, healthier lives through disease prevention and risk reduction.

The study’s limitations include the broad categorization of health metrics and potential underrepresentation of negative findings. Researchers advocate for further studies, particularly in underrepresented populations and on the mechanisms linking cardiovascular health to overall well-being.