John Muir Health cardiologists launch Father’s Day heart challenge

John Muir Health cardiologists are using Father’s Day to push dads toward five simple heart-health habits, from home blood pressure checks to knowing key lab numbers. The campaign is aimed at lowering cardiovascular risk and getting families involved in the changes.

Why it matters: - Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men. - John Muir Health’s challenge focuses on steps that can lower cardiovascular risk before disease becomes serious. - The campaign is designed to be practical enough for families to do together.

What happened: - John Muir Health cardiologists launched a Father’s Day Heart Health Challenge as part of the “Living Heart Smart” podcast. - The effort comes from board-certified cardiologists Dr. Matt DeVane, Dr. Carolyn Lacey and Dr. Jason Liu. - The podcast is available on YouTube, YouTube Music, Spotify and Apple Podcast. - Dr. Liu said many important risk factors can be identified and addressed early.

The details: - The challenge calls for five actions: get a home blood pressure monitor, move more, practice portion control, reduce waist size by one pant size and know your numbers. - Home blood pressure monitoring is meant to catch hypertension that can go unnoticed in a doctor’s office. - The activity goal is at least 7,000 steps per day. - Participants are encouraged to use smartphones, smartwatches or fitness trackers to track movement. - Portion control is framed as a simple way to cut calories and support gradual weight loss. - The diet guidance includes eating more vegetables, lean proteins and minimally processed foods. - Men are encouraged to reduce waist size by one pant size before the end of the year. - Men with a waist circumference greater than 40 inches face a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease. - The “know your numbers” step includes a lipid panel, hemoglobin A1C and lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a). - Lp(a) is identified as an inherited cardiovascular risk factor.

Between the lines: - The campaign uses a Father’s Day hook to turn a broad heart-health message into a specific checklist. - The focus on measurable goals makes the advice easier to follow and easier to repeat over time. - Dr. Lacey said the habits are realistic and sustainable and can add years of healthy life and more time with family.

What’s next: - John Muir Health is encouraging families to take evening walks, prepare healthier meals and support regular screenings. - The challenge encourages dads to schedule a visit with a health care provider to review test results and act on risk factors early. - The podcast will continue to serve as an education channel for practical heart-health changes.

The bottom line: - John Muir Health is promoting simple, trackable steps that could help dads lower heart risk without a major lifestyle overhaul.