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My Body . . .

Heart Healthy Tips

 

Most people know that a healthy diet that limits or excludes saturated and artificial trans fats and limits salt/sodium intake can help maintain a healthy heart. But, there are some other things that can be done to maintain a healthy heart:

 

Drink alcohol only in moderation - Heavy alcohol drinking increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

 

Get active - Regular physical activity protects against heart disease by burning extra calories, which helps you to lose excess weight or stay at your desirable weight.
 
Get your blood pressure checked - High blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and congestive heart failure.
 

Keep your cholesterol under control - High blood cholesterol can lead to the buildup of plaque in your arteries, which raises the risk of a heart attack.

 

Quit smoking  - People who smoke are six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than nonsmokers and the risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked each day.

 

Watch your weight - If you are overweight or obese, you are more likely to develop heart disease even if you have no other risk factors. Losing just 5–10 percent of your current weight will help to lower your risk of heart disease and many other medical disorders.
 

Source: National Institutes of Health

 

 

My Body News 

 

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Breast Cancer Pain Continues Years After Treatment 

 

Killing Ourselves?

 

New Obesity Data Shows Blacks Have the Highest Rates of Obesity

 

America's Fittest and Fattest Cities 2009

 

Reduce Your Heart Disease Risk

 

Seeking Natural Remedies for Hot Flashes

National Women's Health Week

 

May 9-15, 2010 is National Women’s Health Week. National Women’s Health Week is a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH). National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. With the theme “It’s Your Time,” the nationwide initiative encourages women to take simple steps for a longer, healthier, and happier life. During National Women’s Health Week, communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups work together to educate women about steps they can take to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain diseases. To find an event in your area, go to http://www.womenshealth.gov/whw/events/.

 

For more help with event planning in your community, media outreach, and partnerships contact our NWHW activity outreach coordinator Elizabeth Osborn at 202-842-3600 ext. 245 or at eosborn@hagersharp.com.

 

 

National Women’s Checkup Day

 

The 8th annual National Women’s Checkup Day will be held on Monday, May 10, 2010, during National Women’s Health Week. National Women’s Checkup Day is a nationwide effort, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health to encourage you to visit health care professionals to receive or schedule a checkup.

 

Regular checkups are vital to the early detection of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mental health illnesses, sexually transmitted infections, and other conditions. You should contact your current doctor or nurse to schedule checkups and screening services on National Women’s Checkup Day. During your checkups, you should discuss with your health care professionals which of the tests are right for you, when you should have them, and how often. See a sample list of screenings at Recommended Screenings.

 

Take the Checkup Day pledge at http://www.womenshealth.gov/whw/check-up-day/ and pledge to schedule at least one of the preventive health screenings during May 2010.

 

It's Your Time - The Women's Challenge

 

This May, thousands of women across the country will embark on an eight-week physical activity challenge for better health. They will be part of the Woman Challenge, a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH). This year, the Woman Challenge kicks off the 11th annual National Women’s Health Week (May 9-15, 2010). The Woman Challenge is a part of the OWH year-long Woman Activity Tracker program, which encourages women to get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity or a combination of moderate and vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activityand muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days.

 

Getting started is easy! Register online for the Woman Activity Tracker and then take the Woman Challenge Pledge, your commitment to 8 weeks of setting and meeting personal physical activity goals. Get started at http://www.womenshealth.gov/woman.

 

 

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101 Steps to a Fitter You!

A Common Sense Approach to a Healthier Lifestyle

 

Have you ever gone on a diet in order to lose weight for a special occasion and then regained the weight within a few months? If so, then 101 Steps to A Fitter You! A Common Sense Approach to a Healthier Lifestyle will jumpstart your journey towards a lifetime of fitness and weight management.

 

 Learn more . . .

 

 

Family History Tree

 

Print out and fill in this family tree to see where heart disease and risk factors for heart disease have struck your family members.

 

Get Family Tree