You are never too young to begin new habits that can reduce your risks for having a heart attack later in life. At Red Oak Cardiovascular Center, we offer a wealth of educational programs for our patients, local businesses and community residents to help folks get started on a heart healthy lifestyle. In addition to CPR classes for children (KID’S HEART PATROL) and adults, we regularly schedule classes in stress management, smoking cessation, humor therapy, and diet and nutritional counseling.
Our Wellness & Prevention Center has an exercise and fitness program you can LIVE with! We put the “health” back in Health Club, with a lot more services and personalized attention than your neighborhood gym, but without the sign up fee and the mandatory contract. And we do it all for the same monthly rate — or less. Call to put yourself in this picture of health...(281) 893-8640. In the meantime, here are some things you can do to help avoid a heart attack:
1. Take a careful look at your family history. Heart disease tends to get passed down from one generation to the next. If your family has a history of heart attacks, hypertension, diabetes and strokes, you should get started on a prevention program without delay. It CAN make a difference.
2. Get up off the couch. Exercise is one of the few ways to increase HDL, or the “good” cholesterol. Try to get thirty minutes of structured exercise each day or at least take a brisk walk.
3. Take a good look at your diet. Is it loaded with calories that come from fat? Have you become the poster child for fast food? Making modifications in your diet is one of the easiest things to do. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and learn which foods naturally help to reduce the risk of heart disease. Find out what makes up a balanced diet and how your body uses the food you eat. This information will help you make some informed decisions about what you eat.
4. Get a checkup by your doctor that includes screening for diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol levels. Diabetes and high blood pressure increase your risk for heart disease.
5. Reach your ideal weight and STAY THERE! Obesity is another important risk factor for heart disease. Ask your doctor to recommend a diet that is right for you and get started!
6. Discover what makes you tick. Are you often angry and aggressive? Do you have a low tolerance for things that don’t go your way? Do you have trouble sleeping at night? If you answer yes to these questions, a stress reduction program might help you relax and enjoy life more and reduce your risk of a heart attack, too.
And, finally, DON’T SMOKE. If you smoke, quit. If you don’t smoke, never start. Avoid passive smoke as much as possible, as well. Perhaps this will convince you: a smoker who has a heart attack is two to three times more likely to die from it than a non-smoker.
What are you waiting for? Call today for an appointment to tour our facility, sign up for one of our educational programs to help you get on the path to heart healthy living!