The writer is director of cardiovascular services at St. Peter’s Hospital, a Bethlehem resident, and a member of the Capital Region Advisory Board of the American Heart Association.
February’s coming, and you know what that means: hearts everywhere you turn, and if you aren’t looking at hearts, you’re surely looking at the color red.
That’s a great thing, as far as I’m concerned, since I work with hearts every single day. Real hearts, not chocolate hearts. And one day a year, I wear as much red as I can. That’s Friday, Feb. 3 – National Wear Red Day.
Hopefully, your company is one of the 300+ work sites in the Capital Region that participates in National Wear Red Day by wearing red and donating to the American Heart Association. Plan to even see some buildings illuminated red – SEFCU, CDPHP and First Niagara at Patroon Creek, Capital Repertory Theater, WMHT in Troy, the Palace Theater and Realty USA in Delmar.
All of February is American Heart Month, which is a good time to think about how you’re treating your heart. If your New Year’s resolution is waning, February is also a good time to re-commit to healthy living. I urge you to take stock of your health and see where things could be better. Don’t get discouraged if there are a lot of things you’d like to improve – start by choosing one, and working on it.
Why not start by taking a look at Life’s Simple 7? Found at MyLifeCheck.heart.org, you can assess seven different measures of your health and get a score — along with practical suggestions for improving areas that might need improving.
Perhaps most importantly, if you’re overdue for a physical, schedule it. We hear a lot of stories of heart disease found at routine doctor visits. A little bit of prevention today could add a lot to your good health for years to come.
Know the symptoms of heart disease. There’s the typical crushing chest pain, but women especially could have different symptoms – like shortness of breath, dizziness, pain in the shoulders or back or nausea. Trust your instincts, too. If something doesn’t seem right, be persistent with your healthcare provider that he or she look into it.
And please don’t forget another debilitating cardiovascular disease: stroke. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in America; stroke is No. 4. One in six people will suffer a stroke in their lifetime. If you’re African-American, you’re at double the risk of stroke compared to Caucasians. Some of the risk factors for stroke include migraines, high blood pressure, autoimmune disorders like diabetes and tobacco use.
Activities throughout American Heart Month will provide a chance to get a health assessment. On Thursday, Feb. 2, before the Capital Repertory Theater’s showing of “The Sisters Rosensweig,” St. Peter’s will join the American Heart Association’s Circle of Red to offer blood pressure screenings.
On Saturday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Crossgates Mall, the Community Action Committee of the American Heart Association’s board and St. Peter’s Hospital will provide stroke screenings. Please join us for these – or call your own physician to schedule a checkup.
And, please, think about contributing to the American Heart Association. We are fortunate in the Capital Region that the Heart Association is currently funding about $1.2 million in research. Your contributions can help save lives. You can also have some fun, by joining us at a Heart Walk (May 12 and Oct. 20 this year) or at the Go Red for Women Luncheon on May 24. Visit www.heart.org to get information about these events.
So this month, think about simple steps you can take to improve your health. Here are some suggestions:
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Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
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Exercise 150 minutes every week. That’s just about 20 minutes every day, and it’s fine to break that up into 10-minute sessions.
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Don’t smoke. We’ve got an initiative with the New York State Quitline this month – call or contact them to quit, and you’ll receive information about heart disease, along with our iconic red dress pin or red wristband. 1-866-NY-QUITS or www.nysmokefree.com.
Please, this February, take your health to heart.
For information about heart disease, Go Red for Women, or activities in the Capital Region, visit www.heart.org, GoRedForWomen.org, or call the American Heart Association at 869-4042.