Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Parrish Medical Center - (Page 17)

Condition 3 DIABETES Diabetes can have a profound effect on the heart. In fact, people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who don’t have diabetes. “Blood sugar affects the lining of the arteries and leads to much more buildup of plaque and accelerates atherosclerosis, especially in women,” says Jennifer Mieres, MD, a physician spokeswoman for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement. The resulting diminished blood ﬂow, she adds, leads to some of the serious complications of diabetes, such as nerve damage. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes (the preventable kind) include being overweight, not getting enough exercise, and having low HDL (good) cholesterol and high blood pressure levels. What You Can Do Online PHOTOGRAPHY BY THINKSTOCK We’ve covered the major risks. Now, here comes the good news. “Eighty-two percent of all heart disease can be prevented by knowing your risk and controlling your risk with lifestyle changes,” Mieres says. Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables is the perfect place to start. Then, try to eliminate processed foods—think of anything that comes in a package—and reduce your sugar intake, Mieres says. Regular exercise is also essential. “Exercise increases HDL and lowers LDL (the bad cholesterol) and also helps control diabetes or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes,” she says. “It lowers blood pressure and ultimately cuts your risk of heart disease.” Yet another powerful step is to quit smoking. And if you have diabetes or high cholesterol or high blood pressure levels, talk to your doctor about medication. With each improvement in your lifestyle, over time, your heart will thank you—and you’ll reap the beneﬁts of a healthier (and longer!) life. “The most important message is that heart disease is a largely preventable disease,” Brill adds. “You don’t have to die of a heart attack or stroke if you take simple measures to lower your risk.” Getting Started Diet and exercise are two of the most powerful things you can do for your heart health. Here are a few more. 1. Get a physical. “Step one, you need to know your numbers,” says Janet Bond Brill, PhD, RD, author of several books on heart health. “You need to know what you need to control.” if you haven’t had a routine physical in a couple of years, call your doctor. 2. Call a family meeting. if your parents or siblings have heart disease or known risk factors, you may be at an increased risk, too. “Knowing that you have a strong family history,” says Jennifer Mieres, MD, a physician spokeswoman for the Go Red For Women movement, “is sort of a call to action for you to implement lifestyle changes at a much earlier age and make your changes sustainable.” 3. Hit the hay. “Getting enough sleep definitely affects heart disease risk,” Dr. Mieres says. People who sleep the recommended seven to nine hours a night benefit from lower levels of stress hormones. Use This App to Keep Track of Your Numbers Get the FREE HealthBridge app for iPhone or Android and keep track of your health condition or find health information using your smartphone or tablet. Go to prshmd.com/vigorapp. FAL L 2013 17 http://www.prshmd.com/vigorapp

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Parrish Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Parrish Medical Center
Contents
Tasty Tips
Opening Thoughts
Community Calendar
Someone to Guide You
Step It Up
Your Mightiest Muscle
Well, Well, Well
Are You Doing More Harm Than Good?
Is Your Shut-Eye Serving You Well?
Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge
Anatomy of an ER Visit
Next-Gen Surgery
Attack from Within
Virtual Health
Community Health
A Love for Helping People
Cruising with a Chronic Condition
Foundation Focus
Ask the Expert

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Parrish Medical Center