Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Cardiol. Apr 26, 2025; 17(4): 103544
Published online Apr 26, 2025. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v17.i4.103544
Lifestyle changes for cardiometabolic health: Planting the seeds for long-term benefit
Li-You Lian, Qin-Fen Chen, Xiao-Dong Zhou
Li-You Lian, Xiao-Dong Zhou, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenling 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
Qin-Fen Chen, Physical Examination Medical Care Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Lian LY wrote the first draft of the manuscript; Chen QF contributed to the critical revision of the manuscript; Zhou XD contributed to the conception and writing of the manuscript; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by the Wenzhou Science Technology Bureau Foundation, No. Y20220470.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have nothing to disclose for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Xiao-Dong Zhou, MD, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No. 2 Fuxue Lane, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China. zhouxiaodong@wmu.edu.cn
Received: November 25, 2024
Revised: February 19, 2025
Accepted: February 25, 2025
Published online: April 26, 2025
Processing time: 150 Days and 2.2 Hours
Abstract

With nearly three-quarters of global deaths attributed to lifestyle-associated diseases, effective lifestyle modifications are more urgent than ever. The American Heart Association’s framework for cardiovascular health has evolved significantly, transitioning from 'Life’s Simple 7' to 'Life’s Essential 8' with the incorporation of sleep, and further to 'Life’s Essential 9' by adding mental health as a key component. Despite these advancements, recent evidence reveals a persistently low prevalence of ideal cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health behaviors across populations. These findings highlight the critical gap in addressing modifiable lifestyle and psychosocial factors. To reduce the global disease burden, public health strategies must prioritize comprehensive interventions that encompass physical, neurological, and mental well-being.

Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Cerebrovascular diseases; Health behaviors and factors; Public health initiatives; American Heart Association

Core Tip: Lifestyle-related diseases account for nearly three-quarters of global deaths, highlighting the urgency of preventive measures. A recent study on cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics in the Kailuan population revealed a low prevalence of ideal CVH behaviors and factors. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive lifestyle interventions that address physical, neurological, and mental well-being. Targeted strategies, such as promoting physical activity, reducing salt intake, and strengthening tobacco control, are crucial to prevent cardiovascular events and improve CVH outcomes in diverse populations.