Preventing heart disease (and all cardiovascular diseases) means making smart choices now that will pay off the rest of your life.

Lack of exercise, a poor diet and other unhealthy habits can take their toll over the years. But anyone at any age can take simple steps to keep their heart healthy during each decade of life. Here’s how.

No matter your age, everyone can benefit from a healthy diet and adequate physical activity.

(1) Choose a healthy eating plan. The food you eat can decrease your risk of heart disease and stroke. Pick foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium. As part of a healthy diet, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, fish (preferably oily fish at least twice weekly), nuts, legumes and seeds. Select lower-fat dairy products and skinless poultry. Limit sugar-sweetened beverages and red meat. If you choose to eat meat, select the leanest cuts available.

(2) Be physically active. You can slowly work up to at least 2½ hours (150 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity (e.g., brisk walking) every week or 1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity (e.g., jogging, running) or a combination of both every week. Additionally, on two or more days a week you need muscle-strengthening activities that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest shoulders and arms).

(3) Learn the warning signs. It’s never too early or too late to learn the warning signs of a heart attack and stroke. Not everyone experiences sudden numbness with a stroke or severe chest pain with a heart attack. Heart attack symptoms in women can be different than men.

The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized medical advice or concerns.