Heart Health And Risk Of Early Death Found To Be Lower In People Who Scored Low In These 8 Choices

Heart health is one of the most pressing matters for our health. Many people do not realize how even small habits like what time you wake up or go to sleep can have a negative effect on your heart. However, studies are showing that a good way to ensure your heart health stays intact is by scoring less on the essential health list. A recent study published in a medical journal called the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology shows a strong link between following Life's Essential 8 (LE8) habits and your risk of getting atrial fibrillation (AFib), a serious heart problem. If you don't score well on these eight important health measures, your risk of AFib could almost double. But, if you embrace these habits, you can greatly lower your chances of getting this potentially deadly heart rhythm issue and also reduce your overall risk of dying. Understanding Atrial Fibrillation Your heart has two main parts: the top chambers and the bottom chambers. In AFib, these parts don't beat together properly; they get out of sync. It's like a drummer playing off-beat. This condition affects over a million people in the UK and is a big reason for one out of every five strokes. Strokes caused by AFib are often more severe, meaning they can lead to more deaths and greater disabilities. A big problem with AFib is that it often doesn't cause any noticeable symptoms. This means people might not even know they have it until they suddenly have a stroke. Tracking Habits and Outcomes Researchers followed 3,161 people, all aged 45 or older, for ten years. During this time, they kept an eye on their LE8 habits. What they found was quite clear: if someone had a low LE8 score, they had a higher chance of getting AFib. If they had a high score, their risk was much lower. Interestingly, if someone had an average (intermediate) score, it didn't seem to make a big difference in their risk of AFib. Over the course of the study, 424 people passed away, and 410 were diagnosed with AFib. What are Life's Essential 8? LE8 is like a checklist or a report card created by the American Heart Association (AHA). It helps us understand eight key things we can do every day to keep our hearts healthy. Think of them as eight daily choices that can make a big difference. These eight habits are: FoodPhysical activityNicotineSleepWeightCholesterol.Blood sugarBlood pressureKey Habits for AFib Prevention When the researchers looked at each of the eight habits separately, they discovered that three of them had the biggest impact on a person's risk of getting AFib: weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. This means these three are super important for preventing AFib. Surprisingly, in this specific study, habits like sleep, cholesterol, smoking, and physical activity didn't show a strong individual link to AFib risk. This doesn't mean they're not important for overall health, just that their direct connection to AFib risk wasn't as strong in this study. Future Implications and Recommendations The researchers hope that what they've learned will encourage doctors and other healthcare workers to talk to their patients about making changes based on the LE8 guidelines. They also pointed out that more studies are needed to see if specific actions or programs related to these habits could further change a person's risk for heart problems. To get a high score on the LE8 assessment as an adult, the American Heart Association suggests you should: Eat well Fill your plate with whole foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, nuts, seeds, and healthy oils (not tropical ones like coconut or palm oil). Stay active Aim for at least 2 and a half hours of moderate exercise (like brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise (like running) each week. Don't smoke Avoid all forms of nicotine, including cigarettes and vaping. Get enough sleep Try to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night. Manage your weight Keep your Body Mass Index (BMI) in a healthy range. Control blood pressure Keep your blood pressure at good levels, usually less than 120 over 80 (written as 120/80 mm Hg). Lower cholesterolAim for low cholesterol levels, ideally less than 5 mmol/L.

Heart Health And Risk Of Early Death Found To Be Lower In People Who Scored Low In These 8 Choices

Quick Stories

Silent Sign Of High Cholesterol Can Show Up In Your Eyes - Here's How You Can Identify It

Inner Child: Being Left Out And Rejected In Childhood Becomes A Social Seed For Deeper Connections

What Is Innotox? The ‘Korean Botox’ People Are Injecting At Home—And Why Doctors Are Worried

Health Conditions A-Z

Turns Out, Exercise Might Be the Most Underrated Cancer Drug But Could It Do More Harm Than Good?

Silent Sign Of High Cholesterol Can Show Up In Your Eyes - Here's How You Can Identify It

Inner Child: Being Left Out And Rejected In Childhood Becomes A Social Seed For Deeper Connections