Heartbeat: Address Heart Disease Early
By: Megan Dobbs
Updated: April 27, 2010
Doctor Ralph McClesky says heart problems are not at all uncommon among Big Country adults in their 40's.
He says almost all of his patients are surprised to find they suffer from heart problems, and while there are things they can do at that point to treat their conditions, avoiding heart problems needs to start early in life - something many fail to do.
That's where the problem lies. McClesky says studies show about 51 percent of Americans, if not more, eat away from home.
He says he's constantly telling patients to make their own diets healthier and to start teaching their kids the same.
Once Abilene parents start teaching kids to be heart-healthy, that's when cardiologists say improvements will be made against the nation's number one killer.
Doctors say a heart-healthy diet includes foods like fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fish.
