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Maria L Cagigas, Stephen M Twigg, Luigi Fontana, Ten tips for promoting cardiometabolic health and slowing cardiovascular aging, European Heart Journal, Volume 45, Issue 13, 1 April 2024, Pages 1094–1097, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehad853
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Cardiovascular aging results from a complex interplay of genetic, and modifiable epigenetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Here, we summarize 10 evidence-based strategies to support heart and metabolic health during the aging process (Table 1).
1. Reduce waist circumference and increase muscle mass |
|
2. Adhere to a minimally processed Mediterranean-like diet |
|
3. Intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding |
|
4. Be physical active every day |
|
5. Avoid or limit alcohol consumption |
|
6. Do not smoke |
|
7. Prioritize quality sleep |
|
8. Nourish and protect your mind |
|
9. Cultivate friendship, altruism, and compassion |
|
10. Minimize pollution exposure and connect with nature |
|
1. Reduce waist circumference and increase muscle mass |
|
2. Adhere to a minimally processed Mediterranean-like diet |
|
3. Intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding |
|
4. Be physical active every day |
|
5. Avoid or limit alcohol consumption |
|
6. Do not smoke |
|
7. Prioritize quality sleep |
|
8. Nourish and protect your mind |
|
9. Cultivate friendship, altruism, and compassion |
|
10. Minimize pollution exposure and connect with nature |
|
1. Reduce waist circumference and increase muscle mass |
|
2. Adhere to a minimally processed Mediterranean-like diet |
|
3. Intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding |
|
4. Be physical active every day |
|
5. Avoid or limit alcohol consumption |
|
6. Do not smoke |
|
7. Prioritize quality sleep |
|
8. Nourish and protect your mind |
|
9. Cultivate friendship, altruism, and compassion |
|
10. Minimize pollution exposure and connect with nature |
|
1. Reduce waist circumference and increase muscle mass |
|
2. Adhere to a minimally processed Mediterranean-like diet |
|
3. Intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding |
|
4. Be physical active every day |
|
5. Avoid or limit alcohol consumption |
|
6. Do not smoke |
|
7. Prioritize quality sleep |
|
8. Nourish and protect your mind |
|
9. Cultivate friendship, altruism, and compassion |
|
10. Minimize pollution exposure and connect with nature |
|
Optimization of body composition and muscle function
Prioritizing optimal body composition over mere weight control is crucial for cardiovascular health. Integrating moderate calorie restriction with regular endurance and resistance exercise training forms the cornerstone of mitigating the age-related accumulation of harmful visceral and ectopic fat, while enhancing muscle mass and function, particularly of the large metabolically active gluteofemoral muscles.1
Consumption of a predominantly plant-based Mediterranean-like diet
Optimizing diet quality while reducing ‘empty’ calorie is key for metabolic health.2 Consuming a primarily plant-centric fibre-rich diet enriched with fish and low-fat dairy products (Table 1) is foundational to improve classical and emerging risk factors via synergistic and complementary metabolic, molecular, and metagenomic mechanisms.1,3 Lower intake of saturated and trans-fatty acids, branch-chain, and sulfur amino acids, and salt, while increasing the intake of fibre, polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, and essential vitamins (e.g. vitamin C, E, and B complex, folic acid, and β-carotene), minerals (e.g. potassium, magnesium, and selenium), and phytochemicals (e.g. polyphenols, terpenes, sterols, and indoles) underlies some of these beneficial effects. Supported by extensive pre-clinical, epidemiological, and randomized clinical trial data, this Mediterranean-like dietary pattern offers significant benefits for both healthy individuals and those at high-risk or with established atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular diseases.4
Intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating
For individuals fighting with obesity, alongside regular exercise and cessation of eating at 80% satiety, incorporating intermittent vegetable fasting or time-restricted eating (8- to 10-h window) on nutritionally balanced feasting days may offer complementary strategies for weight management and improved metabolic health.3
Engagement in daily physical exercise
Regular physical activity is pivotal for cardiovascular health, leading to reduced visceral adiposity and improvements in glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, and lipid profile.1 Alternating diverse exercise modalities, including aerobic, high-intensity interval training, strength, flexibility, and balance training, for at least 30–60 min daily is recommended for a comprehensive approach to enhancing physical fitness and metabolic outcomes. Incorporating regular 3- to 5-min breaks to counter prolonged sitting can further enhance insulin and lipid metabolism, reducing cardiovascular mortality independently of structured exercise training.5
Alcohol abstinence: a prudent choice for cardiovascular health
Contrary to common belief, accumulating evidence shows that alcohol is not beneficial for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. It elevates the risk of hypertensive heart disease, cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, flutter, and stroke while promoting cognitive impairment.6 Moreover, even in small quantities, alcohol consumption can raise cancer risk due to acetaldehyde, a carcinogenic ethanol metabolite. Thus, if you do not drink, it is best not to start, and if you do, keep alcohol intake to a minimum.4
Abstinence from all forms of smoking
All forms of tobacco use, including second-hand smoking, significantly harm cardiovascular health by inducing inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, a prothrombotic state, and sympathetic nervous system activation. These factors are pivotal in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic ischaemic heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. Remarkably, even smoking just one cigarette daily carries roughly half the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke compared with smoking 20 cigarettes daily.7 No safe level of smoking exists in relation to heart disease, stroke, cancer, dementia, and chronic respiratory diseases.
Prioritization of restorative sleep
Insufficient sleep duration and disrupted sleep patterns are emerging risk factors for the onset and progression of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, ischaemic heart disease, and dementia. Poor sleep quality contributes to chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, heightened oxidative stress, increased sympathetic activity, and disruptions in various hormonal factors, including leptin and ghrelin.8 Ensuring a bedtime for 7–9 h of sleep, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, creating a sleep-friendly environment, and switching off electronic devices 30 min before bedtime are important strategies for promoting quality sleep and sustaining cardiovascular health.
Reduction of mental stress and promotion of emotional and spiritual well-being
Chronic mental stress and persistent negative emotions can significantly impact cardiovascular health, independent of classical risk factors. Anger, for instance, can trigger dangerous polymorphic ventricular arrhythmias. These effects are mediated through activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system, leading to elevated blood pressure, heightened platelet and immune responsiveness, and increased inflammation and oxidative stress.9 Mindfulness-based stress reduction and cognitive therapy, particularly when combined with slow breathing exercises and artistic/philosophical spiritual practices, can effectively alleviate psychological and emotional stress, anxiety, and depression and promote human flourishing.1
Foster meaningful relationships, altruism, and compassion
Robust social and family bonds are essential for emotional and mental well-being. Conversely, lack of social and emotional support, loneliness, hopelessness, and depression substantially elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. Alongside increased high-risk behaviours (e.g. excessive food and alcohol consumption and smoking), this leads to a proatherogenic state facilitated by hypercortisolaemia, impaired vagal function, reduced heart rate variability, inflammation, and increased platelet aggregation.1,9 Nurturing deep connections with family and friends through insight, empathetic communication, and forgiveness, marked by altruism and compassion, are paramount in enhancing the plasticity of well-being.
Reduce exposure to pollution
Air pollution, even at low levels of fine particulates like PM2.5, is linked to increased cardiovascular, respiratory, and cancer mortality. Exposure to PM2.5 and ozone reduces heart rate variability, activates the immune system, and heightens oxidative stress, leading to endothelial dysfunction in both the vasculature and brain.10 This exposure also amplifies arterial sensitivity to vasoconstricting agents like cortisol and catecholamines. Mitigating pollution exposure can be achieved through measures like masks, closed car windows, and air-conditioning, especially in heavily polluted environments. Physical activity in unpolluted environments, particularly parks and wooded areas, offers both cardioprotective and psychological benefits. In contrast, exercising in polluted areas may harm heart health.
Conclusions
A holistic approach to cardiovascular aging entails the assimilation of these 10 strategies into one's lifestyle. By making informed choices regarding nutrition, exercise, mental well-being, and environmental consciousness, men, women, and children can proactively promote cardiometabolic health and attenuate the aging trajectory of their cardiovascular system. These recommendations extend beyond cardiovascular health and significantly contribute to both primary and secondary prevention of various prevalent chronic diseases, all rooted in a common metabolic and molecular substrate (Figure 1). This transition is crucial for shifting our healthcare and educational systems from a focus on chronic disease management to a proactive emphasis on chronic health promotion to achieve financially sustainable, universal health coverage for all.

Systems biology of healthy longevity and well-being. This figure illustrates the interconnected systems involved in promoting metabolic health and longevity. By addressing a shared common metabolic substrate, various prevalent cardiometabolic and chronic diseases can be proactively prevented. Specific lifestyle interventions, operating on distinct yet complementary metabolic and molecular pathways, serve to hinder the accumulation of cellular, tissue, and organ damage. Moreover, these interventions play a key role in modulating the pathogenesis and prognosis of multiple chronic diseases, ultimately contributing to the extension of healthspan. BCAA, branched-chain amino acids; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GLUT4, glucose transporter type 4; HDL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; IGFBP1, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1; LDL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MUFA, monosaturated fatty acids; NaCl, sodium chloride; PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome; PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acids; SCFA, short-chain fatty acids; SFA, saturated fatty acids; SHBG, sex hormone-binding globulin; TMAO, trimethylamine N-oxide.
Acknowledgements
L.F. is supported by grants from the Bakewell Foundation, the Australian NHMRC Investigator Grant (APP1177797), and Australian Youth and Health Foundation. S.M.T. is supported by grants from Diabetes Australia—Kellion Victory Medal Research Program—and healthy ageing. M.L.C. is supported by a grant of the Schmidt Science Fellows program.
Declarations
Disclosure of Interest
All authors declare no disclosure of interest for this contribution.