In honor of the month of love, NYU Langone Dr. Emmanuel N. Moustakakis, MD, director of Inpatient Cardiology at NYU Langone Hospital-Suffolk, and Dr. Jonathan Weinstein, DO, FACC, director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at NYU Langone Health and NYU Langone Hospital-Suffolk, shared heart health tips and information.
According to Weinstein, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, but the encouraging news is that most heart disease is modifiable.
“Studies suggest that cardiovascular disease can be delayed or avoided with lifestyle changes and appropriate medical care,” he said. “The key message is that it’s never too early or too late to start taking care of your heart.”
Q: What are the biggest causes of issues for heart health?
Dr. Emmanuel Moustakakis: While there is no one single issue that causes heart disease, the biggest risk factors include smoking and diabetes. Obesity and sedentary lifestyle contribute significantly to the risk of developing diabetes and other risk factors for heart disease.
Dr. Jonathan Weinstein: The biggest drivers of heart disease are still the fundamentals: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. On top of that, chronic stress and poor sleep are increasingly important contributors. Most heart disease is not sudden; it develops quietly over years.
Q: What are ways we can manage our diet to help?
EM: Heart-healthy diets tend to include a lot of fiber, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins, and minimize processed foods, complex carbs, and refined sugars.
JW: I tell patients to think less about “diets” and more about patterns. A heart-healthy pattern emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins like fish and poultry, legumes, and healthy fats such as olive oil and nuts. Reducing processed foods, excess salt, added sugars, and refined carbohydrates makes a huge difference. Even small, consistent changes can meaningfully lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
Q: Exercise?
EM: The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise. That’s 30 minutes, five days a week. Examples include brisk walking, dancing, water aerobics, bicycling, or doubles tennis.
JW: Regular physical activity is one of the most powerful tools we have. The goal is about 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise — brisk walking absolutely counts. Strength training a couple of days a week is also important.
Q: Anything else we can do to help prevent heart issues?
EM: All adults should see a primary care doctor at least once a year. Screening for, and understanding your risk factors for heart disease, and treating risk factors for heart disease when appropriate, is far and away the best way to prevent heart disease.
JW: Know your numbers — blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar — and address problems early. Don’t underestimate sleep, stress management, and mental health. And if you smoke, quitting is one of the single most impactful things you can do for your heart, regardless of age.
Q: What are the age groups and concerns?
EM: Heart disease can affect adults of all ages. But risk of coronary artery disease increases in men above 55, and in women post-menopause.
JW: In younger adults, we’re increasingly seeing obesity, high blood pressure, and early diabetes, often driven by diet and inactivity. In middle age, plaque buildup, cholesterol issues, and lifestyle stress really come into play. In older adults, heart rhythm problems, heart failure, and the cumulative effects of long-standing risk factors become more common. Prevention matters at every stage.
Q: What can a loved one know about the signs of a heart attack to help?
EM: Heart attacks do not always present as crushing chest pain like what you see in the movies. It can be sudden chest pain, sometimes moving down the left arm or up to the throat and jaw, sudden chest heaviness or shortness of breath, or even sudden pain in the upper part of the abdomen. The best advice I can give is if you feel like something is wrong, do not ignore it. And if you think you or a loved one is having a heart attack, do not drive yourself to the hospital. Call 911 and go by ambulance. Paramedics and ambulances are equipped with lifesaving equipment that can sometimes be necessary before reaching the hospital. They can also call ahead and transmit information to the hospital, which leads to much faster, more efficient treatment.
JW: Classic symptoms include chest pressure or tightness, pain radiating to the arm, neck, jaw, or back, shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats. Women and people with diabetes may have more subtle symptoms like fatigue or shortness of breath without severe chest pain. If something feels wrong, don’t wait. Every second counts.
“Heart disease kills more Americans every year than all forms of cancer combined,” said Moustakakis of the importance of managing your heart health. “While it is a common misconception that it primarily affects men, it is also the No. 1 cause of death in women.”
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