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Keeping Your Children Young at Heart

If you think your kids are too young to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle, think again.

Cardiac disease is the number-one cause of death in America, responsible for an estimated 20 percent of all U.S. fatalities. While heart ailments typically don't occur until middle age, the same heart-smart lessons we're taught as adults are ideally learned as children. And parents who pass on those benefits, including the increased likelihood that they'll be around to enjoy their kids and grandkids.

Dr. Ronald Kirshner "It all starts with setting an example," says Ronald Kirshner, MD, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiac Services at the Rochester Heart Institute (RHI) at Rochester General Health System. "If you want your kids to achieve good cardiac health, show them how to treat their bodies well as children and they'll be prepared to keep those lessons going as they grow up."

RHI, which provides comprehensive cardiology services focused on patient wellness, was recently rated the top program in New York State for overall cardiac care and number 2 nationwide for major cardiac surgery by CareChex, the hospital quality rating service of the Delta Group. Dr. Kirshner attributes RHI's frequent national recognitions to his team's never-ending pursuit of excellence: Thorough advance preparation drives efficiency and shorter operating room times, while also conditioning the team members to be constantly on the lookout for any deviations from the ideal surgical process.

Dr. Kirshner, who frequently speaks in the community about building and maintaining heart-healthy lifestyles, identifies four heart-smart lessons parents can teach their children:

Be Active. "People say they don't have time, but I know medical students who have less time than anybody else, and they exercise every day - and many of them started when they were children," Dr. Kirshner says. "Kids have a natural love of sports and active games. Get them running or jogging, playing basketball, whatever they enjoy."
Don't Smoke. According to a 2005 study, 12-year-old children of smokers are over twice as likely to begin smoking before they turn 21 than kids in non-smoking families. With statistics like that, it's easy to see the value of being a positive role model. "People who smoke are destroying the number one machine that they have - their bodies," Dr. Kirshner says.
Eat Right. Childhood obesity rates are at an all-time high in the United States - and once again, bad habits learned in youth often stay in place for life. Nutrition experts suggest good shopping habits (more fruits and vegetables, less "junk food") and simple lessons about portion control can stick with children as they grow.
Finally, Start Young. "If kids wait until they're in their 40s and 50s, it can be so hard to suddenly switch to a more healthy, active life," Dr. Kirshner says. "The earlier children start taking care of their bodies, the better off they'll be."