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Heart health, as we know, is a central part of well-run workplace wellness programs.

We've noted that “High BMI Carries Weighty Heart, Diabetes Risk,” according to MedPage Today. The post notes: “In yet another confirmation of the negative cardiometabolic impact of obesity, researchers detailed a causal effect for high body mass index (BMI) on heart and diabetes risks through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.”

“The ‘genetically instrumented’ measure of high BMI exposure… was associated with the following risks:

• Hypertension
• Coronary heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Systolic blood pressure
• Diastolic blood pressure

The study is titled “Association of Body Mass Index With Cardiometabolic Disease in the UK Biobank,” and was published by JAMA Cardiology. The researchers state that the above results “were independent of age, sex, Townsend deprivation scores, alcohol intake, and smoking history.”

Now the New York Times has published a very useful guide: “7 Habits for a Healthy Heart.” Many of the tips can be implemented as part of a well-run workplace wellness program. They also can serve as good reminders for healthy behaviors, as many can be used at work.

The NYT reports that “Worldwide, heart disease and strokes are the leading causes of death. They’re also the leading killers of Americans, accounting for one out of every three deaths in the United States. But there’s good news, too. About 80 percent of all cases of cardiovascular disease are preventable. You can lower your risk markedly by making some changes to your lifestyle including doing some things that are easy, simple and even enjoyable.”

For example, one tip: Just Move

Writes the NYT: “Large studies have consistently found a strong and inverse relationship between physical activity and heart disease. Clinical trials have also shed light on the precise reasons exercise strengthens the heart:”

• “It enhances the cardiorespiratory system.”
• “It increases HDL cholesterol.”
• “It lowers triglycerides, a type of fat that circulates in the blood.”
• “It reduces blood pressure and heart rate.”
• “It lowers inflammation and improves blood sugar control.”
• “It increases insulin sensitivity.”

The piece calls exercise “the magic pill,” and notes that “”exercise is the type of medicine that appears to produce benefits no matter how small the dose.”