It’s never too late to change habits
Dr. Dawn Brezina Daily Times Columnist
Healthy lifestyle habits for most of us are easier said than done. Especially during the busy years of establishing a career and raising a family, it seems the quick pick up at the fast food restaurant is often the option for dinner.
Work, school, music lessons, athletic events for the kids, and pretty soon, there is no time for Mom and Dad to exercise or think about a healthy diet. By the time the kids are in high school, the parents have added 10-15 pounds of weight and have not exercised in years. Is it too late?
No. It is not too late. New studies focused on people who actively changed to a healthier lifestyle in middle age show a remarkable reduction in risk of heart disease and actually in all-cause deaths. The study included more than 15,000 people between the ages of 45 and 65 years.
The study encouraged participants to modify four aspects of their life: 1) Consuming at least five fruits and vegetable servings per day. 2) Walking 150 minutes per week. 3) Maintaining a non-obese body weight. 4) Not smoking. Obesity was determined by the body mass index. This is a number that is calculated and identifies individuals as underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese and severely obese. This study recommended a body weight that did not reach the obese designation.
For people who managed to control all four parameters of healthy lifestyle, in only four years of the study, their risk of heart disease was reduced by 35 percent and their overall risk of death from any cause was reduced by 40 percent. These are remarkable numbers for individuals who assumed these simple measures of healthy lifestyle in middle age. This study gives new power to the importance of healthy lifestyle. Ideally, one would follow healthy habits for a lifetime, but even adopting healthy lifestyle changes at a later point is very beneficial.
Individuals who controlled three of the four parameters also had benefit. This group had a 25 percent reduction in all-cause deaths, but there was not a statistically significant decrease in the incidence of heart disease. They did not identify which of the four parameters was most often not achieved, but if I were to guess, it was probably smoking. Smoking is a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Getting back in shape not only offers decreased risk of cardiac events and improved longevity, but it also makes it possible to participate in active endeavors with your high school age and young adult children. As the kids get older, that is a wonderful time to plan biking or hiking events as a family, and Mom and Dad need to be in shape to participate. Being active in the middle years of life adds to the joy of living and also sets a healthy example to your children for their lifestyle goals.
DAWN BREZINA is a local physician.
Source: Wilsondaily.com
