According to Dr. Ravindranath Reddy - PhD, Head and Senior Consultant - Interventional Cardiology, Gleneagles BGS Hospital (Kengeri, Bengaluru, India), parents' daily habits regarding nutrition, exercise and emotional health directly affect their children's health later on.
Diet
Parents who prioritize a heart-healthy diet are more likely to pass those habits on to their children. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help prevent obesity, a significant risk factor for heart disease.
Conversely, children who grow up in an environment with unhealthy eating habits, such as consuming a lot of processed foods and sugary drinks, will increase their risk of obesity and heart disease later in life.
Exercise
Physical activity is important for heart health. Parents who lead an active lifestyle and engage in regular exercise, such as walking or family activities, will encourage their children to do the same.
Conversely, children of sedentary parents or those who do not exercise regularly are at increased risk of heart-related problems such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Emotional health and stress management
“How parents handle stress and emotional health also has a direct impact on their children. Chronic stress is known to increase the risk of heart disease, and stress management techniques passed from parent to child will have a lasting impact,” says Dr. Ravindranath Reddy.
For example, parents who manage stress through unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, excessive drinking, or emotional eating will inadvertently teach their children to do the same.
On the other hand, parents who practice healthy stress management techniques, such as mindfulness, exercise or creative hobbies, will teach their children the importance of emotional management, which is essential to maintaining cardiovascular health.
The role of early prevention
Regular checkups and monitoring of key indicators, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and body weight, should become a regular part of family health care. Children with a family history of heart disease will benefit from early screening and lifestyle interventions that can reduce their risk as they grow older.
