Vim & Vigor - Spring 2018 - Parrish Medical Center - 55

PERCENT OF
U.S. ADULTS
WITH HEART
DISEASE RISK
FACTORS

40
Inactivity

34
Obesity

High Blood
Pressure

Smoking

High
Cholesterol

Diabetes

vessels, increase blood pressure and, in extreme
cases, trigger a heart attack, Radford says.
Chronic and acute stress are both bad for our
bodies, she adds.
Find an effective stress-management technique, like deep breathing, exercise, yoga, meditation, reading or playing fetch with your dog.

To do:

Weekly

3 WORK UP A SWEAT. Exercise is essential for

Your doctor will suggest checkups based on your family history, age and risk factors, which
could include monthly blood
pressure readings.
3 REFILL MEDICATIONS.
If lifestyle changes are not
enough to reduce your risk
of heart disease, your doctor
Shelly Radford,
might prescribe medications.
Clinical Coordinator
Radford says it's important
of Cardiac and
Pulmonary
to be consistent and compliRehabilitation at
ant about taking prescriptions,
Parrish Medical
Center
such as beta blockers, anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications, ACE inhibitors and statins. This can be
critical in reducing your risk, she says.
Every month, check your medications and
call the doctor or the pharmacy when it's time
for a refill.

reducing the risk of heart disease.
In addition to helping you maintain a healthy
weight, exercise minimizes the likelihood of
developing other conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which raise
the risk of heart disease.
Experts recommend exercising for at least
30 minutes five days per week. Aim
for moderate-intensity exercise,
To do:
which Radford describes as
activity that increases your
temperature, causes a bit
of perspiration and makes
3 SCHEDULE AN ANNUAL
Almost half of adults
EXAM. Your healthcare team
it a bit difficult to carry on
have at least one
can work with you to create
a conversation.
major risk factor for
a treatment plan that reduces
Jogging, swimming, bikheart disease.
your risk of heart disease.
ing, brisk walking, and aerobics
During an annual checkup, your
or dance classes are moderatedoctor will ask about your family hisintensity activities. If squeezing in
tory, assess your risk factors for heart disease
a 30-minute workout feels daunting, set a
and perform a complete medical examination.
goal to do at least 10 minutes of heart-pumping
In addition to blood pressure, your doctor might
exercise (like running up and down a flight of
also measure your cholesterol and triglyceride
stairs) three times per day.
levels. Medication and lifestyle changes can conTo do:
trol elevated levels, helping to reduce your risk of
heart disease. ■

50%

Yearly

Monthly

3 CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE. High

blood pressure damages the walls of the arteries,
causing them to trap more plaque. The damage
increases the risk of narrowing and hardening of
the arteries, along with developing blood clots.
Your blood pressure reading consists of two
numbers: the systolic pressure (the top number)
and the diastolic pressure (the bottom number).
A normal blood pressure reading is 119/79 or
lower, while 140/90 or higher is considered high.
If you have high blood pressure or are at risk
for heart disease, regular monitoring is essential.

WEBSITE

For a Stronger Heart
Get a new lease on life with cardiac and
pulmonary wellness programs. To learn
more, look online at parrishvigor.com/
cardiac-pulmonary-rehab.

SP RING 20 18

http://www.parrishvigor.com/cardiac-pulmonary-rehab http://www.parrishvigor.com/cardiac-pulmonary-rehab

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