The heart is one of the most vital organs in the human body, responsible for pumping blood and delivering oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body.
Heart health is a cornerstone of overall well-being, yet it often remains overlooked until problems arise, said Dr. Sunal Makadia, a cardiologist affiliated with LifeBridge Health in Greater Baltimore.
In the United States, 20.5 million adults have coronary heart disease and six to seven million have heart failure. It is the leading cause of death in the U.S. since 1950. About 695,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year — that’s one in every five deaths.
The main risk factors for heart disease, according to Dr. Makadia, are diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which causes buildup in our heart arteries. Smoking, secondhand smoke, obesity, and having a family history of heart disease are also big
risk factors.
“The older you get, the more the heart will feel the effects of the high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking,” he said.
A healthy diet can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease. “Diet has a major correlation with heart health,” Dr. Makadia said. “Food and drink that are high in cholesterol, fat or highly processed can raise the risk of heart disease.”
Diets high in sodium can increase the risk for high blood pressure, which in turn raises the risk of heart disease and strokes, he said.
Cardiologists, like Dr. Makadia, recommend the Mediterranean diet. The diet is rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, lean poultry-based protein, and olive oil. “That’s been most closely associated with improvements in heart health.”
A crucial step anyone can take to maintain their heart health is to engage in regular exercise, Dr. Makadia said. “We recommend a moderate aerobic activity for at least 150 minutes a week. And people should also engage in strength exercises.”
Stress plays a big role in increasing blood pressure, which weakens and damages the artery walls, reducing blood flow to vital organs, Dr. Makadia said. High levels of cortisol from long-term stress can increase blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
The higher levels of stress hormones can increase inflammation levels, he said.
“Inflammation makes our blood vessels a little more fragile, making them more likely to form clots and blockages. That can have a very negative impact on your heart health.”
Chest pain is a well-recognized warning of heart disease. “Some other symptoms which are not as well known are shortness of breath, heart palpitations and any symptom with exertion that someone has not experienced before. Occasionally, people experience shoulder pain, jaw pain, nausea, and a form of heartburn discomfort with exertion. Those are some of the signs to look out for.”
Heart disease can be genetic, meaning it’s caused by changes in DNA that are passed down through families. “Families with higher rates of heart disease often have genetic factors that influence how we metabolize or produce cholesterol, increasing the risk of blockages,”
he said.
Heavy drinking can increase the risk of heart disease, including heart failure, stroke, and cardiomyopathy, a condition that damages the heart muscle, making it less efficient.
In addition, “people who are drinking more than the recommended amount will engage in riskier behaviors and poor dietary choices,” Dr. Makadia said.
He recommends keeping your annual checkup with your primary care provider or, if you have heart disease, following up on timely visits with your cardiologist.
“Everyone should be getting their cholesterol and blood pressure checked routinely and should be screened for diabetes,” he said.
The good news is that there are always advances in heart disease treatment and prevention. “We have very good ways of lowering cholesterol; new medications that have minimal to no side effects.”
Also, powerful drugs are available that reduce blood pressure.
A common misconception about heart health is that a person of average weight won’t derive benefit out of a healthy diet or exercise.
“Everyone’s metabolism is different so just because you are not overweight does not mean you are free of heart disease,” he said. “Everyone should be exercising and eating healthy.”
Many patients, Dr. Makadia added, do not believe that they need treatment or seek out medical care if they feel OK. “Heart disease takes years to develop, but there are a lot of things we can do in those years to treat our risk factors.”
And for patients who cannot reduce their risk using lifestyle changes, talk to your physician, he said. There are other options or medications.
“Just because you feel well doesn’t mean that you’re not developing a risk for heart disease in the future.”
Dr. Makadia concluded that prioritizing heart health through informed lifestyle choices and regular checkups can empower individuals to take charge of their well-being and lead a longer, heart-healthier life.
