A recent study shows that people who stay healthy can live much longer. Research from the Global Cardiovascular Risk Consortium found that adults who reach 50 without smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or weight problems delay heart disease for many years. These health benefits work the same for females and males. People making healthy changes after 50 can still add extra years to their lives. The American College of Cardiology heard these results, which also appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine.
This huge research project looked at health records from over 2 million people living in 39 countries across six continents. Researchers used information from places like the Keneba Biobank at MRC Unit in The Gambia. The team had earlier discovered that these five health factors cause about half of all heart problems worldwide. They wanted to learn exactly how avoiding these problems affects how long people live.
Dr. Modou Jobe, who helped write the study, explains that women without these health risks at age 50 develop heart disease more than 13 years later than women with all five problems. These healthier women also live more than 14 years longer overall. Men see similar results, with healthier guys living over 10 years longer without heart disease. These men survive more than 11 years longer than those with all five health issues.
The research discovered something else important about making changes later in life. Professor Andrew Prentice from the MRC Unit notes that people who lower their blood pressure or quit smoking between ages 55 and 60 gain extra healthy years. Their lifespans increase compared to people who keep unhealthy habits. These improvements happen even when changes start during middle age.
This research breaks new ground because it uses standardized health information from diverse populations around the world. Earlier studies mostly looked at smaller local groups, making their findings less useful for everyone. The data clearly shows that addressing just one major health risk between ages 55 and 65 significantly increases healthy life years. These benefits happen regardless of whether other risk factors remain present.
This huge research project looked at health records from over 2 million people living in 39 countries across six continents. Researchers used information from places like the Keneba Biobank at MRC Unit in The Gambia. The team had earlier discovered that these five health factors cause about half of all heart problems worldwide. They wanted to learn exactly how avoiding these problems affects how long people live.
Dr. Modou Jobe, who helped write the study, explains that women without these health risks at age 50 develop heart disease more than 13 years later than women with all five problems. These healthier women also live more than 14 years longer overall. Men see similar results, with healthier guys living over 10 years longer without heart disease. These men survive more than 11 years longer than those with all five health issues.
The research discovered something else important about making changes later in life. Professor Andrew Prentice from the MRC Unit notes that people who lower their blood pressure or quit smoking between ages 55 and 60 gain extra healthy years. Their lifespans increase compared to people who keep unhealthy habits. These improvements happen even when changes start during middle age.
This research breaks new ground because it uses standardized health information from diverse populations around the world. Earlier studies mostly looked at smaller local groups, making their findings less useful for everyone. The data clearly shows that addressing just one major health risk between ages 55 and 65 significantly increases healthy life years. These benefits happen regardless of whether other risk factors remain present.
