Nothing can give you a new lease on life, quite like surviving a heart attack. There’s something about a near-miss like that which forces you to look at things differently.
After the heart attack… once home from the hospital… nearly every heart attack survivor makes the same promise in those first few weeks. And that, of course, is that from here on out, everything is going to change.
Sticking to that commitment, however, is another thing altogether. In reality, most folks don’t.
But new research reveals how you should work hard to keep that vow if you survive a heart attack. And it’s not just because committing to a healthier lifestyle can improve your quality of life. New research finds it can improve the quantity too.
In fact, making some basic changes and committing to a healthier lifestyle could literally add YEARS to your lifespan.
Beat heart risk even AFTER a heart attack
The new study looked at what people are supposed to do in the aftermath of a heart attack. Then compared it to what they actually did.
Those folks who reacted to the heart attack like a visit from three ghosts on Christmas Eve had the best outcomes. In other words, when they treated it like a wake-up call… committing to getting healthier and staying that way… they lived an average of 7 years longer.
But the study also confirmed people seldom come close to making all the needed changes. After a heart attack, patients are typically advised to…
- lose weight
- reduce blood pressure
- cut cholesterol
Just 2 percent of heart attack survivors pull off all three changes. And of course, this being a conventional medicine study, the researchers say that means more people need more meds to successfully meet them.
But a dig into the details clearly demonstrates that’s the wrong conclusion. Because nearly everyone in the study was already on meds for these conditions.
The “experts” are lining up to make excuses. Don’t blame the meds. They insist. Blame the doctors for not giving the correct dose. Or the patients for not taking them correctly.
I call hogwash.
Control your risk factors the RIGHT way
Studies on individual drugs show they don’t always improve outcomes even when they “work” and improve numbers. Blood pressure meds, for example, don’t always cut heart risk even when they succeed in lowering blood pressure.
Ditto for the statin drugs used to cut cholesterol, which have never been proven to extend lives. In fact, the misguided focus on simply lowering regular old LDL cholesterol isn’t likely to ever make much of a difference, let alone significantly extend life after a heart attack.
(To find out the kind of cholesterol they SHOULD be focused on instead, check out my earlier report The critical cholesterol number they never mention.)
Honestly, I don’t see why we should expect these drugs to perform any better when combined. If anything, given all the potential side effects, they could, ultimately, make things worse.
What this study REALLY proves is that trying to control these conditions with meds alone is a fool’s errand. And it’s one that’s bound to leave you with a shorter, sicker life.
Fortunately, there’s a simpler way to join the lucky 2 percent of long-term survivors adding YEARS to your life.
QUIT PROCESSED FOODS:
It’s one of the easiest ways to reduce your weight and cut blood pressure and blood sugar, all at the same time. While your at it, consider going low carb too.
WALK DAILY:
A daily stroll will help with blood pressure AND cut triglycerides, one of the most dangerous forms of cholesterol. Aim for about 30 minutes a day at a brisk pace.
CONSIDER SUPPLEMENTS:
Vitamin K2 is a natural artery cleanser that can help stop the blockages and buildups that lead to serious cardiovascular problems.
Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and ALA), magnesium, and vitamin D can all deliver big health benefits without the added risks of meds too.
Of course, don’t quit any drugs on your own. Talk to your doctor instead and agree on a plan to try some natural alternatives. That way, he can then monitor your progress. Also, if you’re on blood thinners, keep in mind they don’t typically mix well with vitamin K2 or fish oil.
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