Dr. Oz's Tips to Keep Your Heart Healthy

Oprah calls him "America's favorite doctor". Dr. Mehmet Oz has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show numerous times and due to the success of those appearances, he now shows up on the show at least once a month to answer the questions that we all have about our bodies.

Dr. Oz is perhaps the most accomplished and respected cardiothoracic surgeon in the United States. Born in Cleveland, OH to Turkish parents, he works at Columbia University New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; he also holds an MBA from Wharton School of Business at Penn. The kind and remarkable doctor operates on some 400 patients a year, is a Professor of Cardiac Surgery at Columbia University, director of Cardiovascular Institute at Columbia Presbyterian, directs the Heart Assist Device Program and is the founder of the Complimentary Medicine Program.

Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. Dr. Oz would much rather help you prevent heart disease than perform an operation on you. Here are 5 tips that Dr. Oz says will help you decrease your risk of having a heart attack.

1. Go out and play. You are better off being in good shape and fat than thin and in bad shape. There's no pill or diet that can substitute for the health benefits of exercise. Don't starve yourself, but eat well and get moving, doing whatever kind of exercise is fun for you. Go for a bike ride with your spouse, or play basketball with your kids. You'll look and feel better, and your heart will thank you.

2. Watch your waistline. Despite the advice above, where your fat lands is key. Abdominal fat is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome, which dramatically increases the risk of heart disease. So do sit-ups and keep your waist measurement less than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women.