3 Heart-Healthy Habits to Start for Your Child This New Year

The foundation for a healthy heart starts in childhood. And that means the daily habits you start early on can make a meaningful difference over your child’s lifetime, whether they have a cardiac condition or not.

At Cardiology Care for Children in Lancaster, Mifflinburg, and Strasburg, Pennsylvania, and Topeka, Indiana, Devyani Chowdhury, MD, MHA, and our team specialize in pediatric heart care. We offer everything from routine evaluations to advanced care for congenital heart conditions, and as the new year begins, here are three resolutions you can make to support your child’s heart health in a practical way.

1. Make heart-healthy habits part of everyday life

Healthy hearts thrive on consistency. Encouraging regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, and adequate sleep helps protect your child’s cardiovascular function and promotes overall well-being. For kids in particular, this doesn’t have to mean strict routines or intense workouts. It can be as simple as daily play, family bike rides, or organized sports they enjoy.

Nutrition also plays an important role in your child’s heart health. Offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats for both heart health and growth. Limit sugary drinks and highly processed foods to help manage cholesterol levels and energy balance, even at a young age.

The quality of kids’ sleep is often overlooked, but it’s essential for heart health and development. Establishing consistent bedtimes and screen-free wind-down routines helps regulate your child’s stress hormones and supports healthy blood pressure and heart rhythm.

2. Watch for unusual symptoms (and don’t ignore concerns)

Children don’t always know how to describe what they’re feeling, which makes parental observation especially important. Symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, unexplained fatigue, or difficulty keeping up with peers during activity should never be brushed off.

While many symptoms turn out to be benign, some may signal an underlying heart issue that deserves evaluation. Pediatric cardiology testing allows us to assess heart structure, rhythm, and function in a child-friendly, noninvasive way. Early testing can rule out serious concerns or catch issues before they become more complex.

Listening to your instincts as a parent is part of protecting your child’s heart. If something feels off, scheduling a cardiology evaluation can offer clarity and reassurance.

3. Stay proactive about congenital and inherited heart conditions

Some children are born with congenital heart disease, others have inherited risk factors that can affect heart health later in life. If your child has a known congenital heart condition or a family history of heart disease, rhythm disorders, or sudden cardiac events, proactive care is essential to keeping their heart performing at its best.

Dr. Chowdhury and our team partner with families to create long-term care plans that evolve with each child’s needs. This collaborative approach helps children stay active, confident, and safe while minimizing unnecessary restrictions, no matter their age.

Ongoing pediatric cardiology follow-up allows us to monitor congenital heart conditions appropriately as your child grows. Even children who appear symptom-free may benefit from periodic evaluations to confirm that their heart is functioning as expected.

Whether your child needs routine testing, monitoring for a congenital heart condition, or evaluation for concerning symptoms, our dedicated pediatric cardiology team is here to provide both medical expertise and emotional reassurance for families.

You don’t need dramatic changes to make a difference in your child’s heart health. By encouraging healthy habits and staying alert to symptoms, you’re giving your child a strong foundation for lifelong cardiovascular wellness. Contact us today at 717-925-8300 to book an appointment and get more personalized advice for your child and your family.