Here at Dobie Road, we see a variety of patients and visitors. Like millions across the county, many of our patients and visitors have heart related diseases, so we are passionate about heart health. Did you know that February is American Heart Health Month? Let’s celebrate healthy hearts and show support to those with less healthy hearts. Here are a few ways to do just that:
- Wear RED on February 7th to show we are all fighting to eradicate heart disease.
- Recognize that February 7th– 24th is Congenital Heart Defect Week. Do you know anyone who has a congenital heart defect? While this is primarily diagnosed at birth, it’s still important to know the signs and symptoms and to see your physician if you’re experiencing any discomfort.
- Discover who in your family has/had heart disease. Knowledge is power in this case, as your risk for heart disease is increased if your family has a history of heart disease. The American Heart Association came up with 7 simple steps to manage the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Here are those steps: manage blood pressure, control cholesterol, reduce blood sugar, get active, eat better, lose weight, and stop smoking. Prepare some grace for yourself as you begin to take these steps. They may be simple changes, but that does not mean they will not be hard. Just keep in mind that you are worth making the difficult change. Take it one step at a time.
- Choose heart healthy foods. The American Heart Association lists these food groups and great ones to add: A variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, skinless poultry and fish, nuts and legumes, non-tropical vegetable oils.
- Exercise – This one is especially important to us here at Dobie Road. We now have a 24/7 Senior Fitness Center here that is open to those in the community 55 years and older. In addition, we have an ACE Certified Personal Trainer that is available to you and our team here. Heart health is important at all ages, and it’s never too late to try and make your heart stronger. The heart is a muscle, and in order to stay it’s healthiest and strongest, you need to exercise it also. Please consult with a physician before starting any exercise routine. A general recommendation is to get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity, 75 minutes of vigorous activity, or a healthy combination of moderate and vigorous per week.