June Auld (76), a Northern Californian, has a full life. Apart from her job as a mental healthcare professional, she can also be found with Glenn cooking for the homeless, giving foster care to guide dogs, or walking around their neighborhood.

Auld experienced extreme discomfort in her chest after one of those long days. Her husband and she went to Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center for emergency care. Doctors immediately started running tests. Auld had suffered from a heart attack, which was confirmed by doctors. heart attackA stent was placed in the blocked artery.

Auld’s decision not to wait for Kaiser Permanente to treat her immediately saved her life.

“The care Kaiser Permanente gave me was fantastic,”Auld stated. “The day after I got home, I did my walk like I had never had a heart problem, and I’ve never had any pain or discomfort since.”

These five easy, healthy aging tips will show your love and affection throughout your entire life. Marc Jaffe, M.D.Kaiser Permanente Northern California Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Program, Clinical Leader

How to keep your heart strong

1. Be sweet. Try blueberries or strawberries instead of chocolate. These heart-healthy treats are full of natural antioxidants that can help keep your blood vessels open.

2. Follow the beat. Get a partner to do some fancy footwork. Move your heart by doing anything that gets you moving, like walking or dancing.

3. Do what you like. Do what you love. Activities such as writing, painting, and yoga can slow down your heart rate and blood pressure.

4. Tobacco should be avoided. Join a program to quit smoking. Ask your doctor for medication that will help you stop. Secondhand smoke is something you can avoid if your heart, lungs, or blood vessels are not damaged.

5. Keep your weight under control. Losing even 10 pounds can make all the difference in reducing your risk of developing heart disease.

Healthy living can strengthen your heart and allow you to live long, fulfilling love. Watch Auld’s story at the Kaiser Permanente Care Stories blog. Visit kp.org to learn more about Kaiser Permanente. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about a particular condition.