We sought the counsel of cardiologists on maintaining heart health over the years. If you’re one of the many Americans who resolved to lose weight, get fit, or eat healthier this New Year, here’s an additional incentive to stay committed: these actions can safeguard your heart. Heart disease remains the top cause of death in the U.S. Habits such as smoking, unhealthy eating, and a lack of physical activity can set the stage for illness even before any symptoms are noticeable. These habits “won’t harm you immediately,” but they can influence the quality of your life in your later years, according to Dr. Kyla Lara-Breitinger, a cardiologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “If you plan to hike in the Dolomites after retirement, what steps are you taking now to get ready?” she asked. Start by assessing your current health status. Physicians can evaluate your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels to assess your heart disease risk and recommend appropriate treatments. Begin by seeing your primary care physician to have your numbers evaluated, advised Dr. Sadiya Khan, a preventive cardiologist at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Meeting with your primary care doctor also provides a chance to discuss your health objectives. You can talk about what obstacles might be preventing you from achieving your goals and create a plan for improvement. “It can be daunting to try to tackle everything at the same time,” Dr. Khan mentioned. You can discuss with your doctor about beginning with the simplest options or identifying which changes could have the most significant impact. We are currently facing difficulties accessing the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your understanding as we confirm access. If you’re in Reader mode, please log out and sign in to your Times account, or subscribe to gain full access to The Times. We appreciate your patience as we confirm your access. Are you already a subscriber? Sign in.. Do you want access to all of The Times?
