Easy Tips for Heart Health

02/05/25 • 12 min

February is Heart Month, so this week on Health Matters we talk about heart health with Dr. Emmanuel Moustakakis, a cardiologist with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. He reminds us: heart disease is the number one cause of death in the western world for both men and women. So: what can we do about it?

We explored a number of the common misconceptions about heart health that keep people from making small changes that lead to a big difference for addressing coronary artery disease, heart failure, and other kinds of heart disease. From diet and exercise to smoking and sleep, Dr. Moustakakis offered his top health tips for creating lifelong, heart healthy habits.

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Dr. Emmanuel Moustakakis is a board certified Cardiologist specializing in Interventional Cardiology practicing at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Houston Medical School, completed his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowships in both Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology. Dr. Moustakakis is certified in Interventional Cardiology and Cardiovascular Disease with interest in acute coronary syndromes. Dr. Moustakakis is the Director of the Coronary Care Unit at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens hospital.

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Health Matters is your weekly dose of health and wellness information, from the leading experts. Join host Courtney Allison to get news you can use in your own life. New episodes drop each Wednesday.

If you are looking for practical health tips and trustworthy information from world-class doctors and medical experts you will enjoy listening to Health Matters. Health Matters was created to share stories of science, care, and wellness that are happening every day at NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare systems. In keeping with NewYork-Presbyterian’s long legacy of medical breakthroughs and innovation, Health Matters features the latest news, insights, and health tips from our trusted experts; inspiring first-hand accounts from patients and caregivers; and updates on the latest research and innovations in patient care, all in collaboration with our renowned medical schools, Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine. To learn more visit: https://healthmatters.nyp.org

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Previous Episode

January’s Top Health Takeaways

This week on Health Matters we look back at health tips and takeaways from the month of January, and discuss what healthy habits are sticking. Courtney is joined by Health Matters editor Angelique Serrano to explore the top health takeaways from our episodes on cold plunges, workouts, the health risks of alcohol and ultraprocessed foods.

In their conversations with Health Matters, Dr. Sonia Tolani and Dr. Asad Siddiqi also shared inspiring resolutions for 2025 that provide examples for overcoming setbacks and sticking to goals. Dr. Robert Brown and Dr. Michelle Loy offer some additional helpful tips for pursuing a healthy lifestyle when it comes to what we eat and drink.

Courtney and Angelique share how the advice from NewYork-Presbyterian doctors has offered them ways to make healthy changes in their own lives.

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Health Matters shares stories of science, care, and wellness from NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive healthcare systems.

NewYork-Presbyterian’s Health Matters features the latest news and insights from our world-class physicians, nurses, and experts; inspiring first-hand accounts from patients and caregivers; and updates on the latest research and innovations in patient care, all in collaboration with our academic partners Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine.

To learn more visit: https://healthmatters.nyp.org/

Next Episode

Can Better Listening Improve Your Relationships?

This week on Health Matters, Courtney Allison is joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Steven Mazza of NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia to explore how to improve your listening skills and the powerful benefits of being a good listener.

Dr. Mazza explains how focusing on our own thoughts can keep us from listening well and really connecting with the people we care about. He also describes the surprising ways that our own minds may be the biggest obstacle to being fully present, and he offers advice for anyone who wants to retrain their brain and learn better listening.

Listening better can lead to significant benefits in relationships with parents, children, friends, and coworkers. Becoming a better listener might be a lifelong process, but Dr. Mazza offers simple tips to start.

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Steven J Mazza, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Medical Psychology at Columbia University. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Clinical Director of the ABC Early Childhood Program at ColumbiaDoctors. He completed his post-doctoral fellowship at the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD), where he specialized in applying cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat anxiety disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults. Dr. Mazza is the clinical director of the ABC Early Childhood Program, which provides evidence-based treatments for emotional and behavioral difficulties in children ages 2-8. Dr. Mazza is a public speaker who conducts trainings for leadership teams, caregivers, educators, and summer camp counselors.

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