London's heart surgeon shares 5 things you can do in 60 seconds to help prevent a heart attack; people often ignore the last one

Heart attacks can happen suddenly, but many risk factors can be managed with the right habits and timely medical care. In an Instagram post a heart surgeon shares how to prevent a heart attack in 60 seconds.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jeremy London, MD (@drjeremylondon)

He said “You know, so many people focus on one thing and it’s multifactorial. Let me give you five.”


1. No smoking
“First avoid smoking, vaping, cigarettes, marijuana.”

2. High Blood pressure
“This is crucial. Damages the inner lining of the blood vessel.” He also suggests that “get a home blood pressure cuff and know your numbers.”

3. Cholesterol
“We know it’s casual for heart disease.”

4. Avoid insulin resistance
“What does this look like? Well, limit or reduce the amount of sugar that you have in your diet.” “You wanna keep your blood glucose very stable.”

5. Avoid loneliness
“Pay attention to your social connections.This is a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular disease.”

Lastly he said “if you can do these five things, you’ll stack the deck into your favour.”

General things to keep in mind

Know your numbers: Keep track of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar through regular health check-ups.

Stay physically active: Regular walking, exercise or other forms of movement can support heart health.

Eat a balanced diet: Include more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses and other nutrient-rich foods while limiting excess salt, sugar and unhealthy fats.

Avoid smoking: Stay away from cigarettes, vaping and other tobacco products.

Maintain a healthy weight: Managing weight can help reduce several cardiovascular risk factors.

Prioritise sleep: Aim for consistent, good-quality sleep and maintain a regular sleep schedule.

Manage stress: Chronic stress can affect overall health, so make time for relaxation and activities you enjoy.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on Instagram. ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.