Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 annual report. Despite advances in technology and treatment, prevention and early detection are essential. It’s important to know more about a heart-healthy lifestyle and the signs and symptoms to look for. 

For those without heart disease, LMH Health cardiologist Dr. Elizabeth Guastello said the first step is to know your numbers. 

“Being aware of your weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels is a crucial step in preventing heart disease,” she said. 

Beyond these measurements, Dr. Guastello emphasized the value of a coronary calcium score, which is obtained through a quick, non-invasive CT scan that detects calcium in the heart’s arteries. This score can help identify coronary artery disease – the most common type of heart disease.

Dr. Guastello said a coronary calcium scan is most often recommended for people over age 40 who do not have heart disease but may have an increased risk due to risk factors such as a family history of heart disease, smoking, and diagnoses like diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. 

Taking measures to prevent heart disease is important, said Dr. Hallie Kretsinger, an internal medicine doctor at LMH Health. 

“When feasible, it is better to prevent it from occurring than to treat it once you already have it,” she said. 

If she has concerns about a patient’s heart function, Dr. Kretsinger may recommend a stress test, which monitors heart activity during an exercise where the heart works harder than usual. Stress tests are sometimes taken after a coronary calcium scan to help doctors identify and evaluate heart issues.

Leading a heart-healthy lifestyle

Both doctors emphasized the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle and habits. 

They pointed to the Mediterranean diet as the best heart-healthy cuisine. The American Heart Association explains that the diet limits heavily processed and high-cholesterol foods and typically includes:

  • Vegetables, fruits, bread and whole grains, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds
  • Olive oil as a primary fat source; and
  • Dairy products, eggs, fish and poultry in low to moderate amounts.

Cardiovascular exercise is another key component of a healthy heart. Dr. Guastello recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio exercise each week, and said this is a goal to slowly work up to if you’re not currently achieving it. 

Wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness rings have become part of many people’s lives and exercise habits. They can help identify warning signs such as a higher-than-usual heart rate or an arrhythmia, but both doctors said you should not use them to self-diagnose. Talk with your primary care practitioner or cardiologist about your concerns. 

“A lot of these watches have ECG technology that can alert patients about a possible issue. By passing along what that device says to their doctor or cardiologist, we can then run our own official screenings and move forward from there,” Dr. Guastello said. “So, yes, they are definitely helpful but should not replace your doctor or official test results.” 

Recognizing the signs

Symptoms of heart disease, heart failure, or a heart attack can be wide-ranging. Common warning signs, especially after physical activity, include:

  • Pain
  • Pressure or tightness in the center of the chest, which can radiate to the left arm or jaw
  • Sudden shortness of breath
  • Nausea 
  • An increased feeling of heartburn

If you have atypical symptoms, take them seriously so you get a timely diagnosis and treatment – especially if you’re at higher risk.

“A common misconception is that symptoms of a heart attack present differently in women than they do in men, when the reality is that most of the time the symptoms are the same in both genders,” Dr. Guastello said. “These symptoms include chest pain or tightness that may radiate down the left arm or jaw, shortness of breath or nausea and vomiting. However, if someone presents with less common symptoms such as flu-like symptoms or abdominal pain, it is more likely to be in women.”

The importance of primary care

In a world where telehealth and online health influencers continue to gain traction, Dr. Kretsinger said having a primary care provider can make a real difference.

“There has been less emphasis on having a primary care doctor, but it’s really important to have one and get consistent checkups,” she said. “Primary care practitioners can run screenings that can’t be carried out by emergency care providers who focus on treating acute issues, not preventive care.” 

While heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, there are many things you can do to lower your risk. Regular checkups, preventive screenings, a heart-healthy diet and consistent physical activity all play a meaningful role in protecting your heart. By building these habits into your routine, heart disease becomes something you work to prevent rather than treat.

Gabe Carter is a senior at the University of Kansas and a freelance writer for LMH Health.

A new era of cardiac care

When it comes to matters of the heart, virtually everything a cardiac patient needs is available at LMH Health. As our community ages, the number of patients who need cardiac care continues to grow.

LMH Health is working to meet that need by expanding and renovating the Heart Center. The project will also add a second cardiac catheterization lab on the second floor of the hospital.

Make a meaningful impact and help expand life-saving care close to home. To share your own meaningful gift toward the Heart Center, visit lmh.org/donate.