Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Parrish Medical Center - (Page 22)

“Some people respond to stress in positive ways,” he says. “They go running. Or they meditate or pray or listen to music.” Those who drink heavily or smoke cigarettes to cope with stress, or release their stress through anger, are harming their health. SITUATION: YOU’VE Survival strategy: Take rehabilitation seriously. For people who survive a heart attack, what happens next is important, Goff says. “For most people, that should include a formal cardiac rehabilitation program, which includes SURVIVED A HEART ATTACK. monitored physical activity to help the person get back into good physical condition,” he says. Depending on the person’s needs, the program should also focus on lifestyle factors. He adds that medications, such as those that lower cholesterol or blood pressure, may be given. After Hills’ heart attack scare, she knew she had to improve her diet and get more exercise, but she also had to better manage her stress level and sleep more. For Hills, this meant cutting back on her hours at work. “I started having to protect my health and say ‘no’ more often,” she says. “Work will encroach on every part of your life. You have to be able to create boundaries … it becomes a conversation that you have to have with your boss.” SITUATION: YOU’RE Survival strategy: Think again. And study up. Heart disease can start at a young age and catch up with you quickly. “The ﬁrst thing you can do is to take charge of your own health,” Brill says. “Know your numbers, and do what it takes to manage these numbers.” Because high cholesterol and high blood pressure are signiﬁcant risk factors for heart disease, it’s important to have your levels tested. If they are high, your doctor can recommend lifestyle changes to get these numbers under control or prescribe medications. It’s also important to know your weight and make sure you keep it in a healthy range. YOUNG AND THINK YOU’RE IMMUNE TO HEART ATTACKS. Are You at Risk? By understanding the risk factors for a heart attack, you can start to make important lifestyle changes. “This is what is killing most human beings on the planet, and it is preventable,” says Janet Bond Brill, Ph.D., R.D., author of Prevent a Second Heart Attack. “Simple lifestyle changes can have a dramatic impact on your health and longevity.” Risk factors that you can do something about include: • Smoking • Being obese or overweight • High cholesterol • High blood pressure • Having diabetes • Not exercising Talk to your doctor about your potential risk factors and work to improve your overall health through nutrition, exercise and other heart-healthy habits. “All of us should take charge and live a heart-healthy lifestyle,” Dr. Brill says. “Take the time today to take care of your health so you can be here tomorrow.” tools Take a free online risk assessment at parrishmed.com/ aware. It only takes minutes. If your score is high, choose a FREE consultation with a Parrish Medical Center health advisor to develop an action plan. Caring for your health is the most important game you’ll ever play. Know Your Heart-Health Score 22 Vim & Vigor · W I N TER 2 011 http://www.parrishmed.com/aware http://www.parrishmed.com/aware

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Parrish Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Parrish Medical Center
Contents
Tasty Tips
Opening Thoughts
Community Calendar
Delegation of Authority
Back in Action
Supplementary Knowledge
Keys to Survival
Clearing the Air
Mark Harmon of NCIS fame makes 60 look good
This One’s for the Girls
Life After a Loss
Do Your Diabetes Homework
Healthy Returns
Making Time
Exercise Disguised as Fun
Community Health: Sleep apnea
Foundation Focus: Gifts make a difference
Ask the Expert: Rotator cuff tears and tendinitis

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - Parrish Medical Center