M08 — February 2012 — Healthy Heart for Life!

Intro: Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of both men and women. A statistic like that might prompt people to take action. But, there's a lot of information out there and it can all be pretty confusing. Doctors at Mayo Clinic want to change that. They published a new book full of the most important, practical things you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Here it is. The book that can help you lead a heart-healthy life.

"Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life!" is an action-oriented book that helps people understand the most important things to do to prevent heart disease.

Editor Dr. Martha Grogan says it's user-friendly. The instant you pick it up, you can start making a difference in your heart health.

We start out with a quick start program which is eating five fruits and vegetables a day.

Then moving more. 10 minutes is all it takes.

And making sure you sleep, for most people, eight hours a night.

That's it. Three easy steps. You might wonder how moving 10 minutes a day can help.

Moving even just 10 minutes a day for someone who's been sedentary can reduce the risk for heart attack by 50 percent.

The more you move, the bigger the benefit. Her motto is to stand up to heart health. Now. After the quick start phase, there's a 10-step program of the most important things you can do to lower your risk of heart disease. Things like knowing your numbers — blood pressure cholesterol, B-M-I. The book also gives you tips on how to make changes happen.

Even small changes can make a big impact.

Inside "Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life!" you'll find pictures that clearly show how the heart is structured and how heart attacks happen. And Dr. Grogan says the book helps you customize a plan that fits your lifestyle. A program designed to be easy and fun.

The last step is to enjoy life. It's really important to enjoy life.

Dr. Grogan says there's more good news. Eighty percent of heart disease is preventable and if you follow the plan in the book you'll also be preventing other diseases such as dementia and diabetes.

For Medical Edge, I'm Vivien Williams.

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Dr. Grogan says the book can benefit everyone. If you do have underlying heart disease, check with your doctor before you start.

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