HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 02-24 American heart month; reducing our risk of heart disease MAPLEWOOD REVIEW 2/24/2016 American heart month;reducing our risks of heart disease I Lillie Suburban Newspapers-LillieNews.com
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Submitted by admin on Tue,02/23/2016- 10:54am
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"Keep a healthy heart, so we won't be apart"
February is American Heart Month.About 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes happen every year in the United States. Heart
disease is the leading cause of death for many groups of people,and for women cause 1 in 3 deaths each year, more than all
cancers combined. Bottom line: heart disease is dangerous,deadly and costly, but fortunately 80 percent of cardiac and
stroke events may be prevented with education and action.
American Heart Month serves as a good reminder and opportunity to commit to a healthy lifestyle and make small changes
that can lead to a lifetime of heart health.We are lucky to be living in an age where access to information and help is readily
accessible.The Centers for Diseases Control points to the Million Hearts website for a list of simple changes that can make a
big difference.
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2/24/2016 American heart month;reducing our risks of heart disease I Lillie Suburban Newspapers-LillieNews.com
Talk to your doctor about ways to control high blood pressure
Add physical activity to your daily routine
Make healthy eating swaps,such as using fresh or dried herbs and spices instead of salt
Quit smoking.
Luckily, here in our corner of the metro we have some great resources close to home.St.John's Hospital in Maplewood offers
state-of-the-art care and also has some good information about heart disease on its website.We can also thank our first
responders—many of them volunteer—for their quick response times which have saved lives. Check out one of St.John's
past newsletters which focused on congenital heart disease and cardiac rehab offered at the
hospital:https://www.healtheast.or /g images/stories/heart/heart-of-matter-winterl4...
We all know to eat healthy—but many of us, myself included, need tips and encouragement to stay on the path we know is
best for us. Here's a really useful link that has tips for goal setting: http://miIIionhearts.hhs.gov/news-media/events/heart-
month.html
Just like we know eating healthier is essential for our bodies,we know that regular exercise keeps our hearts healthy. But
how do we incorporate this into our existing lifestyle?The CDC recommends starting off your month by walking 15 minutes,
three times each week. By mid-month, increase your time to 30 minutes,three times per week. By slowly incorporating
exercise to your routine you'll notice a big difference in how you feel!
If you're considering quitting smoking there are many resources to assist you. Learn more aboutwhy quitting cuts your risk of
heart disease and stroke significantly:http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit smoking/index.htm
If you're active on social media you can join the conversation about American Heart Month online.
Visit:.hftp://milIionhearts.hhs.gov/ ews-media/events/heart-month.htmito learn about the#HeartMonth Facebook Challenge
and who you can follow on Twitter for handy information about how to get healthy and stay that way.
Sometimes learning more about heart disease can help inspire us to make the changes we need to our lifestyle. Did you
know that one American dies from a stroke every four minutes? Or did you know that 90 percent of Americans consume too
much sodium, increasing their risk for high blood pressure,which is a major contributor to heart disease and stroke.
Research shows that more than half of Americans are physically inactive and 35 percent are obese—some of the largest
factors for cardiovascular disease.To learn more about the risks—and how you can make changes in your life,
visit:.httQ://milIionhearts.hhs.gov/learn-12revent/risks.htmi
Nurses are frequently our first point of contact at doctor's offices and hospitals.We can thank nurses for their hard work,
dedication and advice. Don't be afraid to ask your nurse for advice about small ways you can reduce your risks of developing
heart disease. I am also proud to work with the local American Heart Association chapter to help raise awareness about risks,
spread education and generally help promote healthier living in all of our communities. I hope you are inspired this month to
learn more about your risks and what you can do to lead a stronger and healthier lifestyle.
As always, please contact me with questions or suggestions regarding any issue. I encourage you to visit me at the Capitol,
or let me know if you'd like me to stop by your home or apartment. Also, please tune in to my local cable TV show,"Your
Capitol:What's Up?"which appears on public access channels 15 and 16. 1 can be reached by email
at sen.chuck.wiger(a7senate.mn and by phone at 651-296-6820 or by cell at 651-770-0283.
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