Give heart-smart health serious thought this Valentine's

With Valentine's Day coming soon, it's a good time to take a look at the state of one's heart.

"Despite recent progress, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death and disability for both men and women in the United States," said Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, professor of cardiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and director of the AhmansonUCLA Cardiomyopathy Center. "However, heart disease can be almost entirely prevented with a healthy lifestyle and excellent control of cardiovascular risk factors."

"The path to heart disease begins at an early age," said Dr. Thomas Litzner, professor of pediatric cardiology at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA. "Obesity and high blood pressure are becoming an epidemic in children and young adults. By exercising regularly, eating well and not smoking, children can form heart-healthy habits that will help protect them from future heart attacks and strokes."

Here are 10 tips for adults to maintain a healthy heart.

•Don't smoke and avoid secondhand smoke. Smoking markedly increases the risk of heart attacks and heart failure. Quitting smoking rapidly reduces the cardiovascular risk.

•Exercise. New recommendations are to exercise for 30 to 60 minutes daily. Exercise helps to maintain a healthy weight and keeps the heart strong and disease free.

•Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity has been shown to increase the risk of heart attacks, heart failure and diabetes. A healthy diet and exercise program are the best way to maintain a normal weight.

•Check cholesterol levels. High cholesterol does not cause any symptoms until it is too late.

•Maintain healthy cholesterol levels. The ideal level for LDL ("bad" cholesterol) is less than 100. Certain individuals need to achieve even lower LDL cholesterol levels. Keeping the HDL ("good" cholesterol) levels up is also important. Talk to a physician about the best plan of action to keep cholesterol levels ideal.

•Check blood pressure. Many patients with hypertension are not aware that they have this condition. There are effective treatments for high blood pressure.

•Maintain a normal blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. Systolic blood pressure should be below 140 and diastolic blood pressure below 90.

•Take medications as recommended by a physician. Many patients stop taking their prescribed medications without discussing this with a physician. Studies show that individuals who stop their cardiovascular medications are at a much higher risk for heart disease and reduced survival, compared with those who adhere to their medical regimen.

•Take omega-3 fatty acids. Studies show that getting one gram a day of omega3 fatty acids in the diet, or taking supplements such as fish oil capsules, is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

•See a doctor. Regular medical follow-up is one of the best ways to keep a heart healthy and avoid problems down the road.

Children and adolescents can be heart healthy with these seven tips.

•Watch no more than one hour of television a day. This includes nonschoolrelated computer activities, video games and Game Boy-type activities.

•Get outside and move around for at least 30 minutes every day.

•Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

•Avoid fast food and fried food. Eat in moderation.

•Don't smoke. •See a pediatrician for all regularly-scheduled visits.

•Report unusual feelings, such as a racing heart or feeling faint, to an adult.

This story is provided by UCLA News.