Medications for high blood pressure and cholesterol
(statins) reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes. So, if you are taking
them, can you become a little lax about healthy habits like regular physical
activity and a prudent diet? In other words, are drugs a substitute for healthy
behaviors?
Recently The Finnish Public Sector Study which included more
than 41,000 participants aged 40 and older in Finland, and followed up for 14
years for their lifestyle behaviors, was reported in the Journal of the
American Heart Association.
They found that among those who took medications for
hypertension or elevated cholesterol, there was a tendency toward less
favorable lifestyle practices. For example, there were greater instances of
people becoming physically inactive or
reducing physical activity level, gaining weight and developing obesity during
follow-up
.
The perception seemed that the medications were perhaps a ‘substitute’
for healthy lifestyle practices as opposed to a ‘complement’ to lifestyle.
However, the fact is that there are many benefits to be
achieved from being regularly physically active and following a heart-healthy
diet, such as reducing the risk for conditions like diabetes, cancer,
osteoporotic fracture and several others.
Hence, even if you are on protective medications, don’t be
lax about physical activity and proper diet.
