A study published in the February 1, 2010 issues of Circulation indicated that improving diet, exercising more and quitting smoking are as important as taking medicine for patients who have heart attack (angina and myocardial infarction).
The study, Organization to Assess Strategies in Acute Ischemic Syndrome (OASIS), evaluated the impact of diet, exercise and smoking in 18,809 patients who has future heart attack on future cardiovascular events.
The study found that nearly 70% of the patient quit smoking but only 30% of the patients adhered to both diet and exercise recommendations.
Even though not everyone adhered to lifestyle behavioral changes, those who adhered to life-style modification (quit smoking, improve diet and exercise more) cut the risk of future heart attack by 50%.
Implication: This study adds to the evidence that adhered to lifestyle behavioral changes are more important than taking medicine.
