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Growing up, Christopher Bryant couldn’t compete in sports or run due to a heart murmur.

Many people reserve visits to the doctor for times when they’re sick — but if you aren’t proactive about your health, you could be missing out on important preventive care from your physician.

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is an annual prevention-focused visit between a patient and a primary care physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. The visit is offered at no charge to the patient. These visits allow you to discuss with your provider information about your health status, set shared goals, and identify any gaps in care.

How go the New Year’s resolutions? Unfortunately, most people who make a New Year’s resolution fail to keep it. Vague goals of “getting healthy” typically go by the wayside before the end of January. Instead, stick with specific targets that are realistic and achievable.

Exercise is good for your heart and offers many benefits, but do you really know how much physical activity you are getting? If not, then try a fitness tracker.

Clearing away snow and ice may be hazardous to your health, says Gus Theodos, MD, BJC Medical Group cardiologist at Missouri Baptist Medical Center. Shoveling snow causes thousands of injuries and about 100 deaths each year in the United States. Most of those deaths are due to heart attacks.