Those are his words—and here's his guidance.
Lately, the quest for a long, healthy life comes with so many possible practices. From biohacking to lymphatic drainage techniques and physiology-tracking wearables, the options are exciting…if also overwhelming.
If it’s all too much (with too high a price tag), a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist says it’s OK to keep it simple—in fact, narrowing in on a basic approach, especially when it comes to taking care of your heart, can be the “top” choice.
Dr. Grant Reed, MD, MSc, FACC, FSCAI, is a physician board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology, and interventional cardiology. As an ICU doctor and the program director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Interventional Radiology Fellowship program, this highly qualified heart doctor says: “The top three things you can do to protect your cardiac health is to move your body regularly, to exercise, to have a heart-healthy diet, and to avoid smoke and alcohol. If you can do those three things,” says Dr. Reed, “you’re definitely heading in the right direction.”
The Cleveland Clinic notes that getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week “helps keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check.”
Regarding diet, the Clinic highlights the importance of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
On the opposite end, smoking and alcohol consumption are discouraged because these habits can damage blood vessels and raise blood pressure, respectively.
Dr. Reed offers one more strategy to help head off heart issues: “Family history is one of the most important risk factors for cardiac events,” he says, noting this is true for heart attacks and strokes in especially. That’s why it’s important to know the cardiac history of your first-degree relatives, such as your parents, siblings and children.” Bringing this up with your healthcare team may affect their suggestions to better help manage your health.
For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
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