Easy tricks to keep your heart healthy

Heart disease is the number-one health problem for women over 40—and because estrogen is heart-protective, the risk rises after menopause. Luckily, these easy steps can help protect your heart now—and for life!

1 Keep your arteries young with breakfast!

Eating just a handful of nuts and berries in the a.m. helps arteries stay flexible; skipping breakfast ups the risk of hardening of the arteries. “Going too long without eating can contribute to artery-damaging bloodsugar spikes and high insulin levels later in the day,” says cardiologist Stephen Sinatra, M.D.

2 Strengthen your ticker with gentle yoga!

The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology reports that gentle yoga stretches are as heart-protective as brisk walking! That’s because they combine physical activity with deep breathing and stress relief, three key types of heart protection.

3 Cut your risk 50% by meeting up!

Older adults who socialize often are half as likely to have heart disease, research shows. “Friends ease stress,” says Dr. Sinatra. “That helps lower your blood pressure and heart-harming stress hormones.”

4 Avoid four heart problems by saying cheers! Women who drink one beer, glass of wine or cocktail a day (but not more) are less apt to have heart failure, chest pain, stroke or peripheral artery disease! One reason? Alcohol has a slight blood-thinning effect that helps prevent blood clots.

5 Lower your cholesterol with the right dose of sleep!

Cholesterol levels often rise at menopause. Keep yours in check with seven to eight hours of shuteye nightly. Getting more or less sleep tends to up triglycerides and lower “good” cholesterol. Being well-rested helps balance blood fats.