Heart health encompasses the overall well-being of your cardiovascular system, including the heart and blood vessels. Heart-healthy living involves knowing your risk factors for common heart problems like high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease and making healthy choices to reduce your risk. These include maintaining a healthy weight, following a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and managing stress.
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FAQ
How does diet impact heart health?
Foods that are high in saturated fats and sodium increase the risk of heart issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. In contrast, foods that support heart health include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
What exercises benefit heart health?
A combination of aerobic activity — brisk walking, running, swimming, cycling — and resistance training provides the greatest benefits for heart health.
How often should I get my blood pressure checked?
Young adults with no risk factors for heart disease should get their blood pressure checked every two to five years. Adults 40 and older or those with an increased risk of high blood pressure should get it checked on a yearly basis.
Can stress affect my heart?
Yes, chronic stress increases the risk of high blood pressure, which can contribute to the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke.
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Chung Yoon, MD, is a noninvasive cardiologist with a passion for diagnosis, prevention, intervention, and treatment of a wide range of heart and cardiovascular disorders. He enjoys...
Anurag Sahu, MD, is the director of the adult congenital heart program at Inova Health System in Fairfax, Virginia. Previously, he was an associate professor of medicine as well as...
Stephanie Young Moss, PharmD, has worked in pharmacy, community outreach, regulatory compliance, managed care, and health economics and outcomes research. Dr. Young Moss is the own...
Ira Daniel Breite, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He is an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he also sees patien...
Abhinav Singh, MD, is a board-certified sleep medicine specialist and the medical director of the Indiana Sleep Center. He is also an associate clinical professor at Marian Univers...
Michael Cutler, DO, PhD, is a cardiac electrophysiologist at Intermountain Heart Rhythm Specialists in Salt Lake City, Utah. His research interests include understanding the cellul...
Dr. St. John is a medical writer and editor with more than 15 years of experience in the field. She is a former medical officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Jennifer K. Frediani, PhD, RD, ACSM-CES, is a nutrition scientist, exercise physiologist, and registered dietitian with over two decades of experience in clinical research, educati...
Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN, is the founder and lead dietitian at Maya Feller Nutrition. In her practice, her team provides medical nutrition therapy and nutrition coaching for hormon...
Grant Chu, MD, is an associate clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Chu is also associate director of inpatient East-West consult services at the ...
Reyna Franco, RDN, is a New York City–based dietitian-nutritionist, certified specialist in sports dietetics, and certified personal trainer. She is a diplomate of the American Col...
Cheng-Han Chen, MD, PhD, is the medical director of the structural heart program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California, and director of structural a...
Michelle Seguin, MD, is a board-certified family medicine, lifestyle medicine, and certified functional medicine physician (IFMCP). She is a practicing physician at Root Functional...
Farrokh Sohrabi, MD, is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of...
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