A cardiologist has explained the 10 things you should be doing before the age of 40 – or as soon as possible – to reduce your chance of a heart attack.
Dr Evan Levine took to TikTok to explain how there are multiple steps you can take to try and avoid facing problems with your heart by the age of 70.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the main cause of heart attacks and develops when the coronary arteries become clogged with fats such as cholesterol and other substances.
Your risk of developing CHD is increased by smoking; eating a high-fat diet; diabetes; high cholesterol; high blood pressure or being overweight.
With that in mind, Dr Levine – who goes by @drevanlevine on the platform – revealed the 10 things you can do to reduce your chances – and most of these are super easy.
Ditch the fast food
“Hope your parents don’t introduce you to fast food garbage,” Dr Levine began.
Now, if you’re sitting at home reading this, knowing that you’ve always been partial to a takeaway, then you can’t exactly turn back the clock.
But, balance and moderation are key, so if you are having too much fast food, cutting back would be a good place to start.
Implement a healthy approach to exercise and diet
Dr Levine recommended ‘starting exercise and quality diet’ early on in life.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) explains that eating a healthy diet can not only reduce your risk of developing CHD, but it can also help control your weight, reducing the risk of diabetes and blood pressure, which are also risk factors for CHD.
Meanwhile, it’s recommended that you do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.
The BHF says that exercising can actually reduce your risk of heart and circulatory diseases by up to 35 percent.
Check your cholesterol
Dr Levine explained that checking your cholesterol level ‘at the age of 20’ is also a good idea.
“You want to know if you’re carrying some genetic reason to make high cholesterol,” he said.
The two main types of cholesterol are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) – which is considered ‘bad cholesterol’ – and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) – which is considered ‘good cholesterol’.
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Check your lipoprotein (a)
Another useful test is to check for the level of lipoprotein (a) in the blood.
Having a high level of lipoprotein (a) can mean a higher risk of heart disease.
Dr Levine explained: “Check the [lipoprotein (a)] once in your life, if you haven’t checked, go ahead and check the LP (a) which is an independent risk factor for coronary disease.”
Check your high-sensitivity CRP
This test measures the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood.
CRP is produced by the liver and rises when there’s inflammation in the body.
When LDL cholesterol damages the arteries, it causes inflammation which in turn causes CRP to increase.
Dr Levine noted that a study from last year found that elevated high sensitivity CRP was a greater risk factor for heart disease than LDL cholesterol.
Quit smoking and vaping
“Never smoke and for the kids out there, never vape,” said Dr Levine.
“You’re setting yourself up for a heart attack later in life.”
Chemicals in cigarettes can make the walls of your arteries sticky, which can allow fatty substances to become clogged, reducing space for blood to flow.
Never use cocaine
Dr Levine described cocaine as ‘the atomic bomb compared to cigarettes and vaping on the heart’.
“Never try, never attempt, never consider, using cocaine,” he added.
Avoid fizzy/energy drinks
Dr Levine advised against sugary, fizzy drinks and energy drinks, too, advising parents never to introduce them to their kids.
“Try water, it’s the best way to hydrate, you save a lot of money,” he said.
“No fancy energy drinks, they’re all BS.”
@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
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 measures the amount of calcium in the arteries, with a higher score indicating a higher risk.
The cardiologist said that up to 10 percent of young adults under the age of 40 had abnormal coronary scores.
“Spotting calcium at such a low age could give cause to start more aggressive measures at a lower age,” he added.
Avoid alcohol
Dr Levine explained that unsurprisingly, alcohol can also increase the risk of heart disease, especially if you’re drinking in excess of two alcoholic drinks per day.
