Love Your Heart 2019

a special supplement to the

FRIDAY,

FEBRUARY

A GUIDE TO HEART HEALTH

1,

2019

2 LOVE YOUR HEART

Messenger-Inquirer Friday, February 1, 2019

Celebrating survivorship

Heart attack survivors are not alone

BY BRANDPOINT

Y

ou’ll never forget that moment.

Whether it impacted you or a loved one. It stopped you in your tracks and changed everything.

Life after a heart attack can feel overwhelming.

Survivors can feel vulnerable, afraid, or sometimes weak.

And while every survivor’s journey is unique, the initial focus following a heart attack is often related to physical recovery. What we often forget is the impact of the emotional journey, and the importance of instilling strength and resilience in survivors, celebrating their stories and offering support as they navigate life after a heart attack.

Health and fitness expert and best-selling author, Bob Harper, knows the significant impact of a heart attack all too well. He suffered his heart attack in the middle of a workout back in February of 2017. “I woke up in the hospital two days later, dumbfounded by what had happened,” Harper said. “I spent an emotional and upsetting eight days in the hospital coming to terms with my new reality.” Today, Bob is passionate about another kind of training: emotional recovery. While changes to his diet and exercise routine are an important part of his physical recuperation, Bob credits further education with helping him evolve his mindset and believes this plays an equally important role.

This story holds true for so many others. The fact is, nearly 8 million people are part of the heart attack survivor community in the United States. And while a heart attack can be one of the most traumatic moments of a person’s life, there is hope. Eighty percent of heart attack survivors 45 years of age or older avoid having a second heart attack within five years. The risk of a recurrent heart attack can be reduced by working with a health care team to develop a plan that includes exercising, maintaining a healthy diet, and quitting smoking.

Life after a heart attack begins an ongoing journey toward heart health and well-being, but survivors need support on their road to recovery. By listening to their bodies, working closely with their healthcare teams, and connecting with other survivors and caregivers to share experiences, survivors can build a community that will support them in their journey toward wellness.

Today, survivors and caregivers don’t have to look far. The Survivors Have Heart movement fosters such a community.

Created by AstraZeneca, the program is dedicated to celebrating survivorship and offers personal stories from fellow heart attack survivors, tips from Bob Harper on navigating life after a heart attack, and helpful resources from leading advocacy organizations.

Visit SurvivorsHave Heart.com to learn more.

Friday, February 1, 2019 Messenger-Inquirer

LOVE YOUR HEART

Support groups for heart disease patients, survivors AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

WOMENHEART HEARTSISTERS ONLINE

HEART SUPPORT GROUP AT NORTON HEALTHCARE

The American Hear t Association of fers online suppor t networks for anyone who has experienced cardiac arrest, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, heart attack, heart failure, hear t transplant, hear t value disease, peripheral arter y disease (PAD) and venous thromboembolism.

HeartSisters is a support program led by WomenHear t Champions, women hear t disease sur vivors who have committed to becoming leaders in their communities and providers of support for other women with heart disease.

Online support meetings are conducted using webconferencing instead of chat rooms or forums. Two monthly online meetings are offered: heart disease and women; and heart disease, AFib and women.

Nor ton Healthcare also of fers m o n t h l y Wo m e n H e a r t s u p por t group meetings on the first Wednesday of every month. Each session is free and covers a different topic to help women better their heart health.

www.heart.org

hwww.womenheart.org/ page/virtualsupportsgc

nortonhealthcare.com/services -and-conditions/heart-and-vascularcare/patient-resources/heart -support-group

Thank You Owensboro For Your Confidence

Roshan R h KM Mathew, h MD MD, FACC, FACC FACP, FSCAI General and Interventional Cardiology

3110 Fairview Drive Owensboro, KY 42303

AdvancedCardiologyofOwensboro.com

Phone (270)240-2120 Fax (270)240-1227

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4 LOVE YOUR HEART

Messenger-Inquirer Friday, February 1, 2019

Warning signs of a heart attack

BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION An umbr ella ter m that encompasses various conditions, cardiovascular disease, or CVD, is a formidable foe.

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of 17.7 million people across the globe ever y year, accounting for 31 percent of all deaths worldwide.

If CVD statistics are alarming, then it’s impor tant to note that many premature deaths related to CVD can be prevented. While the WHO notes that four out of five CVD deaths are due to hear t attacks and strokes, men and women who learn to recognize the warning signs of hear t attack may be able to get help before things escalate. In fact, the Ameri-

can Hear t Association notes that many heart attacks begin slowly with mild pain or discomfort. By paying attention to their bodies and learning

to recognize these war ning signs, men and women may be able to get help before heart attacks claim their lives.

• Chest discomfort: Dis-

comfor t in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back is a telltale sign of heart attack. The discomfort may feel like pressure in the chest, squeezing, fullness, or pain.

• Discomfor t in the upper body: Discomfor t in areas of the upper body that are not the chest also may be a warning sign of heart attack.

The AHA notes that such discomfort or pain may occur in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

• Shor tness of breath: Shor tness of breath may be an early warning sign of heart problems. The AHA notes that this may or may not be accompanied by discomfor t in the chest.

• Additional signs: The AHA notes that some people suffering from a heart attack

JohnHoward, Howard Jr., M.D. John Jr., M.D. Brian M. Payne, ARNP Diplomat of the American Academy of Internal Medicine

2200 E. Parrish Ave., Acute/Urgent Bld. B, Ste. 202 Problems Seen Owensboro, KY 42303 Same Day Open daily Monday through 5IVSTday Call 926-1650 for an appointment

may break out in a cold sweat, experience nausea or begin to feel lightheaded.

Are symptoms different for men and women?

Symptoms of hear t attack tend to be dif ferent for men and women. While the most common symptom for both men and women is chest pain or discomfor t, women are more likely than men to experience additional symptoms.

According to the AHA, women are more likely than men to experience shor tness of breath, nausea/vomiting and pain in their backs or jaws.

The AHA urges fast action by anyone who suspects they or a loved one are suffering a hear t attack. Acting quickly can save lives and help men and women avoid joining the nearly 18 million people who succumb to cardiovascular disease each year.

Specializing in adult and adolescent medicine providing a wide range of services for patient healthcare needs, including urgent and chronic care with office lab and diagnostics.

Accepting new patients Most insurance accepted

Friday, February 1, 2019 Messenger-Inquirer

Diagnosis procedures

for heart disease FROM THE MAYO CLINIC

B

lood tests, a chest X-ray and a medical history analysis all help medical professionals in their search for a case to a patient’s heart disease, but the following tests offer more definite results and may be ordered by your doctor: • Electrocardiogram (ECG): An ECG records these electrical signals and can help your doctor detect irregularities in your heart’s rhythm and structure. You may have an ECG while you’re at rest or while exercising (stress electrocardiogram).

• Holter monitoring: A Holter monitor is a portable device you wear to record a continuous ECG, usually for 24 to 72 hours. Holter monitoring is used to detect heart rhythm irregularities that aren’t found during a regular ECG exam.

• Echocardiogram: This noninvasive exam, which includes an ultrasound of your chest, shows detailed images of your heart’s structure and function.

• Stress test: This type of test involves raising your heart rate with exercise or medicine while performing heart tests and imaging to

check how your heart responds.

• Cardiac catheterization: In this test, a short tube (sheath) is inserted into a vein or artery in your leg (groin) or arm. A hollow, flexible and longer tube (guide catheter) is then inserted into the sheath. Aided by X-ray images on a monitor, your doctor threads the guide catheter thro-ugh that artery until it reaches your heart.

The pressures in your heart chambers can be measured, and dye can be injected. The dye can be seen on an X-ray, which helps your doctor see the blood flow through your heart, blood vessels and valves to check for abnormalities.

• Cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan: This test is often used to check for heart problems. In a cardiac CT scan, you lie on a table inside a doughnut-shaped machine. An X-ray tube inside the machine rotates around your body and collects images of your heart and chest.

• Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): For this test, you lie on a table inside a long tube-like machine that produces a magnetic field. The magnetic field produces pictures to help your doctor evaluate your heart.

Treatment for heart disease FROM THE MAYO CLINIC

While treatment for heart disease varies based on the type and severity, the following three options are the most common: • Lifestyle changes: These include eating a low-fat and low-sodium diet, getting at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol intake.

• Medications: If lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough, your doctor may prescribe medications to control your heart disease. The type of medication will depend on the type of heart disease.

• Medical procedures or surgery: If medications aren’t enough, it’s possible your doctor will recommend specific procedures or surgery. The type of procedure will depend on the type of heart disease and the extent of the damage to your heart.

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Messenger-Inquirer Friday, February 1, 2019

What you should know about type 2 diabetes, heart health

BY BRANDPOINT

W

hen you’re living with type 2 diabetes, there is a lot to think about when it comes to your health.

Most people know that eating healthy, staying physically active, and following a prescribed treatment plan are important to successfully manage the disease. What many people may not know is that it’s also important to understand how diabetes impacts your heart health.

An online sur vey was conducted on behalf of Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by The Harris Poll in Februar y 2018, which found that nearly all of the 508 US adults age 18+ with type 2 diabetes surveyed said it’s impor tant to stay active (98%), eat healthy (99%), and follow a treatment plan exactly as prescribed (98%) in order to successfully manage their condition.

Having type 2 diabetes increases your risk for heart disease. In fact, people living with type 2 diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from hear t disease than people without diabetes.

Ar med with this knowledge, Matthew, 60), a former postal worker who lives in Tennessee, is diligent about managing his condition and educating his loved ones about their family histor y and increased risks. Matthew has a long family histor y of type 2 diabetes, and received his own diagnosis during a hospital stay due to symptoms of hear t failure. Now on a successful treatment plan, Matthew said, “I wish I had asked my doctor about hear t disease earlier! I didn’t know my family histor y soon enough.”

In order to manage his

type 2 diabetes and hear t health, Matthew focuses on eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and tracking his progress. He takes INVOKANA (canagliflozin) to lower his blood sugar, which is also approved by the US Food and Dr ug Administration to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events in adults

with type 2 diabetes who have established CV disease.

INVOKANA is the first and only oral diabetes treatment approved with this additional CV indication.

If you have type 2 diabetes, here are a few tips for living well with the condition and managing your cardiovascular risk: • Lear n about hear t-

healthy foods. These simple food swaps can help you create healthy meals and lower your risk of developing heart disease.

• Take the climb. Incorporate cardiovascular exercise into your daily routine — one great option is taking the stairs! Did you know you can do an entire workout on your staircase at home? These

exercises will get your heart pumping. Before any strenuous physical activity, be sure to talk to your doctor.

• Ask your doctor about your cardiovascular risk.

Your doctor can help you understand if you are at risk for a cardiovascular event, and what you can do to lower your risk while managing type 2 diabetes.

Friday, February 1, 2019 Messenger-Inquirer

LOVE YOUR HEART

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Make your favorite foods healthier

BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

After the whirlwind of the holiday season, the season of resolutions takes over. Many people to resolve to live healthier, and they may not have to give up their favorite foods to do so.

Research from the National Institutes of Health suggests American adults between the ages of 18 and 49 gain an average of one to two pounds every year. Grazing and overeating tends to increase when the weather cools down. A 2005 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that, in the fall, people tend to consume more calories, total fat and saturated fat. In the spring, people seem to prefer more carbohydrates.

In addition, less powerful sunshine in winter coupled with people bundling up translates

into less vitamin D being absorbed by the body. Some researchers believe there is a link between vitamin D deficiency and weight gain as well.

To ensur e that cer tain foods do not sabotage healthy eating plans, people can employ some easy modifications and make healthier versions of the foods they like to eat.

• Choose crunchy foods.

Those who are prone to snacking can reach for noisy foods.

These include crunchy items like apples, carrots and pretzels. Scientists say that when people listen to what they are chewing — called the “crunch effect” — they eat less of that item.

• Tone down the cream.

Delicious dishes like fettuccine alfredo typically are made with lots of butter and cream.

Replace cream sauces with a healthier base made of lowfat milk thickened with flour.

Increase the flavor with favorite spices.

• Fr y with care. Use healthy oils like olive or coco-

This Valentine’s Day Give The Person You Love The Gift Of Heart Health!

nut sparingly. Many foods that are traditionally fried also can be lightly coated with cooking spray and baked for a crunchy texture.

• Choose sodium-free seasonings. The USCA rec-

ommends limiting sodium to less than 1 teaspoon of salt per day. Try options like fresh herbs or lemon juice to add some sodium-free flavor.

• Increase fiber content.

Fiber helps one feel fuller longer and can also be helpful for digestion and hear t health.

Choose the “brown” varieties of rice, pasta and breads.

• Replace meat with leaner for ms of protein.

Lean chicken, turkey and pork can replace red meats in many recipes. Some traditional meat dishes, such as burgers, also can be modified using vegetables or seafood. Lean meats dry out quickly, so keep foods moist by watching cooking times.

• Stock up on yogur t.

Greek and other varieties of yogurt can replace sour cream and mayonnaise in many dishes.

Gamble

DON’T

WITH YOUR HEART

Owensboro Heart & Vascular most accurate predictors of measures heart disease: Coronary Calcium, which measures coronary plaque burden for early detection of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Now through February 28th

February is Heart Health Month

Scheduling regular check-ups is important for your overall health and well-being. Talk to your medical provider about risk factors related to heart disease and prevention.

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Messenger-Inquirer Friday, February 1, 2019

Banish belly fat, improve cardiovascular health

BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

The way to a person’s heart may be through his or her stomach in more ways than one. Doctors have tied heart health to the abdomen, and having extra pounds around one’s middle can be detrimental to cardiovascular well-being.

Excess visceral fat in the belly, something doctors refer to as “central adiposity,” may have potentially dangerous consequences. While the link between belly fat and hear t health has long been associated with men, women may be even more vulnerable to the adverse health effects of belly fat. A study published in March 2018 in the Journal of the American Heart Association examined 500,000 people between the ages of 40 and 69. Par ticipants had their body measurements taken, and then were kept track of for hear t attack occurrence over the next seven years.

During that period, the women who car ried more weight around their middles (measured by waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio or waist-to-height ratio) had a 10 to 20 percent greater risk of heart attack than women who were just heavier over all.

Belly fat is par ticularly dangerous because it doesn’t just include the insulating, or subcutaneous, fat under the skin. It is largely visceral fat that also sur rounds the organs in the abdomen. Harvard Medical School repor ts that visceral fat is metabolically active and has been strongly linked to a host of serious diseases, including hear t disease, diabetes, cancer, and dementia. Visceral fat is like an endocrine organ that secretes hormones and a host of other chemicals linked to diseases that can af fect adults. One substance is called retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), which has been tied to an increased risk

of coronar y hear t disease.

In 2015, a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that normal-weight people with excessive belly fat had a higher risk of dying of heart disease or any other cause compared with people without central obesity.

The online health and wellness resource Medical News Today says doctors determine belly fat to be a pr oblem when a woman’s waist measures 35 inches or more and a man’s 40 inches or more. MRIs also can be used as a fat analyzer and will be judged on a scale of 1 to 59. A measurement of 13

and under is desireable.

The Mayo Clinic advises that poor diet and fitness habits can contribute to belly fat.

As people age, they may have to make more drastic changes to their diets and exercise regimens to counteract changes in their metabolisms.

Eliminating sugar y beverages, watching portion sizes, counting calories, doing moderate aerobic activity daily, and choosing healthier foods can help tame visceral fat.

Also, doctors may recommend those who are stressed to tr y stress-busting techniques, as stress also may be tied to excessive belly fat.

Area Cardiology Providers ADVANCED CARDIOLOGY OF OWENSBORO 3110 Fairview Drive Owensboro, KY 42303 Phone: (270) 240-2129 Phone: (844) 940-2129 Fax: (270) 240-1227 www.advancedcardiology ofowensboro.com

KENTUCKY CARDIOVASCULAR CONSULTANTS, PLLC

2200 E. Parrish Ave., Bldg. B, LL103 Owensboro, KY 42303 Phone: (270) 926-2998 Fax: (270) 852-1653

OHIO COUNTY SPECIALTY CARE 1215 N. Main St. Hartford, KY 42347 Phone: (270) 730-5344 www.ochospital.com

OWENSBORO HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP — CARDIOLOGY 1301 Pleasant Valley Road, Suite 202 Owensboro, KY 42303 Phone: (270) 417-5700 Phone: (800) 304-0808 Fax: (270) 417-7509 www.owensborohealth.org

Friday, February 1, 2019 Messenger-Inquirer

OWENSBORO HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP — CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY

1301 Pleasant Valley Road, Suite 201 Owensboro, KY 42303 Phone: (270) 417-7500 www.owensborohealth.org

OWENSBORO HEART & VASCULAR 1200 Breckenridge St. Suite 202 Owensboro KY 42303 Phone: (270) 683-8672 Fax: (270) 926-4801 www.OwensboroMedical.com

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Strategies to prevent heart disease FROM THE MAYO CLINIC

Hear t disease may be a leading cause of death, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept it as your fate. Although you lack the power to change some risk factors — such as family histor y, sex or age — there are some key heart disease prevention steps you can take to reduce your risk.

You can avoid hear t problems in the future by adopting a healthy lifestyle today. Here are seven hear t disease prevention tips to get you started.

1. DON’T SMOKE OR USE TOBACCO

Smoking or using tobacco of any kind is one of the most significant risk factors for developing heart disease. Chemicals in tobacco can damage your heart and blood vessels, leading to narrowing of the arteries due to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis can ultimately lead to a heart attack.

Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke replaces some of the oxygen in your blood. This increases your blood pressure and heart rate by forcing your heart to work harder to supply enough oxygen.

Women who smoke and take birth control pills are at greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke than are those who don’t smoke or take birth control pills, because both can increase the risk of blood clots.

When it comes to heart disease prevention, no amount of smoking is safe. But, the more you smoke, the greater your risk. Smokeless tobacco, lowtar and low-nicotine cigarettes, and secondhand smoke also can be risky. Even so-called social smoking — smoking only while at a bar or restaurant with friends — can be dangerous and increase the risk of heart disease.

The good news, though, is that your risk of heart disease begins to lower soon after quitting. Your risk of coronary heart disease significantly reduces one year after quitting smoking. Your risk of coronar y heart disease drops almost to that of a nonsmoker in about 15 years. And no matter how long or how much you smoked, you’ll star t reaping rewards as soon as you quit.

2. EXERCISE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES ON MOST DAYS OF THE WEEK

Getting some regular, daily exercise can reduce your risk of hear t disease. And when you combine physical activity with other lifestyle measures, such as maintaining a healthy weight, the payof f is even greater.

Physical activity can help you control your weight and reduce your chances of developing other conditions that may put a strain on your heart, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

In general, you should do moderate exercise, such as walking at a brisk pace, for about 30 minutes on most days of the week. That can help you reach the Department of Health and Human Ser vices recommendations of 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity, 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. For even more health benefits, aim for 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 150 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity every week. In addition, aim to do strength training exercises two or more days a week.

Even shor ter amounts of exercise than these recommendations can of fer hear t benefits, so if you can’t meet those guidelines, don’t give up. You can even get the same health benefits if you break up your workout time into three 10-minute sessions most days of the week.

And remember that activities such as gardening, housekeeping, taking the stairs and walking the dog all count toward your total. You don’t have to exercise strenuously to achieve benefits, but you can see bigger benefits by increasing the intensity, duration and frequency of your workouts.

ease. Two examples of hearthealthy food plans include the Dietar y Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan and the Mediterranean diet.

A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help protect your heart. Aim to eat beans, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, lean meats, and fish as part of a healthy diet. Avoid too much salt and sugars in your diet.

Limiting certain fats you eat also is important. Of the types of fat — saturated, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and trans fat — try to limit or avoid saturated fat and trans fat. Aim to keep saturated fat to 5 or 6 percent of your daily calories.

And try to keep trans fat out of your diet altogether.

Major sources of saturated fat include: • Red meat • Full-fat dairy products • Coconut and palm oils Sources of trans fat include: • Deep-fried fast foods • Bakery products • Packaged snack foods • Margarines • Crackers, chips and cookies If the nutrition label has the term “partially hydrogenated” or “hydrogenated,” it means that product contains trans fat.

But you don’t have to cut all fats out of your diet. Healthy 3. EAT A fats from plant-based sourcHEART-HEALTHY DIET Eating a healthy diet can es — such as avocado, nuts, reduce your risk of heart dis- olives and olive oil — help your

heart by lowering the bad type of cholesterol.

Most people need to add more fruits and vegetables to their diets — with a goal of five to 10 servings a day. Eating many fruits and vegetables not only can help prevent heart disease, but also may help improve your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and improve diabetes.

Eating two or more servings a week of certain fish, such as salmon and tuna, may decrease your risk of heart disease.

Following a hear t-healthy diet also means keeping an eye on how much alcohol you drink. If you choose to drink alcohol, it’s better for your hear t to do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger. One drink is defined as 12 ounces (355 milliliters, or mL) of beer, 5 ounces of wine (148 mL), or 1.5 fluid ounces (44mL) of 80-proof distilled spirits.

At that moderate level, alcohol may have a protective effect on your heart. Too much alcohol can become a health hazard.

4. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT

Being over weight — especially if you car r y excess SEE HEART/PAGE 11

Friday, February 1, 2019 Messenger-Inquirer

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HEART FROM PAGE 10

weight around your middle — increases your risk of hear t disease. Excess weight can lead to conditions that increase your chances of heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Metabolic syndrome — a combination of fat around your abdomen, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high triglycerides — also increases the risk of heart disease.

One way to see if your weight is healthy is to calculate your body mass index (BMI), which considers your height and weight in determining whether you have a healthy or unhealthy percentage of body fat. BMI numbers 25 and higher are generally associated with higher cholesterol, higher blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

The BMI is a good, but imper fect guide. Muscle weighs more than fat, for instance, and women and men who are ver y muscular and physically fit can have high BMIs without added health risks. Because of that, waist circumference also can be a useful tool to measure how much abdominal fat you have: • Men are generally considered overweight if their waist measurement is greater than 40 inches. • Women are generally

overweight if their waist measurement is greater than 35 inches.

Even a small weight loss can be beneficial. Reducing your weight by just 3 to 5 percent can help decrease your triglycerides and blood sugar (glucose), and reduce your risk of diabetes. Losing even more weight can help lower your blood pressure and blood cholesterol level.

5. GET ENOUGH QUALITY SLEEP

Sleep deprivation can do more than leave you yawning throughout the day; it can harm your health. People who don’t get enough sleep have a higher risk of obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes and depression.

Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night. If you wake up with-

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out your alarm clock and you feel refreshed, you’re getting enough sleep. But if you’re constantly reaching for the snooze button and it’s a struggle to get out of bed, you need more sleep each night.

Make sleep a priority in your life. Set a sleep schedule and stick to it by going to bed and waking up at the same times each day. Keep your bedroom dark and quiet, so it’s easier to sleep.

If you feel like you’ve been getting enough sleep, but you’re still tired throughout the day, ask your doctor if you need to be evaluated for medical conditions that could be preventing you from getting rest.

smoking. Finding alternative ways to manage stress — such as physical activity, relaxation exercises or meditation — can help improve your health.

7. GET REGULAR HEALTH SCREENINGS

High blood pressure and high cholesterol can damage your heart and blood vessels.

But without testing for them, you probably won’t know whether you have these conditions. Regular screening can tell you what your numbers are and whether you need to take action. • Blood pressure: Regular blood pressure screenings usually start in childhood. You should have a blood pressure test per formed at least once 6. MANAGE STRESS ever y two years to screen Some people cope with for high blood pressure as a stress in unhealthy ways, such risk factor for hear t disease as overeating, drinking or and stroke, starting at age 18.

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If you’re age 40 or older, or you’re between the ages of 18 and 39 with a high risk of high blood pressure, ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading every year. Optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 millimeters of mercur y (mm Hg). • Cholesterol levels: Adults should generally have their cholesterol measured at least once every five years starting at age 18. Earlier testing may be recommended if you have other risk factors, such as a family histor y of early-onset heart disease. • Diabetes: Since diabetes is a risk factor for developing heart disease, you may want to consider being screened for diabetes. Talk to your doctor about when you should have a fasting blood sugar test or hemoglobin A1C test to check for diabetes. Depending on your risk factors, such as being over weight or having a family histor y of diabetes, your doctor may recommend early screening for diabetes. If your weight is normal and you don’t have other risk factors for type 2 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends starting screening at age 45, and then retesting every three years.

If you have a condition such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, your doctor may prescribe medications and recommend lifestyle changes. Make sure to take your medications as your doctor prescribes and follow a healthy lifestyle plan.

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Advanced Heart Care Starts Here

Owensboro Health’s heart team has a strong reputation for clinical excellence, advanced technology, and care that always puts the patient first. We offer the latest minimally-invasive techniques, and with locations in Owensboro and Greenville, advanced care is available close to home. It’s part of our mission to improve the heart health of the region, one patient at a time.

To schedule your appointment today, call

270-417-7500.

OwensboroHealth.org/Heart