Similarly, physiologist Joseph Libonati, assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, said nothing beats the old mantra: Keep moving and cut calories.
Gardner and Libonati elaborated on their views of heart health in the 21st century.
Question: What is new in promoting heart health in recent years?
Gardner: There is no new medication, but I do think there is a sort of new two-tiered concept that many physicians are trying to promote. First is to emphasize certain behaviors - the bedrocks being not smoking, staying physically active, pursuing a healthy diet, and avoiding being overweight. Do all four.
Second is to know all your numbers: blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol. You need to know them and know when they are abnormal and treat them. People should know these numbers as they know their height and weight.
It's not revolutionary, but we want everyone to be conscious of it, so in that way, it is new.
Libonati: Two things are substantially different, in the last few years at least. It used to be, if you had a heart attack, the advice was stop moving, stay put. Now it is the opposite. People have to start moving. Hospitals have cardiac-rehabilitation centers, getting people back in shape. That is an important shift.
Second is how much you need to do to become more physically fit. The no-pain-no-gain mentality is no longer generally accepted. If, for 20 years, you have been a couch potato, the next step is not to join a gym and start exercising vigorously. It is baby steps. Walk outside for 20 to 30 minutes a day. Don't expect to do a marathon soon, or you will be disappointed and never get up to a good level of fitness.
Q: What about statins, vitamins, supplements - the proven, not the fad stuff?
