World Heart Day: 10 strategies to reduce CVD risk

Sept. 29, 2015, marks World Heart Day, a global initiative that offers opportunities for patients and the public to learn more about modifiable risk factors and lifestyle changes that can reduce their risk for heart disease.

It is estimated that 610,000 people die of heart disease-related causes each year in the United States. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world. Yet, according to the CDC, 80% of premature heart disease and strokes are preventable.

In addition to providing valuable information to the public about the scope and seriousness of heart disease, World Heart Day urges individuals to make lifestyle changes that have the potential to decrease their risk for CVD and improve both the longevity and quality of their lives. From smoking cessation to after-dinner walks to receiving heart-healthy text messages, there are many simple ways patients can be proactive about their own CV health.

In recognition of World Heart Day, Healio.com/Cardiology compiled a list of 10 strategies to reduce CVD risk.

1. For former mild smokers, smoking cessation for 15 years or more can lower risk for HF or death to that of never-smokers.

Researchers for a study published in Circulation: Heart Failure followed 4,482 adults aged 65 years and older for 13 years. They found that the risks for incident HF and mortality were similar among former light smokers who had not smoked in 15 years or more compared with those who had never smoked. Read more

2. Intensive BP management may decrease risk for CVD and death.

According to findings from the NIH-sponsored SPRINT study, hypertensive adults aged 50 years and older who received intensive BP management aimed at reducing systolic BP to 120 mm Hg had decreased risk for CV events, stroke and mortality. The BP intervention was stopped earlier than the anticipated study closure data due to these significant preliminary results observed with intensive BP management; the primary results will be published at a later date. Read more

3. In patients with type 2 diabetes, after-dinner exercise can reduce risk for CVD.

Obese adults with type 2 diabetes who performed resistance exercise 45 minutes after consuming dinner had reduced postprandial incremental-triacylglycerol area under the curve and postprandial glucose. Read more

4. Physical activity beneficial for HF risk in older men.

Findings from the Cohort of Swedish Men demonstrated that older men who biked or walked at least 20 minutes per day had a decreased risk for onset of HF compared with older men who engaged in lower or higher levels of physical activity. Read more

5. Patients with recent MI may benefit from targeted cardiac rehabilitation program.

In a single blind, randomized clinical trial of patients with recent MI, researchers reported that three weekly sessions of a Tai Chi Chuan-based cardiac rehabilitation program increased peak oxygen consumption, a measure of functional capacity, at 12 weeks. Read more

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6. In older adults, positive lifestyle behaviors can lower HF risk.

Adults aged 65 years and older who were physically active, not obese, abstained from smoking and had modest alcohol consumption had a reduced risk for HF compared with adults who did not report these healthy lifestyle habits. Read more

7. Sustained weight loss may improve atrial fibrillation outcomes.

Results of the LEGACY study indicated that patients with AF who lose weight and maintain weight loss have reduced AF burden, improvements in symptom severity and greater likelihood of arrhythmia-free survival. Experts interviewed by Cardiology Today said these findings may prompt physicians who treat AF to place great emphasis on helping patients lose weight and maintain weight loss. Read more

8. Mediterranean diet may reduce risk factors for CVD.

A number of recent studies have reported that a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil, and containing moderate amounts of dairy, fish and poultry may decrease risk for CV events, peripheral artery disease, and left ventricular/vascular parameters in men with erectile dysfunction. Read more

9. Plant-based, whole foods diet may reverse CHD.

During a presentation at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Scientific and Clinical Congress, Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr, MD, said adoption of a whole-foods, plant-based diet free of oils could enable a patient with CVD signs to become “heart-attack proof.” Read more

10. Text-messaging service helped patients with CHD reduce risk factors for heart disease.

In the TEXT ME study, patients with CHD who received text messages promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors had greater reductions in LDL and improvements in other heart disease risk factors compared with patients who did not receive the text messages. Read more