
Dr. Timothy Tanner, MD, Medical Director, Northern Counties Health Care
During the month of February, we are raising awareness about heart health and disease. Heart disease is a general term for a variety of conditions that affect the heart. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD). This is like debris building up in the fuel line in your car’s engine. But instead of blocking the flow of gas, in CAD the flow of blood, which is the heart’s fuel, is limited. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. High blood pressure, smoking and high cholesterol cause heart disease and are things we as individuals can change. Sometimes heart disease is “silent” and not diagnosed until a person has chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, fluttering feelings in the chest, fatigue, swelling in the feet, ankles, legs or neck veins.
What can you do?
- Get active: try to get at least 2.5 hours of physical activity each week, this could be walking, going to the gym, jogging, doing at home exercise programs.
- Eat healthy: eat a healthy diet that’s low in sodium and saturated fat. Cut back on processed products (chips, deli meats, soups, and prepared meals, white bread, packaged cookies, sodas) and try to use more fresh products or during this time of year frozen vegetables and fruits. Prepare your own meals. Eat more whole grain items and nuts.
- Drink between 9-13 cups of water a day if you can.
- Monitor your blood pressure if it is out of range.
- If you smoke, work on quitting. There are resources to help! Visit www.802quits.org and www.myhealthyvt.org and enroll today.
- If you have chest discomfort or pain or shortness of breath, especially with exertion seek medical attention.
- Call your primary care provider for personalized advice on what you can do to lower your risk for heart disease.
My Healthy Vermont offers a series of self-management workshops proven to improve health outcomes from building healthy behaviors to managing high blood pressure to quitting smoking to managing pain and other long-term health problems. There is no cost and you will receive the support from trained facilitators who understand your needs because many have faced similar health challenges. Learn more at www.myhealthyvt.org