Embracing a healthy heart for Valentine's

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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- A U.S. cardiologist suggests the best Valentine's Day gift is to embrace a healthy heart lifestyle.

Dr. Gregg Fonarow of the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, says just adding one gram a day of omega-3 fatty acids to the diet has been associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

In addition, regular medical follow-up is the best way to avoid health problems down the road, Fonarow says.

"Despite recent progress, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death and disability for both men and women in the United States," Fonarow said in a statement.

"However, heart disease can be almost entirely prevented with a healthy lifestyle and excellent control of cardiovascular risk factors."

For a healthy heart, Fonarow advises to quit smoking, to adopt a healthy diet and exercise program to maintain a normal weight, to check cholesterol levels and to maintain a normal blood pressure.