Reverse Heart Aging? Exercise, Sleep, Diet and the Truth About Heart Health
29:29
Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care
Host: Sandra Peebles, award-winning journalist
Published: May 6, 2026
Host: Sandra Peebles, award-winning journalist
Published: May 6, 2026
Can you reverse heart aging—or at least slow it down? In this episode of Baptist HealthTalk, Sandra Peebles is joined by Dr. Jonathan Fialkow, chief medical executive of Integrated Services and Precision Care at Baptist Health, for a fascinating conversation about heart aging, longevity, inflammation, and the everyday habits that have the biggest impact on cardiovascular health.
Together, they break down the science behind aging hearts, explain the growing research surrounding the extracellular matrix (ECM), and separate real prevention strategies from social media wellness hype.
You’ll learn:
• What “heart age” actually means—and how it’s measured
• Why exercise is still the most powerful thing you can do for your heart
• How sleep affects inflammation, heart health, and aging
• What happens to the heart and blood vessels as we get older
• The truth about biohacking, cold plunges, and red light therapy
• Whether supplements and stem cell therapies really help
• Why chronic disease impacts the heart, brain, and kidneys together
• If heart aging can actually be reversed after age 50
• The truth about red wine and heart health
• How lifestyle habits influence long-term cardiovascular risk
Whether you’re focused on prevention, healthy aging, or simply trying to understand what really matters for heart health, this episode offers practical, science-backed guidance you can actually use.
Host: Sandra Peebles, award-winning journalist
Guest: Jonathan Fialkow, M.D., cardiologist, Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care; chief medical executive of Integrated Services & Precision Care at Baptist Health.
Featured Provider
Jonathan Adam Fialkow, MD
Jonathan Fialkow, M.D., is a cardiologist and certified lipidologist at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, part of Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care. He specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease and complex metabolic conditions, with a focus on helping patients reduce their long-term risk of heart disease through personalized, preventive care.
Dr. Fialkow is recognized for his expertise in lipid management, cardiometabolic health and preventive cardiology. Throughout his career, he has developed and led innovative programs, including lipid clinics, cardiometabolic centers and sleep centers designed to improve the management of chronic disease and enhance patient outcomes.
Committed to advancing healthcare delivery, Dr. Fialkow has helped develop team-based models of care that integrate digital health tools, coordinated services and patient-centered strategies to improve access, communication and overall wellness. He also serves as medical executive and principal investigator of the Miami Heart Study, a landmark research initiative focused on better understanding the early development of heart disease through advanced imaging and biomarker analysis.
Dr. Fialkow earned his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine in Massachusetts. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York and a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Board-certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Fialkow believes prevention, education and strong patient partnerships are essential to lifelong heart health. He works closely with patients to create individualized care plans that support healthier lifestyles and long-term cardiovascular wellness.
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