Research highlights link between healthy lifestyle and reduced heart disease risk

New research has highlighted a link between healthy lifestyle choices and reduced risk of heart disease.

Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study looked at the diet and lifestyle of 380,000 people over a period of 12 years.

Investigators sought to see how well these individuals followed prevention advice offered by the World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research – and discovered those who stuck closely to the guidelines had a reduced heart risk.

Commenting on the findings senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation Maureen Talbot said that if people follow "a healthy balanced diet filled with fruit and veg, stay active, stop smoking and maintain a healthy weight [they will] be well on the way to preventing a heart attack".

Ms Talbot added cancer and heart disease share some common risk factors, so it is not too surprising to learn that cancer prevention can help to reduce heart disease risk.