Just 5 more minutes of exercise, 10 more of sleep may lower heart disease risk
AOL.com • • health
Key Points:
- A study of over 50,000 participants tracked sleep, nutrition, and exercise habits for eight years, finding that modest improvements across these areas significantly reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events (MACE) such as heart attack and stroke.
- The research, using data from the U.K. Biobank and published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, showed that combined lifestyle changes in sleep (8-9.5 hours), physical activity (40-105 minutes daily), and diet quality led to a 57% lower risk of cardiovascular events.
- Even small changes—like 10 extra minutes of sleep, 5 additional minutes of physical activity, or adding a quarter cup of vegetables—were associated with a 10% reduction in MACE risk, suggesting that manageable lifestyle adjustments can have meaningful health benefits.
- Experts highlight that while the study is observational and cannot prove causation, the findings reinforce the importance of small, sustainable lifestyle changes in reducing heart disease risk at both individual and population levels.
- The study emphasizes that focusing on multiple modest changes rather than drastic overhauls may be more effective and sustainable for improving heart health over time.
