You may already know that the sooner you get healthy, the lower your risk of getting a chronic disease. A recent study by researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago showed that if you stay healthy before you reach middle age, you can delay the onset of heart failure.

Heart failure affects your lung health, energy levels, and, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), causes early death in about half of those affected. This study tracked about 18,000 people over 40 years and found that those who were obese, and had high blood pressure and diabetes by the age of 45, developed heart failure 11 to 13 years sooner than those with none of those risk factors at the same age. The average age of heart failure was about 81 in those with none of the risk factors, compared to late 60s and early 70s in those with the three risk factors. It was also found that even those with only one or two risk factors developed heart failure 3 to 11 years sooner than those with none.

If you are a young, healthy adult, be sure to maintain your health so you can lower your risk for heart disease. If you already have some risk factors for heart failure, like obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes, work with your healthcare provider to come up with a healthy lifestyle plan.