Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, with students from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, Director of Mount Sinai Heart and Physician-in-Chief of The Mount Sinai Hospital, was a special guest speaker during “Walk the Talk: The Health-for-All Challenge in the United States,” a recent event sponsored by the World Health Organization and Walk with a Doc, a nonprofit that promotes physical fitness and access to care.
The event, held on Sunday, September 22, in Central Park, included a four-mile run/walk, healthy snacks, blood pressure checks, and talks on public health. Dr. Fuster, a world leader in cardiology, delivered a message that he feels passionate about.
“Cardiovascular disease, unfortunately, is the No. 1 killer in the world,” Dr. Fuster said. “My advice is the following: First, be sure that elderly people take care of themselves, even if they feel well, and not wait until the next heart attack or stroke. No. 2, if you are a younger adult, take care of the seven risk factors—obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise. No. 3 to me is the most important: Infuse children—as young as age 3—with the idea that health is a priority. Education, education, education is the key.”