Healthy Heart Choices

It’s never too late to get started

Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle makes a difference, even if the change does not come until middle age, say researchers in the American Journal of Medicine.

In fact, people who eat right and exercise more can substantially reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease and death even if they are in their 50s or 60s when they get started.

"Most experts agree that a health-promoting lifestyle—eating well, being active, not smoking —can cut overall risk of heart disease by 80 percent, cancer risk by 60 percent and diabetes risk by 90 percent,” says David Katz, M.D., from the Yale University School of Medicine.

Five healthy behaviors–that’s the ticket

“Healthy living is the most powerful medicine of all,” Dr. Katz says. “It requires no prescription, and all of the side effects are beneficial, too. It can, admittedly, be tough at times to get there from here, but it’s well worth it, and anytime is a good time to start.”

Listen to Dr. Kamineni's heart-healthy tips