Harvard Health Content API

A 2023 study found that between the 1930s and the mid-1980s, life expectancy in the United States was generally longer than in other wealthy nations. However, since the mid-1980s, the United States has been doing progressively and dramatically worse. Among many reasons for this change is the fact that the country doesn’t make health care as widely available to all citizens as do other wealthy countries. For example, tens of millions of people in the United States do not have health insurance. Ultimately, it will be up to society to make health improvements nationwide.

Many strategies that reduce chronic pain are activities that support a healthy lifestyle. Examples include exercise, meditation, deep breathing, mindfulness, yoga, tai chi, stretching, sleeping seven to nine hours per night, staying socially connected, and managing stress. There are lots of free or low-cost ways to practice the activities or get better at them, such as apps, online videos, classes, and support groups. Strategies that require a little financial investment include physical therapy, dietitian services, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, in-person exercise classes, and talk therapy.

Whole or minimally processed foods tend to be best for heart health. But many processed foods—and even some that are ultra-processed—are also good options, provided people choose wisely. In three large studies, ultra-processed whole-grain bread, breakfast cereals, and yogurt were linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Artificially and sugar-sweetened beverages, processed meats, and ready-to-eat dishes were linked to higher risks of those conditions.

A calcium score is a good indicator of how much plaque is inside the heart’s arteries. Treatments can replace cholesterol in plaque with scar tissue, which contains calcium and produces a higher calcium score, but this stabilized plaque lowers heart attack risk.

Resistance training (also called strength training or weight training) can improve heart-related risk factors such as blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, and body composition. It’s especially beneficial for older adults and people with an elevated risk for heart problems. A 2024 scientific statement from the American Heart Association recommends focusing on eight to 10 different exercises that target all the body’s major muscle groups. Examples include chest presses, biceps curls, squats, and abdominal crunches.