Even if you've been eating with abandon your whole life, there's still some time to turn it around and prevent cardiovascular disease. And for those who are younger, now's the time to eat better. "It's never too late, and I would argue that, unfortunately, we're all at risk for heart disease. It is the number one killer in this country of men and women. Therefore, making changes now as a younger person could prevent or change your fate in the future. It's never too early to make these changes so that you don't have to worry about things as much later in life. It doesn't mean you're invincible, but it certainly gives you better odds," Freeman says.
Haythe recommends some general lifestyle changes, too: "In general, I tell my patients to see their doctor every year to be screened for cardiac risk factors, exercise four to five times per week, quit smoking, eat a Mediterranean diet, limit alcohol consumption to twice a week, and to do what they love to reduce stress—unless that means eating a cheeseburger and fries!"
Next up: The 4 Foods Dermatologists Want You to Avoid—and 8 They Want You Start Eating
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.