National Wear Red Day is Friday, February 1
In recognition of Wear Red Day and February, American Heart Month, PdC Memorial Hospital's entire healthcare team reminds area residents that heart disease is often preventable by making healthy lifestyle choices:
1. Be active: The American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day.
2. Eat smart: Enjoy a diet low in sodium, saturated fat and transfat, and rich in fruits, vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, and monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat. (Common foods that contain monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat include walnuts, olive oil, flax seed and salmon.)
3. Don’t smoke; if you do smoke, stop.
4. Know your numbers: Write down your blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and body mass index. Discuss with your doctor healthy numbers for you and how to help keep your heart healthy.
5. Lower stress: Stress can cause us to overeat, be sedentary or engage in other health-risk behaviors like smoking, all of which can increase your risk of developing heart disease. Take control of stress by meditating, writing in a journal or going for a brisk walk.
6. Maintain a healthy weight: Excess weight can increase your risk of developing heart disease. Losing even a small amount of weight can help to decrease your risk.
7. Evaluate your risk: Age, gender, race/ethnicity, family history and other medical conditions can all increase your risk of developing heart disease. Know which factors affect you and what you can do to reduce them.
8. Listen to your heart: When warning signs pop up, pay attention to them. By visiting your healthcare provider early, your chances of avoiding a serious condition increase.
9. Know the facts: Read up on heart disease. By knowing about the culprit, you will be better prepared to help prevent and fight it. Visit GoRedForWomen.org for more information.
10. Follow up regularly: Keep track of your heart health and risk factors by having regular medical checkups.
PdC Memorial Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation offers several programs for residents of our area communities. The Healthy Hearts Program is for individuals with risk factors for heart disease, those wanting to participate in a supervised exercise program, individuals diagnosed with heart disease, individuals who have had a heart attack, or who have had heart surgery. All exercise programs are individualized to meet the person's needs and progressed as fitness level improves. Individuals wanting additional information on the Cardiac Rehab program or Healthy Hearts may contact Cardiac Rehabilitation at 608-357-2349.