Getting smart about your heart early on puts you far ahead of the
curve. The things you do — and don’t — are a tell-tale sign of how long
and how well you’re going to live, said Richard Stein, M.D. “There’s no
one I know who said: ‘I felt better being sedentary. I felt better
eating a terrible diet,’” said Stein, a cardiologist and professor of
medicine at New York University School of Medicine. “All these things
actually make you feel better while they help you.”
- Find a doctor and have regular wellness exams. Healthy people need doctors, too. Establishing a relationship with a physician means you can start heart-health screenings now. Talk to your doctor about your diet, lifestyle and checking your blood pressure, cholesterol, heart rate, blood sugar and body mass index. You may also need your blood sugar checked if you are pregnant, overweight or have diabetes. Knowing where your numbers stand early makes it easier to spot a possible change in the future.
- Be physically active.
It’s a lot easier to be active and stay active if you start at a young
age. “If you’re accustomed to physical activity, you’ll sustain it,” Dr.
Stein said. Keep your workout routine interesting by mixing it up and
finding new motivators.
- Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke. If you picked up smoking as a teen, it’s time to quit smoking. Even exposure to secondhand smoke poses a serious health hazard. Nonsmokers are up to 30 percent more likely to develop heart disease or lung cancer from secondhand smoke exposure at home or work, according to a U.S. Surgeon General report.
