You’re Still in Time to Save Your Heart

In honor of Heart Health Month, Altus Infusion is joining the American Heart Association (AHA) to help raise awareness to save lives.  Altus Infusion is a management company that specializes in offering the most cutting edge in-office biologic management therapy solutions available to patients through quality affordable solutions.  This American Heart Health month, we hope to encourage you to make a few easy adjustments to put the odds in your favor.

The AHA has released its 2019 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics revealing these alarming facts:

• Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) was listed as the underlying cause of death in 840,678 cases in 2016, this accounts for 1 in every 3 deaths in the country
• More people die from cardiovascular disease every year than from all forms of cancer and lower respiratory disease combined
• Between 2013 and 2016, 121 million American adults had some kind of cardiovascular disease
• Approximately every 40 seconds someone in the United States will have a heart attack or a stroke

Another study published in the AHA journal Circulation which sought to investigate heart attacks in the younger population found that 30% of case studies from 1995-2014 were patients between the ages of 35 and 54, and the incidence in young women was in an upward trend.

This puts in evidence that heart disease is no longer the “old man’s disease” and that we individuals of all age groups should be focusing more on their heart health.  Get to know and help us share these 10 Simple Steps for a Healthy Heart, together we can help keep hearts healthier for longer.

These simple 10 steps will help you get on the right path to living a heart-healthy life.

Understand Your Risk

Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and obesity as well as lifestyle choices such as smoking and alcohol abuse can increase your risk of developing heart disease.

You should discuss any individual factors such as a family history of cardiovascular disease with your primary health care provider.

Get Regular Checkups

Regular medical checkups can identify risk factors such as high cholesterol or blood pressure. Early treatment of risk factors could significantly lower your risk of developing heart disease.

If you have already been diagnosed with any form of cardiovascular disease, it is crucial that you follow up on your treatment, never skip appointments and contact your doctor if any new symptoms develop.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

People who carry excess fat around their belly are more likely to develop heart disease and diabetes.

If you are overweight, seek professional advice from a doctor or nutritionist to ensure you healthily lose the weight.

Eat Nutritious Foods

A balanced diet is essencial to keep our bodies healthy. Make sure to fill your plate with:

• Lean proteins such as fish and chicken
• Choose whole grains over processed ones
• Add more fruits and vegetables

Additionally, you should cut down on foods which are high in salt, fat, cholesterol, and sugar.

Exercise Regularly

Exercising as little as 30 minutes a day, five times a week, can help your heart stay healthy. It doesn’t have to be strenuous exercise, and you don’t need to join a gym unless you want to. Cardiovascular exercise is anything that keeps your heart pumping such as walking, swimming or biking. You should always check with your doctor before you start a new workout plan to ensure your choice of exercise is right for you.

Reduce Stress

Everyday life coupled with anxiety and depression can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle which in turn could increase the strain on your heart.

Setting time to practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing or yoga can help reduce stress. Leisure activities such as reading, gardening, drawing, or playing music are also helpful.

You should talk to your health care provider if you experience prolonged feelings of sadness or worry.

Get at Least 7 hours of Sleep at Night

Our bodies work hard to replenish and repair while we sleep. Not getting enough sleep at night has been linked to an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, and lower our metabolic rate making it harder to lose weight.

Control Your Blood Pressure

The higher your blood pressure, the more strain is placed on your heart muscle. Lower blood pressure will help reduce the workload on the heart.

Typically, people should aim for a blood pressure around 120/80. Partner with your physician to keep your blood pressure under control.

Quit Smoking

Smoking has many adverse effects on the human body. Aside from increasing your risk of developing certain cancers, smoking raises your blood pressure and increases your risk of blood clots.

Watch your Cholesterol

High levels of cholesterol can cause atherosclerosis, a condition where fatty deposits or plaque accumulate in the arteries, reducing the normal flow of blood which can lead to heart damage.

You can help lower your cholesterol levels by limiting certain foods including eggs, butter, red meat, high fat cheese, and baked goods.

Forming new healthy habits isn’t always easy, but by working with your physician and following these 10 simple steps, you can reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

At Altus Infusion we care about the wellbeing of all patients, which is why we are dedicated to helping raise awareness of the different ways we can improve our health and live longer happier lives.