How to Care for Your Heart at Every Age

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While most people probably don't think much about their heart condition before middle age, it's a very smart idea to start some healthy habits early. "While it's never too late to change your lifestyle or approach to heart health, the sooner you start making healthier choices, the greater the benefits," said Donald Lloyd Jones, MD, chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University. Big." American Heart Association president-elect. "The longer your blood pressure or cholesterol rises, the more damage you can do to your heart and vascular system -- once that damage occurs, it's difficult, if not impossible, to put the horse back in the stable."

So what should you do every decade to keep your heart as healthy as possible? Start here:

over 20
When you start your adult life, you'd better not develop some bad habits that grow up with you.

Do not start smoking or vaping. Smoking causes one in four deaths from cardiovascular disease, and it's time to break the "I only smoke when I go out with friends" habit. Don't think e-cigarettes are better for you. "Nicotine is really bad for your lungs, brain and heart," Lloyd-Jones said. "And the flavors and oils used to suspend nicotine in e-cigarette liquids are also toxic."

Control alcohol intake. You don't need to abstain from alcohol (in fact, drinking in moderation is actually good for the heart). But overeating is not so beneficial. "Alcohol is fun and part of social life, but if you drink too much it can have toxic effects on your liver and heart," Lloyd-Jones said. "It may also lead to early onset of high blood pressure."

over 30
This will be considered with your primary care provider (and your gym)! ) for ten years to establish a good relationship.

Get your initial stats. Now is the time to get an accurate picture of your cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure. "Blood pressure and cholesterol problems can be silent, so you want to make sure they don't start to rise," Lloyd-Jones said. "Detecting a problem early means you have time to intervene before medication is needed." High LDL (or low-density lipoprotein, sometimes called "bad") cholesterol and high total cholesterol, according to the 2020-25 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is a "major risk factor for heart disease and stroke."

Maintain muscle mass. "Starting in your 30s, you start to lose muscle mass and bone density, which can have major consequences and affect heart health later in life," Lloyd-Jones said. Maintain your strength during this decade by maintaining your activity level. Sure, you may have a busier career and family life, but you don't need to spend an hour exercising to reap the benefits. Try these 20-minute exercises to get started.

in your forties
Have a handicap in life? It's time to recommit to taking care of your heart.

Back to cardiovascular exercise. If you don't remember when was the last time you did cardio, then you'll want to change it. Sweating profusely can boost heart function and improve circulation, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease and other heart-related problems. That is, be careful. "Understand that you're not as durable as you were when you were younger -- you're more prone to injury," says Lloyd-Jones. His advice: Rotate between several different types of activities so you don't overuse any muscle group.

Know your risk level. "In your 40s, you want to start thinking about your heart health comprehensively -- so you've got your cholesterol and blood pressure measured, but let's think about other aspects of your health and lifestyle," Lloyd said. Jones said. To do this, fill out an information called the ASCVD Risk Calculator (this calculator can be found on the American Heart Association's website). You fill in answers to questions like age, gender, ethnicity, smoking and blood pressure levels, and check your likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke within the next 10 years. If the risk is high, you can discuss ways to reduce the risk with your doctor.

In the 50's, 60's and beyond.
Celebrate your landmark 50th birthday by taking a closer look at your habits.

Limit sodium intake. "We all become more sensitive to sodium as we age, so it's important to limit the amount of sodium in our diet," says Lloyd-Jones. "It mostly comes from processed foods and restaurant meals, not salt shakers." That's why Lloyd-Jones recommends cooking your own meals and doing everything you can to reduce sodium intake (this blog is a great place to learn some helpful tips).

Go, go, go. "Maintain your strength and stamina as much as possible through physical activity -- it will help your heart, as well as help better balance and prevent falls," Lloyd-Jones said. "When you use your muscles, You'll clear blood sugar and triglycerides faster and have a healthier metabolism -- that's why exercise is key." This may be the perfect time to start using exercise reminders on your Fitbit device -- it can encourage you to Get up more during the day.