Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a serious condition that affects millions of Americans every year, and is the number one cause of death in the United States. As a result, many older individuals have made significant lifestyle changes to lower their risk of developing a heart condition. Even former President Bill Clinton, once well-known for his love of fatty foods, chose to forgo his favorite dishes for a healthier vegetarian diet, all in the name of his heart.
Heart-healthy living starts at birth
Experts from the World Heart Federation (WHF), a non-government entity comprised of 200 medical organizations, say that people should be taking such steps much sooner. Last month, the WHF released the results of an international survey regarding CVD prevention. Based on 4,000 questionnaires completed by adults from four separate countries, the federation determined that most individuals believe that they should start thinking about heart health when they are 30 years of age or older.
“The fact is that good heart health starts from childhood,” WHF president professor Sidney Smith said, according to the release. “We have an opportunity to change the course of CVD and its global impact, by encouraging and supporting heart-healthy living from an early age.”
Diet and exercise play a key role
Nutrition plays a substantial role in heart and brain health throughout your life. As a result, eating poorly at any stage can have a serious impact on your likelihood of developing some form of heart disease. Because of this, the WHF has launched an international effort to raise awareness about the lifestyle choices that may increase CVD risk, such as eating unhealthy foods and not getting enough exercise.