Just 5 more minutes of exercise, 10 more of sleep may lower heart disease risk

Researchers based in Australia used data from the U.K. Biobank to see how changes in daily habits affect heart health .

Since heart disease is often affected by modifiable lifestyle factors , such as diet and exercise, these factors are often among the first things healthcare providers target when heart health issues arise. Since large lifestyle changes can be difficult to maintain, the researchers wanted to find out whether smaller, combined changes could still improve heart disease risk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , heart disease is the top cause of death in the United States. While genetics can factor into developing heart disease, many key risk factors are preventable .

Some modifiable factors include sleep, physical activity, and diet, which the researchers refer to as SPAN in their study. These factors are connected, as sleep can disrupt hunger hormones and lead to less healthy eating, while regular physical activity can help improve sleep quality .