Sleep and exercise may ease some gene-linked heart risks

Some gene changes build up in immune cells over a lifetime and can raise the risk of heart disease and stroke. These changes can increase inflammation, even when other common risks, such as smoking, diabetes or high cholesterol, are not present. A new study suggests that lifestyle may matter too. In a group of more than 91,000 adults in the UK and the US, the share of people with certain CH gene changes was 13% lower among those who did moderate to vigorous exercise. The animal results were stronger. Mice with these gene changes were given either an exercise wheel or sleep disruption. The active mice developed smaller plaques in their arteries, while the mice with poor sleep had more disease. The effect was not the same for all gene changes.