10 of 29

You delay medical care

You’re healthy, so that crushing chest pain has to be heartburn, right? Or weakness and confusion can't be a stroke, right?

Wrong. All too often, people stall or explain away serious symptoms, when in fact, rapid treatment can help prevent permanent heart or brain damage.

Doctors say "time is tissue," meaning the faster you get treatment for a stroke or heart attack the less heart or brain tissue you lose. So don't delay if you have stroke or heart attack symptoms.

Next: You use exercise alone to shed pounds