Healthy lifestyle behaviours may prevent 80% of heart attacks

Five recommended health behaviors may prevent four out of five heart attacks in men, a new study published recently in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests.

Middle-aged and older men were much less likely to have heart attacks over an average of 11 years if they drank moderately, did not smoke and did everything right on the diet, exercise and weight fronts, the study found.

Also, each behaviour by itself reduced the risk for heart attack. For example, eating a diet rich in beneficial foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, reduced-fat dairy and whole grains was associated with a nearly 20 percent lower risk compared to those who practiced none of the healthy behaviors, the study found.

Researchers said the study suggests that people should aim to change their behavior in all five areas analysed in the study. They can eat better, lose weight, exercise (the healthiest men cycled or walked at least 40 minutes a day), stop smoking and drink only moderately, which was defined as about one drink a day.