Fighting heart disease, it’s never too late

Think you’re too old to start exercising? A recent study among previously inactive 45 to 65 year olds showed dramatic improvement in heart function after starting exercise.

“We used to think think if you don’t start the exercise when you’re in your 20s, your 30s it’s too late. No, these are patients that are 45 to 65. So it doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s beneficial for you to exercise,” says Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Oscar Munoz.

Doctors recommend that you exercise three or four times per week in 30 minute session. Exercises should be a mix of anaerobic (such as weight lifting) and aerobic. A great form of aerobic exercise is running, but it is best to start small and build up to your goals gradually.

“Start slow, cause a lot of the times we have that enthusiasm and then we start really fast or hard and then we burn out easily,” says runner Perla Retana.

More than just exercise is needed to take care of your heart though. Doctor Munoz says that healthy lifestyle choices like not smoking and a good diet with low sodium is necessary to maintain a healthy heart.