When you think about heart disease, you imagine an overweight, older male experiencing heart palpitations and chest pain. That’s definitely valid, but a cardiologist who is an athlete also wants people to know that heart disease is not one-size-fits-all, and it can show up in a wide variety of symptoms and affect people of all ages. Heart disease is currently the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of every racial and ethnic background in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it s never too early to start eating a heart-healthy diet rich in plant-based foods. No amount of exercise can outrun the damage we can do with our forks, and being active is only half the equation.