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After 8,000 Heart Operations and His Own Attack, Cardiologist Warns: 'I Avoid This at All Costs'
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Conflict & Security

After 8,000 Heart Operations and His Own Attack, Cardiologist Warns: 'I Avoid This at All Costs'

From Veฤernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A leading cardiac surgeon with over 8,000 heart operations and a personal heart attack experience advises on heart health.
  • He identifies five habits to avoid for a healthier heart, including smoking, ultra-processed foods, and sedentary behavior.
  • The surgeon emphasizes the importance of whole foods and movement, highlighting research on the risks of modern lifestyle choices.

Dr. Jeremy London, a cardiac surgeon who has performed over 8,000 open-heart surgeries, shares crucial advice for maintaining heart health, drawing from both his extensive professional experience and a personal health crisis. In 2022, Dr. London suffered a heart attack himself, discovering a 99% blockage in his right coronary artery. This experience prompted him to re-evaluate his own lifestyle habits.

Number one, smoking of all kinds - cigarettes, vape, marijuana.

โ€” Dr. Jeremy LondonListing the first habit he avoids for heart health.

On his TikTok platform, Dr. London outlined five key habits he now strictly avoids. The foremost on his list is smoking in all its forms, including cigarettes, vaping, and marijuana. He stresses that lungs are designed for simple air intake and expulsion, and modern smoking methods are detrimental.

He also warns against ultra-processed foods, which dominate supermarket offerings. Dr. London describes these as "edible food products" rather than genuine nourishment, advocating for whole foods as the body's essential building blocks. Scientific studies support his stance, linking high consumption of ultra-processed items to increased risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and even certain cancers.

Our lungs have one function. Air in, air out. This is not it.

โ€” Dr. Jeremy LondonExplaining the detrimental effect of smoking on lung function.

Furthermore, Dr. London highlights the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle, noting that the risks of prolonged sitting are often underestimated until serious health issues arise. He reminds people that "our bodies are made to move," and even small changes, like a ten-minute walk after a meal to help regulate blood sugar, can make a significant difference. Research indicates that even regular exercise may not fully counteract the negative effects of excessive sitting, which can significantly raise cardiovascular disease risk with over ten hours of daily sedentary time.

Ultra-processed food. Most of the items you find in the store.

โ€” Dr. Jeremy LondonDescribing the prevalence and nature of ultra-processed foods.

The surgeon also touches upon the importance of mental and emotional well-being as critical factors for heart health, though the article text cuts off before detailing these points.

Edible food product, not a real food.

โ€” Dr. LondonCharacterizing ultra-processed foods.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.