45 things heart doctors do to protect their own hearts

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Here are the heart health habits cardiologists follow to prevent heart problems for life.

“Good nutrition is essential to heart health. Unfortunately I often miss meals and instead ending up grabbing junk food during the work day. A meal delivery service is totally worth it for me as it helps guarantee that I will have healthy meals and snacks. Another great option is to prep your meals for the week in advance so you can just grab and go.” – Dr Nicole Weinberg, cardiologist

“Studies have recently shown that expressing gratitude may have a significant positive impact on heart health. One study, for example, showed the volunteers who were asked to focus on feelings of deep appreciation had increased heart rate variability, which is a marker that predicts decreased death from cardiac disease. Another study found that patients who kept a gratitude journal for two months had lower levels of inflammatory biomarkers that could lead to cardiovascular disease. Giving thanks can improve subjective wellbeing and overall health. It’s become clear to me that gratitude isn’t just good for the soul, it’s good for the body, too.” – Dr Nicole Van Groningen, internal medicine physician

Here are 17 things the world’s healthiest people have in common – and gratitude is one of them.

“I am a strong believer in the mind-body connection and have seen first-hand how exercise not only increases your overall health and energy levels but is also the perfect stress buster. Exercise blunts the ‘cortisol spike,’ the rush of stress hormones that has been linked to increased risk of a heart attack or stroke. Personally CrossFit is my favourite but I also practice yoga as well.” – Dr Adam Splaver, cardiologist

“Each day I engage in activities that alleviate stress and make me laugh. Negative thoughts and feelings of sadness can be detrimental to the heart. Stress can cause catecholamine release that can lead to heart failure and heart attacks. I have found a great sense of comfort in 20 minutes of meditation daily. It gives me the reset I need when pressure is rising. Apps can provide guided meditation and now many workplaces offer daily group sessions.” – Dr Archana Saxena, cardiologist

Here’s how to teach yourself to meditate and beat stress.

“It is no surprise that the number of heart attacks greatly increased after the introduction of the elevator. Exercise, even little bits throughout the day, are so important to heart health. So I take the stairs at every opportunity.” – Dr Richard Wright, cardiologist

“Almost all advice for reducing your cardiovascular risk includes recommendations for diet, weight reduction, exercise programs and stress reduction. But I’ve found that patients often don’t internalise these recommendations – because they fail to incorporate them into their daily routine. One simple thing I do to make sure I’m at a lean weight is to set a target weight and then weigh myself daily to make sure I’m maintaining it.” – Dr Steven Tabak, FACC

Don’t miss these 18 ways to keep your blood pressure in check. 

“Don’t eat when you aren’t hungry. It sounds too simple but many people eat for other reasons like boredom or stress. Instead, become a ‘grazer.’ It’s better to nibble, and every once in a while gorge oneself on a big meal, rather than the old advice to eat three meals a day. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for your heart.” – Dr Richard Wright

“Seeing the humour in everyday situations helps me maintain perspective and allows me to laugh as often and frequently as I can. Laughing about things that are not in your control not only decreases the stress, but dilates the arteries and keeps blood pressure down.”  – Dr Suzanne Steinbaum, cardiologist

Need something to laugh at? Here are 73 short jokes that anyone can remember.

“Sex is like interval exercise, which is very good for the heart. One easy and fun way to help your heart is to have more sex!” – Dr Richard Wright

Here are some more unexpected benefits of sex that might just help you live longer.