Heart-Wise, Be Wise

Many women believe their greatest health threat is breast cancer. However, the reality is ten times as many women die from heart disease as from breast cancer.
Risk factors for heart disease are sometimes out of our control, including family history and metabolic disorders. Thankfully, many risk factors are in our control including diet, exercise and lifestyle. Simply put—make good food choices, avoid portion distortion and get moving!!
To protect your heart, eat a diet that’s low in hydrogenated fats, high in fiber, and is rich in fruits and vegetables. A diet that is heart healthy will also include essential fish oils, including Omega 3 (e.g., flaxseed oil, salmon, tuna, and sardines) and Omega 6 (canola oil, chicken, eggs, turkey, flaxseed oil, and sunflower oil).
Exercise should be a part of our everyday life. The list of benefits from exercise is endless–decreased stress levels, decreased incidence of breast cancer, increased bone mass, increased self-esteem, decreased weight and a decrease in heart disease, to name just a few. Even 15 minutes a day is better than nothing!
Smoking greatly increases the risk of heart disease due to the damage the metabolites of cigarettes cause to the lining of blood vessels and vital organs, including the heart. Smoking is a hard habit to quit and most smokers realize they can’t do it alone. There are programs to assist in quitting as well as prescription medications and over-the-counter aids to help smokers achieve their goal of complete cessation of smoking.
To schedule an appointment to discuss and lower your heart disease risk factors, call Pat News Health Care at 661-799-7000.