Sydney, April 1 (SANA) Simple lifestyle changes, including longer sleep, increased physical activity and higher vegetable intake, may significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a recent scientific study.
The findings, reported by HealthDay, showed that adding around 11 minutes of sleep per day, engaging in 4.5 minutes of physical activity and consuming a quarter cup of vegetables daily could lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 10%.
Researchers from several universities, including the University of Sydney and Monash University in Australia and the University of São Paulo in Brazil, said small and sustainable changes in daily habits can have a positive impact on heart and vascular health.
The study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, analyzed data from more than 53,000 adults over an eight-year period. It found that physical activity can include simple daily actions such as brisk walking, climbing stairs and carrying items instead of relying on transport or elevators.
The results also indicated that optimal benefits are achieved by sleeping between eight and nine hours per day and engaging in about 42 minutes of physical activity, alongside a balanced diet that includes vegetables. People following these habits saw their risk of heart disease fall by up to 57%.
Researchers said the ease of adopting these habits makes them a practical option for improving overall health, while noting that further studies are needed to confirm the findings.
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