It seems everyone is talking about getting healthier and it isn’t just New Year’s resolutions. But a new study says that it is never too early to begin making health choices, especially when it comes to the heart.
Lead study author Dr. Ann Marie Navar-Boggan remarks “What we’re doing to our blood vessels in our 20s, 30s, and 40s is laying the foundation for disease that will present itself later in our lives. If we wait until our 50s or 60s to think about cardiovascular disease prevention, the cat’s already out of the bag.”
It might seem obvious that what you do today will impact your future, but it is more complicated than just one or two things, said the study reported by diabetesinsider.com
The findings are surprising as “even if you control everything else in your life - you don’t smoke, your blood pressure and weight are normal, and you don’t have diabetes -elevated cholesterol over many years can still cause problems in the long run.”
Navar-Boggan continues, “It’s never too soon for young adults to talk with their doctors about a comprehensive strategy for heart health, first and foremost focusing on diet and exercise.”
Furthermore, “Our study suggests, though, that young adults who cannot control cholesterol with diet and exercise alone may benefit from medication earlier in life. The plaques in arteries that break off and cause heart attacks later in life take years to develop.”
British Heart Foundation senior cardiac nurse Doireann Maddock agrees, “It’s never too early to start thinking about your heart health. By eating a healthy diet and keeping physically active you can help improve your cholesterol level. If you’re over 40, you are entitled to a health check from your GP or practice nurse, which includes a cholesterol check.”
