- Researchers say that people who have undergone cancer treatment can decrease their mortality risk by adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle.
- They suggest following the guidelines listed in the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 plan.
- Experts say heart health is particularly important for cancer survivors, especially those who have undergone treatments that can increase cardiovascular risks.
People who have been treated for cancer can improve their chances for longevity by adopting seven principles of a heart healthy lifestyle, according to a new study.
Researchers say cancer survivors can significantly reduce their risk of early mortality by maintaining healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco, and keeping their body weight and blood pressure at healthy levels.
The study, published on December 16 in the European Heart Journal, noted that cardiovascular disease and cancer “share modifiable risk factors and potential molecular mechanisms.”
“The findings underscore the importance of integrating cardiovascular health promotion into cancer care,” the study authors wrote.
“Our study further supports the emerging field of cardio-oncology that focuses on the intersection of [cardiovascular disease] and cancer to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and management of cardiovascular issues in cancer patients and survivors,” they continued.
Experts not involved in the study told Healthline that this new research backs up the notion that healthy heart habits for the general population are particularly important for people who have had cancer.
“This observational study adds to growing evidence that cardiovascular health remains critically important after a cancer diagnosis,” said Rohan Khera, MD, a specialist in cardiovascular medicine at Yale Medicine in Connecticut.
“While the study cannot prove causation, it provides evidence to support a focus on cardiovascular prevention into cancer survivorship care,” added Khera, who is also vice chair of the American Heart Association’s recent scientific statement on
The experts also noted that some cancer treatments can produce cardiovascular health risks, making these healthy heart habits even more important for many oncology patients.
“While heart health is obviously important for everybody, I believe it is more important for cancer survivors to be vigilant about healthy habits to protect their heart because of the increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with cancer and cancer therapy,” said Christopher Berg, MD, a non-interventional cardiologist specializing in cardio-oncology at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in California.
For their study, the researchers evaluated the medical records of 779 adults in the Molise region of Italy who were participants in the Moli-Sani study that began in 2005.
The study subjects had all been diagnosed with cancer when they enrolled in the study and were followed for a median of around 15 years.
The researchers utilized the
The AHA guidelines list seven factors involved in cardiovascular health. They are:
- diet
- exercise
- smoking
- body weight
- blood pressure
- cholesterol
- blood glucose
The participants were awarded two points for each of the seven categories where they maintained healthy habits and good health. The researchers ranked the LS7 scores as follows:
- 0-6: Poor cardiovascular health
- 7-9: Intermediate cardiovascular health
- 10-14: Ideal cardiovascular health
They reported that people in the ideal heart health group had a 38% lower risk of mortality compared to people in the poor heart health category.
They added that each one-point improvement in the LS7 score was associated with a 10% reduction in cancer mortality.
They concluded that cardiovascular disease and cancer have three biological factors in common. They are:
- low-grade inflammation
- heart rate
- blood vitamin D levels
Experts said the study reaffirms the belief that heart health is vital for people who have been treated for cancer.
“It is important for cancer survivors to maintain their heart health, as cardiovascular disease would still independently be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in this population,” said Cheng-Han Chen, MD, an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at Saddleback Medical Center in California.
“In addition, it appears that many of the risk factors for heart disease may also contribute to increased cancer risk as well, possibly through a shared biological milieu,” Chen told Healthline.
“What this study also showed is that both cardiovascular mortality and cancer mortality were significantly reduced, which supports the hypothesis that there are shared risk factors for both cancer and cardiovascular disease,” added Berg. “The healthy habits that protect our heart also protects us from cancer.”
The researchers noted that the link between healthy behaviors and mortality risk became even stronger when the LS7 diet score was replaced by a special adherence to the Mediterranean diet. This eating plan emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting the consumption of processed foods.
Experts said there is no doubt that diet is a crucial factor for people after they’ve been treated for cancer. However, they added that all of the LS7 components are important to adopt after successful cancer treatment.
“Diet is an important component, but the key message from this study is that overall cardiovascular health matters most,” Khera said.
“The strongest associations with survival were seen when multiple factors, including diet, physical activity, body weight, blood pressure, and metabolic health, were considered together.”
Berg agreed. “It is important to maintain good habits in each health domain,” he said. “Having either positive or negative habits can directly impact the chance of maintaining and nurturing healthy habits in other domains.”
“For example, if you have consistently poor sleep, it can be much harder to get up for your exercise program or stick to a diet,” Berg explained. “Conversely, healthy habits build momentum and can strengthen other beneficial routines.”
“Eating a heart-healthy diet is just one of the many aspects of maintaining cardiovascular health,” added Chen. “It is just as important to get regular physical activity, avoid tobacco and alcohol, lower stress levels, and get an adequate amount of quality sleep.”
There are various ways to adopt healthy heart habits after cancer treatment.
For diet, Khera said the best plan is the one that a person will stick with in the long term.
“The most effective approach is to focus on sustainable eating patterns rather than rigid rules,” he said. “Diets emphasizing vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, fish, and healthy fats such as olive oil are well supported by evidence and are easier to maintain long term.”
“For cancer survivors, dietary changes should be individualized based on symptoms, energy levels, and personal preferences, with an emphasis on sustainability,” Khera added.
Chen said that there are several dietary approaches that can be successful.
“There are many ways people can adopt a heart-healthy diet,” he said. “It is important to be mindful of what you put on your plate. It is best to eat more vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish, and less saturated fat, sodium, and processed foods,” he said.
“Avoiding beverages high in added sugar can help stabilize blood sugar levels and avoid empty calories. Being conscious of portion sizes can go a long way toward avoiding overeating,” Chen added.
Berg suggested starting with small steps when making lifestyle changes after cancer treatment.
“One of the takeaways from this study is that small incremental changes towards healthy behavior can pay dividends towards the future,” he said.
“When patients make the transition from ‘cancer patient’ to ‘cancer survivor’, I advise them that now is the time to invest in small, sustainable, easily achievable alterations to their diet that they can seem themselves keeping for years to come.”
“That may be as easy as switching from whole milk to skim milk, butter to plant-based fats, or switching out a steak for that chicken or fish recipe,” Berg continued. “Aiming toward a Mediterranean diet and keeping the ultra-processed foods to a minimum, watching the added sugar and saturated fat intake, are all easy, tangible changes to make.”