Kids are more likely to stick to a heart-healthy lifestyle if they grow up exposed to it.
A healthy heart starts in childhood
IF kids don’t usually come up during discussions on cardiovascular disease, that’s because hypertension, stroke, high cholesterol, and heart attack due to the buildup of plaque in the arteries are thought to be old people’s illnesses, ailments that shouldn’t concern the young until they become adults themselves.
But in a country where cardiovascular diseases account for a third of the deaths of its population (or 72% of the deaths in the country in 2021, according to the Philippine Statistics Office), efforts to keep our heart healthy should start years before we become adults—they should begin as early as childhood.
“Though heart disease is hereditary (meaning you are more likely to have it if your close blood relatives do), it can also develop as a consequence of one’s environment,” said Dr. Ceres Paulino Canto, from the Cardiology department of the top hospital in the Philippines, Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed). “Kids who are exposed to family members who smoke and drink, eat mostly processed food, and have sedentary lifestyles are likely to follow in their footsteps. So, while cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke are associated with the older generation, their causes can be traced to childhood.”
Dr. Canto shares three lifestyle habits to keep your little ones’ hearts healthy:
* Eat nutritious food. Introduce quality nutrition the minute your kids are born. Start with breastmilk, which is rich in protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. When they’re ready for solids, make them get used to and appreciate fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy products.
* Get active. In this age of the internet, kids typically spend their days seated and staring at a computer screen, tablet, or phone. “Physical activity doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated,” Dr. Canto said. “Letting loose at the playground, dancing, or engaging in sports for 30 minutes to an hour a day deliver oxygen and nutrients that allow the cardiovascular system to work more efficiently. Make them develop a lifelong love of physical fitness and activity today.”
* Kick bad habits. Do you smoke or drink? Stay up late? Consider junk food a food group? There’s a strong possibility your kids will too. Kids love mirroring what their parents do, so it’s best to lead a healthy lifestyle yourself.
While all these recommendations apply to any age, your children will certainly reap their full benefits the longest, provided you start early.
For more information, call MakatiMed at +632.88888 999, email [email protected], or visit www.makatimed.net.ph.
