Researchers have demonstrated that good heart health around the age of forty is associated with better health at an older age. In a large research project, thousands of people were followed to investigate this connection. People with a low risk of cardiovascular disease in their early forties appeared more likely to remain fitter and healthier after turning sixty.
The study looked at various aspects of health as people grow older, such as the degree of physical frailty, quality of life and general well-being. The results clearly showed that a good heart condition can contribute to fewer complaints and a better zest for life in later life. The difference in survival chances up to 90 years of age between people with good and poor heart health was even six times as large.
These findings are important in a society where many people lead sedentary lives and do not exercise much. Paying sufficient attention to a healthy lifestyle, including regular physical exercise, is an effective way to prevent heart problems. That not only helps the heart, but can also slow down the ageing process and improve the quality of life.
For people who want to age healthily, this is a clear signal to invest in their hearts in their forties. Good heart health gives a greater chance of an active and vital life, even at an advanced age.
Source: Reason
