HHS HealthBeat (May 29, 2012)

Maintaining a healthy heart

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Nicholas Garlow with HHS HealthBeat.

Good health habits in young adulthood can pay off big later. Following people for 20 years, beginning at young adulthood, researchers examined healthy lifestyle factors. They include maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking or drinking alcohol excessively, exercising regularly, and eating right.

Dr. Kiang Liu is at Northwestern University.

“If they follow these five healthy lifestyle factors throughout these 20 years, then 60 percent of them, they still have the low-risk profile.” (10 seconds)

Risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking cigarettes.

The study in the journal Circulation was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Nicholas Garlow.

Last revised: May 29, 2012