A new study from Italy shows that healthy habits that protect your heart can also help people live longer after a cancer diagnosis.
This means that taking care of your heart may be just as important after cancer as it is before.
The research is part of the UMBERTO Project and was carried out by several institutions, including the Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Neuromed Research Institute, and LUM University.
The study was recently published in the European Heart Journal.
Researchers followed 779 adults in Italy for 15 years. All of them had already been diagnosed with cancer when the study began. To measure how healthy their lifestyle was, the scientists used a tool called the Life’s Simple 7 score, created by the American Heart Association.
This score includes seven health factors: smoking, physical activity, diet, body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
The results were clear. People who followed healthier habits had a 38% lower risk of dying compared to those who had less healthy lifestyles. Even a small improvement in the score helped—every one-point increase led to a 10% drop in cancer-related deaths.
The study also looked more closely at the food people ate. When researchers used the Mediterranean diet instead of the general diet measure, the health benefits were even stronger.
The Mediterranean diet includes lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, and olive oil. It is common in countries like Italy and Greece and has already been shown to be good for heart health.
This study showed that the Mediterranean diet may also help people with cancer live longer, especially by lowering the risk of heart problems, which are common among cancer survivors.
The researchers believe that this connection between healthy habits and longer life after cancer is due to shared body systems. Both heart disease and cancer may be influenced by things like inflammation, heart rate, and vitamin D levels in the blood. When these factors are under control, both conditions may improve.
Experts say the findings are very important. Dr. Marialaura Bonaccio, one of the main authors, explained that following good habits—such as eating well, exercising, and keeping a healthy weight—can truly help people who have or had cancer. It is not just about preventing disease; it is also about improving the lives of people who are already affected.
Dr. Maria Benedetta Donati added that the same biological problems may lead to different diseases like cancer and heart disease. This means that by treating the shared problems—like inflammation—we might be able to improve different health conditions at once.
Professor Licia Iacoviello said this study is a strong reminder that heart health and cancer care are closely connected. Public health programs should take this into account and encourage healthy habits for everyone, including cancer survivors.
Professor Chiara Tonelli also praised the study. She said the UMBERTO Project focuses on the whole person, not just one disease. It looks at how diet, exercise, and other lifestyle choices work together to support long-term health.
In short, this research shows that good habits like eating a Mediterranean diet, staying active, not smoking, and keeping a healthy weight and blood pressure can help people live longer after cancer. These habits support both heart and cancer health and should be part of care plans for survivors.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies that herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm, and how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that apple juice could benefit your heart health, and results showing yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease.
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