Why a Heart Healthy Lifestyle is Important? The best reason to keep heart healthy is to avoid being disabled or dead after 50. The numbers tell the story. The number one cause of and death and number two cause of disability is heart disease. While people live longer than they did 100 years ago, they have unfortunately been living those extra years with a progressively lower quality of life. In essence, Americans today are not living longer than in the past, they are just dying longer. Many today spend the last 20-30 years of life with multiple chronic conditions that compromise the quality of life. Fortunately, a way to improve heart health and quality of life is within almost everyone’s reach through lifestyle choices. Perhaps, you know someone that had a heart attack. If no name comes to mind, perhaps you’ve heard of Bill Clinton, Elizabeth Taylor, Larry King, David Letterman, Burt Reynolds or Rosie O’Donnell. All suffered heart attacks. Some took their first heart attack as a wakeup call and by choosing a heart-healthy lifestyle added many more good years. Over 600,000 each year don’t get a second chance. For them, their first heart attack was their last one. Others mistakenly believed that modern medicine gives them permission to keep their old habits. Unfortunately, most heart medications relieve symptoms and offer little in the way of stopping or reversing the disease. The good news is that in the majority of cases, heart disease is preventable with lifestyle choices. The really amazing news is that heart disease can often be halted and sometimes reversed by lifestyle changes. Today we know that diet is the major culprit for this silent disease that often begins in childhood. Want to be in good health when your children have grandchildren? Want to live into your 90s with quality of life? While there are no guarantees, there is strong evidence that lifestyle has a greater impact on that likelihood than a sack full of medications. There is a time for medications but for best results they should be used along with lifestyle changes. Ideally, with the correct lifestyle changes, medication will never be needed. Granted, change can be challenging and take several years. For many, the essential change force is a lifestyle health mentor. Now that you have heard my spiel about the importance of having a healthy heart, I would like you to watch the short video, “Reversing Heart Disease with Lifestyle Change and Plant- Based Nutrition” by Dr. Steven Lome, a cardiologist with a passion for heart disease education and prevention. From watching this video you will learn why America has taken a wrong turn on the path to heart health and how you can improve your chances for a better life without having to wait a day longer. As you watch the video, jot down ideas you can use. I’d love to hear about your plans for keeping a healthy heart and your plans for a long healthy life. If making an appointment with Dr. Steven Lome in his Chicago area office is not convenient, then rest assured I can probably answer your questions. My current and ongoing training in lifestyle medicine should get you the answers. If not, I’ll ask Dr. Lome on your behalf. Join me Saturday morning for a fresh start on the day, a talk about your plans and a step toward being heart healthy. Best of all, with a pleasantly cool morning to look forward to, you get to check off step one for a heart health day without breaking a sweat. Nancy Neighbors, MD Huntsville, Alabama Heart Facts • Cholesterol deposits that cause heart disease often start in childhood. • Cholesterol deposits may build for decades before life-threatening symptoms arise. • Plant-based whole foods have no cholesterol. Animal products are the only source of cholesterol other than what our bodies make. • The sooner you start a heart-healthy lifestyle, the better off you’ll be later in life. • Practicing heart health habits influences the people around you (spouse, children, grandchildren, etc.) • Often, there are no symptoms before a heart attack occurs • You can be exercising and feeling great one day and suddenly faced with a life-threatening heart attack. • When you have a healthy heart you will feel better, have more energy and sleep better. • A heart-healthy lifestyle is the same lifestyle that often reverses hypertension, cures type 2 diabetes, reduces high cholesterol and helps you avoid strokes. • A healthy heart saves money. An unhealthy heart can cost over a million dollars, assuming you live long enough (in a mostly disabled condition) to see your bills drain your bank account. • Eating a healthy whole food plant-based diet can be less expensive than a diet that comes from processed foods and restaurants. Being heart healthy usually requires change but doesn’t require eating tasteless food and endless hours at the gym. With the right attitude, change can be fun. |