A cardiologist has explained the ten things you should do before the age of 40, or as soon as possible, to lower your r.i.s.k of a heart attack.
Dr. Evan Levine took to TikTok to discuss how there are several steps you may take to avoid having cardiac problems by the age of 70.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of heart attacks, and it occurs when the coronary arteries get clogged with fats like cholesterol and other chemicals.
Smoking, eating a high-fat diet, having diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or being overweight all raise your chance of developing CHD.
1. Ditch the fast food
“Hope your parents don’t introduce you to fast food garbage,” Dr. Levine continued.
Now, if you’re sitting at home reading this and know you’ve always enjoyed a takeaway, you can’t really go back in time.
However, balance and moderation are essential, so if you’re eating too much fast food, cutting back is an excellent place to start.
2. Implement a healthy approach to exercise and diet
Dr. Levine suggested that people begin exercising and eating a healthy diet as early as possible in life.
According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), eating a nutritious diet will not only lower your risk of getting CHD, but it can also help you lose weight, lowering your risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which are r.i.s.k factors for CHD.
Meanwhile, it is recommended that you engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week.
According to the BHF, exercise can reduce your risk of heart and circulation illness by up to 35%.
3. Check your cholesterol
Dr. Levine added that monitoring your cholesterol level ‘around the age of 20’ is also a good idea.
Cholesterol is classified into two types: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad cholesterol,” and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good cholesterol.”
4. Check your lipoprotein (a)
Another effective test is to determine the level of lipoprotein (a) in the blood.
A high level of lipoprotein (a) can indicate an increased r.i.s.k of heart di:sea:se.
5. Check your high-sensitivity CRP
This test examines the amount of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood.
The liver produces CRP, which rises when there is inflammation in the body.
When LDL cholesterol affects the arteries, it produces inflammation, which raises CRP levels.
Dr. Levine stated that a study published last year discovered that raised high-sensitivity CRP was a higher risk factor for heart di:sea:se than LDL cholesterol.
6. Quit smoking and vaping
Chemicals in cigarettes can make the walls of your arteries sticky, allowing fatty substances to become clogged and limiting blood flow.
7. Never use cocaine
Dr. Levine likened cocaine as ‘the atomic bomb compared to cigarettes and vaping on the heart’.
8. Avoid fizzy/energy drinks
Dr. Levine also encouraged parents not to introduce sugary, fizzy, or energy drinks to their children.
@drevanlevine Ten things to do before the age of 40 so you don’t have a heart attack before the age of 70. #heart #medicine #top ♬ original sound – Evan S. Levine, MD FACC
9. Check your coronary artery calcium score
“By the age of 40 and by the age of 30, anyone with a strong family history of coronary disease and elevated cholesterol, should get a coronary artery calcium score,” said Dr. Levine.
The test assesses the quantity of calcium in the arteries, with higher scores suggesting a higher risk.
The cardiologist stated that up to 10% of young adults under the age of 40 have abnormal coronary scores.
“Spotting calcium at such a low age could give cause to start more aggressive measures at a lower age,” according to him.
10. Avoid alcohol
Dr. Levine noted that, predictably, alcohol can increase the risk of heart disease, particularly if you drink more than two alcoholic beverages every day.
