Science-Backed Heart Health Habits
New guidance emphasizes eight daily habits that offer powerful cardiovascular protection: maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise (especially cardio), not smoking, managing stress, getting enough sleep, and keeping blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar in check. Studies show followers of these habits reduce risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, dementia, and certain cancers. Even small improvements in these areas can yield meaningful benefits.
- The "Life's Essential 8" guidance is an update to the American Heart Association's "Life's Simple 7," which was introduced in 2010 to shift focus from disease treatment to health promotion. The most recent update added "healthy sleep" as a crucial component for optimal cardiovascular health. - Each of the eight components is scored on a scale of 0 to 100, which are then averaged to create a composite cardiovascular health score. Optimal blood pressure is considered less than 120/80 mm Hg. - While the age-standardized death rate from cardiovascular disease in the U.S. has fallen by about three-quarters since 1950, it remains the leading cause of death globally. - In 2023, the highest age-standardized mortality rates for cardiovascular disease subtypes were for ischemic heart disease (117.9 deaths per 100,000) and hypertensive disease (111.2 deaths per 100,000). - From 2010 to 2023, mortality rates in the U.S. actually increased for hypertensive disease, arrhythmia, and pulmonary heart disease. - The total cost of cardiovascular disease and stroke in the U.S. is projected to nearly triple from $627 billion in 2020 to $1.85 trillion in 2050. - In the European Union, cardiovascular disease is estimated to cost €282 billion annually, which amounts to 11% of all healthcare spending in the EU.
