Healthy Diets Lower Risk of Recurrence of Heart Disease

A recent study shows that older people who have an established heart disease and ate a heart healthy diet that was rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts and fish were at a much lower risk of having a follow up heart attack or dying than people who ate a much more unhealthy diet.

The results showed that those people with the best heart healthy diet were 35% less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke, 14% less likely to have a heart attack, 28% less likely to experience heart failure and 19% less likely to have a stroke.

One of the researchers in the study said it did not matter what form of medications one takes if the patient follows the healthy diet one will receive benefits. By eating vegetables and fruits, the recurrence of cardiovascular disease is substantially reduced over and above the use of just medication.

The researchers from the study said it was the first large study done internationally to show that eating a diet that is heart-healthy could help prevent a recurrence of a stroke or heart attack in those who already were taking medications for high blood pressure and had cholesterol levels that were high.

The study included 31,500 adults who were 55 years of age or older in 14 countries. The adults had been enrolled in two individual clinical trials for medications that lower the blood pressure. All of the adults had a history of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, or peripheral arterial disease that included organ damage. All had been classified as being at high risk for stroke, heart attack or another heart related condition.

Results of the study showed that the people eating the healthier diets had lower risk rates for stroke, heart disease or death due to a similar condition compared to others who ate the unhealthiest diets.