Simple daily lifestyle adjustments such as sleeping an extra 11 minutes per night, adding 5 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and consuming an additional quarter-cup of vegetables are associated with a 10% reduction in major cardiovascular events, according to an observational study published March 23 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. The research examined data from more than 53,000 UK Biobank participants (median age 63, 57% male), using wearable devices to track sleep and physical activity along with self-reported diet quality scores. During an 8-year follow-up, 2,034 events occurred, including 932 myocardial infarctions, 584 strokes, and 518 heart failure cases. Individuals exhibiting optimal behaviors—8-9 hours of sleep, 42 minutes of daily activity, and moderate diet quality—showed a 57% lower risk compared with those having the least optimal profiles. Lead author Nicholas Koemel, a research fellow and dietitian at the University of Sydney, stated that combining small changes across behaviors may be more achievable and sustainable than large shifts in any single area. The behaviors are interdependent: poor sleep can influence appetite hormones and food choices, while physical activity may improve sleep quality. This study is observational and cannot establish causation; the authors call for intervention trials to confirm findings. No conflicts of interest were reported in the reviewed source. Source: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/extra-sleep-physical-activity-lowers-heart-attack-stroke-risk