Heart health

February is Heart Month and people tend to worry about what to get for those we love. I encourage you to honor your loved ones with your time or a special gift. I also believe that each of us should consider a gift to ourselves. The gift of good heart health. Although we all know people who “do everything wrong” and still live to be old and others that “do everything right” and die with a heart problem at a very young age, there are several things we can do to increase our odds of living a longer life. There are a few pieces of advice I share with my patients that I hope you will find beneficial.
 

• Be tobacco free. Tobacco increases your risk of developing all types of cardiac and vascular diseases.
• Be physically active and develop a regular exercise program. You don’t need to run marathons or be in the Olympics. Strive for regular, aerobic activity such as walking, swimming, riding a bicycle, or using a rowing machine. Thirty minutes of aerobic activity 3-5 times per week reduces your risk of several common diseases.
• Know your cholesterol numbers. The target for LDL (bad cholesterol) depends on your other health problems, but generally, lower is better. Ideally, an HDL (good cholesterol) that is greater than 40 is desirable.
• Visit your health care provider regularly so “silent” problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and elevated blood sugar can be identified and treated early.
• Take all prescribed medications.

• Report any concerning or unusual symptoms such as chest, arm, neck, or jaw pain, or unusual shortness of breath to your health care provider so you can receive proper evaluation.

   

Visit the Veterans Health Library to stay well and well-informed and to learn more about heart health.
https://www.veteranshealthlibrary.va.gov/