Scientists from Tulane University found that good cardiovascular health adds about eight extra years of life. Preliminary results will be presented at scientific sessions of the American Heart Association.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 23,000 American adults who participated in the NHANES study from 2005 to 2018. The scientists used Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) Optimal Cardiovascular Health scores to assess their health. These include blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity level, amount of sleep, and eating habits.
People with an LE8 score of more than 80 were placed in the ideal cardiovascular health group. The average life expectancy at age 50 was 33.4 years. By comparison, the average life expectancy of their peers with LE8 scores of 50 or lower was 25.3 years.
The scientists’ results show that a healthy lifestyle can add an extra eight years to a person’s life.