one house, two cardiologists

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Take These Tips to Heart

Follow these heart-healthy recommendations from cardiologists Sharonne and David Hayes:

Sharonne’s Advice

• Stay connected. Social isolation and loneliness can take a huge toll on women’s heart health. Think about getting more involved with others. Regular social interaction, such as volunteer work, going to your place of worship, or even owning a pet, all help reduce your risk of heart attack.
• Get strong. Resistance exercise, often only an afterthought to cardio work, is especially important for women. Strength training burns more calories, tones muscles, prevents falls by improving balance, and helps prevent osteoporosis.
• Know your family’s heart history. A family history of premature heart disease, especially in your mother or sister, should prompt you to talk to your health-care provider about additional tests or risk-lowering measures you should pursue.

David’s Advice

• Know your numbers. Men and women really need to know their heart-disease risk factors and numbers, and where their levels should be. If you are over 20, you should know your blood pressure and lipid levels (total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol; triglycerides). If you don’t, talk to your doctor so you can work toward your goal.
• Find a buddy. Changing behavior is hard, but there is ample evidence that if you have someone to make the change with, you’ll be more successful. Instead of going it alone, join a weight-loss support group, meet a friend for your daily walk, or quit smoking with your spouse.
• Go nuts. A regular intake of nuts, such as almonds or walnuts, has been shown to lower your risk of heart disease. You have to watch out for added calories, though. A 1-ounce serving can add up to 200 calories. If you add nuts, cut something from your diet to prevent weight gain.