If you see a pattern, do something

The Cleveland Browns football team has averaged about four wins and 12 losses every year for the past 10 years. They’re currently 0-15, after going 1-15 in 2016. See a pattern here? Sure you do, and it’s not improving! It has even prompted one Cleveland fan to secure a parade permit to celebrate “the perfect season” on Jan. 6, 2018, if the team finishes up 0-16.

A pattern of losing seasons doesn’t just spell trouble for a football team. Another losing pattern that spells trouble for guys is premature male pattern baldness -- and premature graying. Doctors recently found an association between those two conditions and heart disease. They studied 790 men younger than 40 who had coronary artery disease and a control group of 270 healthy men. The young men with CAD had a higher prevalence of male-pattern baldness (49 percent vs 27 percent) and premature graying (50 percent vs 30 percent) than their healthy counterparts.

So heads-up: If you’re 40 or younger and turning gray and or losing your hair, consider amping up your heart-protection routines.

Ask your doc to test for your heart-health numbers: blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, hsCRP -- an inflammation marker, body mass index, HbA1C and/or fasting blood glucose and TMAO, an indicator of stroke and heart attack risk.

Embrace heart-lovin' habits: 10,000 steps a day; two days strength training weekly; 7-9 servings produce daily; no red or processed meats; stress reduction (check out the Sharecare app to assess your stress level).