A healthy heart may have as much to do with the quality of healthcare available as it does with avoiding risk factors, according to a research published in New England Journal of Medicine.
The paper involved more than 156,000 people in 17 countries worldwide who took part in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiologic Study.
The study found that low-income countries, which have people with the lowest risk factors for cardiovascular problems, have the highest rates of cardiovascular events and death. On the other hand, high-income countries, which have people with the highest risk factors for heart conditions, have a lower rate of severe heart problems and deaths.
Risk factors for cardiovascular problems include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, stress and not having enough fruits and vegetables or exercise.
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