TORONTO - Canadians are so focused on the here and now that they are missing out on living full and healthy lives, primarily because most can't or won't commit the time to protect their cardiovascular health, says the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

A survey of more than 2,000 adults released Tuesday found that most Canadians know that certain lifestyle choices can bolster heart health, "but they are focusing on the barriers rather than the opportunities," said foundation CEO David Sculthorpe.

"Three-quarters said they would be more active and over half said they would eat healthier meals if they could," Sculthorpe said in a statement. "And one of the leading barriers that keeps them from following through? Time."

Almost half of those surveyed cited long work days and lack of time as a reason for not getting active on a regular basis. Between work, family and other obligations, 44 per cent said they have no time for regular physical activity.

Close to a third of respondents said the time they would like to spend being physically active is instead being spent commuting.

Lack of time was also cited by respondents as a barrier to healthy eating: 41 per cent said healthy meals take too long to prepare; more than half said too many fast-food outlets lack healthy choices; and 70 per cent said restaurants don't have enough fruit and vegetable options.

"The sad irony is that the time barrier is getting in the way of steps that can help Canadians avoid heart disease and stroke, add years to their life and ultimately life to their years," said Dr. Beth Abramson, a Toronto cardiologist and a foundation spokeswoman.

While acknowledging that the time crunch is a reality for most adults who are working and dealing with competing obligations, Abramson said finding a way to tackle that dilemma is critical.

"The disturbing statistics tell the tale: One in three Canadian deaths is from heart disease and stroke, and it is the number 1 killer of women. We must make the effort to find time now to do the things that will give us the greatest health benefits."

Such efforts include:

  • Getting 150 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity per week, even in bouts of 10 minutes, which can cut the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes by 30 per cent.
  • Eating five or more servings of fruit and vegetables daily, which can reduce heart disease and stroke risk by about 20 per cent.
  • Controlling high blood pressure: that can cut the risk of stroke by 40 per cent and heart attack by up to 25 per cent.

Noting that even small time investments can have a huge impact, Abramson suggested that some time spent in sedentary leisure activities could easily be devoted to more active, healthier pursuits.

"If we don't make the effort to find time now to do the things that will give us the greatest health benefits, we're going to run out of time altogether."

The foundation has set a goal of reducing deaths from heart disease and stroke by 25 per cent by 2020. A new campaign, Make Death Wait, is challenging Canadians together to take one million healthy actions by the end of February as part of that goal.

The online survey of 2,160 Canadians, aged 18 and older, was conducted by the Environics Research Group in October.