In honor of the month of love, NYU Langone Dr. Emmanuel N. Moustakakis, MD, director of Inpatient Cardiology at NYU Langone Hospital-Suffolk, and Dr. Jonathan Weinstein, DO, FACC, director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at NYU Langone Health and NYU Langone Hospital-Suffolk, shared heart health tips and information.
According to Weinstein, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, but the encouraging news is that most heart disease is modifiable.
“Studies suggest that cardiovascular disease can be delayed or avoided with lifestyle changes and appropriate medical care,” he said. “The key message is that it’s never too early or too late to start taking care of your heart.”
Q: What are the biggest causes of issues for heart health?
Dr. Emmanuel Moustakakis:While there is no one single issue that causes heart disease, the biggest risk factors include smoking and diabetes. Obesity and sedentary lifestyle contribute significantly to the risk of developing diabetes and other risk factors for heart disease.
Dr. Jonathan Weinstein:The biggest drivers of heart disease are still the fundamentals: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. On top of that, chronic stress and poor sleep are increasingly important contributors. Most heart disease is not sudden; it develops quietly over years.
Q: What are ways we can manage our diet to help?
EM:Heart-healthy diets tend to include a lot of fiber, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins, and minimize processed foods, complex carbs, and refined sugars.
JW:I tell patients to think less about “diets” and more about patterns. A heart-healthy pattern emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins like fish and poultry, legumes, and healthy fats such as olive oil and nuts. Reducing processed foods, excess salt, added sugars, and refined carbohydrates makes a huge difference. Even small, consistent changes can meaningfully lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
EM:The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise. That’s 30 minutes, five days a week. Examples include brisk walking, dancing, water aerobics, bicycling, or doubles tennis.
Source: - Latest Stories
