HEALTHY HEART NEWS
Volume 10 | September 2017
Beverly Keefer, Director of Cardiovascular Services / John Tighe, Medical Director of SLCH Cardiovascular Institute
St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital’s Cardiovascular Institute is committed to you and our community. We pride ourselves on being an engaged partner with the many constituencies that we serve. As part of our commitment to meeting your heart health needs, we have developed this quarterly newsletter filled with information that can improve the quality of, and in some cases, help save your life. If there are topics that you would like to see covered in future editions, please e-mail Beverly Keefer, Director of Cardiovascular Services, Cardiac Cath and Interventional Radiology at bkeefer@slchospital.org.
AUTUMN IS THE SEASON OF CHANGE It’s fall – so get moving to keep your heart healthy! Your heart is a muscle, so just like the rest of your body, exercise makes it stronger. Research has proven that regular daily exercise can lower the risk of heart disease by 50% in healthy people and 30% in heart disease patients. Daily regular exercise can reduce heart disease by: decreasing the risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure, help control blood pressure, improve body fats such as cholesterol and control your weight and body fat. Remember it is most important to talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program. Exercise does not mean it must be done in a gym. Any activity that gets you moving and burning calories is physical activity. Remember also to Keep it FUN! Dance, swim, gymnastics and walking all quality for great activities to participate in. Walking in the mall is a great fall and winter activity as it is a climate controlled environment and allows for walk and rest intervals. Try a variety of exercises to keep from getting bored.
TIPS TO KEEP THE MOVEMENT GOING! 1. 2. 3. 4.
Make an appointment with yourself and schedule time on your calendar. Be accountable. Include others in your selected activity. You will be less likely to skip the exercise if doing it with a friend. Make it fun. Engage in activities like softball, dancing, bowling, aerobics – don’t’ make it a chore, mix it up! Keep track of your results so you can see the progress toward achieving your goals.
HOW OFTEN?
To get the most benefit to your heart, it is important to try to get moderate exercise most days of the week. Start with small amounts and build up to 30 to 40 minutes of activity per day. Dividing it into small increments throughout the day, may be helpful for a busy schedule. There are lots of ways you can work exercise into your normal daily routine.
DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE The term Diabetic Heart Disease (DHD) refers to heart disease that develops in people who have diabetes. Compared with non-diabetics, people who have been diagnosed with diabetes: • Are at higher risk for heart disease • Have additional causes of heart disease • May develop heart disease at a younger age • May have more severe heart disease Heart disease can affect anyone, but for people with diabetes, the risk is greater. In fact, cardiovascular disease occurs in people with diabetes more than twice as often as in people without diabetes. Diabetes occurs when the body fails to produce insulin, a hormone that is necessary for converting sugar and other food into energy. Over time the high blood glucose from diabetes can damage your blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart. The longer you have diabetes the higher the chances that you will develop heart disease.
MANAGE YOUR DIABETES AND HELP YOUR HEART
The American Heart Association considers diabetes to be one of the seven major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Follow these steps to keep your blood vessels healthy: • Eat a heart healthy diet that is high in fiber, low in saturated fats • Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day • Be sure to talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise routine. • Get your weight in a normal range for you. • If you smoke – quit! • Make sure to visit your doctor for regular checkups. • Remember to ask how you can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
HEALTHY SNACKS ON THE GO
It’s hard to eat well when you are busy, but there are ways to make sure your snacks stay healthy. Start with hardy whole foods, such as apples, oranges, carrot sticks, grapes, nuts, celery, and dried fruit to take with you. These healthy snacks travel well and provide a good source of nutrition.
St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital Cardiovascular Institute | (845) 561-4400 | www.stlukescornwallhospital.org