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Clogged arteries and heart attacks are usually adult concerns. However, bad habits that lead to heart problems start at an early age. Preventing those problems does as well.��

“ starts as early as birth,” says Dr. Amanda Lin, board-certified family medicine physician at AV�о���. “By starting early, you can decrease risk factors that are associated with heart disease later in life.”��

What can you do today to help your ���󾱱���’s heart stay healthy throughout every stage of life?��

Build a Healthy Plate��

Avoid feeding your child fast food and sugar. Instead, make sure your child eats plenty of nutrient-dense foods.����

Dr. Lin suggests the following:��

Exercise Their Hearts��

Exercise helps your ���󾱱���’s heart stay strong and healthy. It also helps your child maintain a healthy weight.��

“Build physical activity into your ���󾱱���’s daily routine,” Dr. Lin says. “Ideally, choose a physical activity they enjoy doing and can continue doing into adulthood.”��

To help your child get enough activity, the recommends the following daily guidelines:��

Make Sleep a Priority��

On top of improving your ���󾱱���’s mood, good sleep protects your ���󾱱���’s heart. Without enough sleep, your child is at higher risk for obesity and high blood pressure, two major risk factors for heart disease.��

Infants should sleep at least 12 out of every 24 hours. Toddlers need as many as 14 hours of sleep, and teens need 8 or 10 hours of shuteye each night.��

Help your child get good sleep with these tips.��

“Instill healthy lifestyle choices when your child is young,” Dr. Lin says, “and try to lead by example.”����

Find a doctor at AV��� today to help your little ones enjoy good heart health tomorrow.��