Heart Health Fundamentals: The Few Things That Matter
Blood pressure, lipids, weight, smoking and movement — the cardiovascular levers with the most evidence.
8 min read
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, and the modifiable levers are surprisingly few and well-characterized.
Blood pressure control is the single highest-yield intervention. Targets vary by patient but most adults benefit from sustained systolic below 130.
Lipid management — particularly LDL-C — has strong outcome data, especially in patients with established cardiovascular disease or high estimated risk.
Smoking cessation produces measurable risk reduction within months and approaches non-smoker risk within years. There is no safe level of smoking.
Regular aerobic activity — about 150 minutes of moderate or 75 of vigorous activity per week — independently reduces risk beyond its effects on weight and blood pressure.
Sleep, diet quality and stress also matter, but the four above account for most of the variance in outcomes.