February is the month of Love. It’s also the time of the year to pause, reflect, and indulge in loving yourself.
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love & affection.”
-Buddha
Loving yourself is not selfish, but the kindest act that you can do for yourself and others. The first step toward loving and being kind to yourself begins by taking ownership of your health.
February is also National Heart Month. And in this article, we discuss simple tips that you can practice in your daily life for a healthy heart lifestyle.
Are you at risk for heart disease?
It’s a myth that only older adults are at risk for heart disease. Heart disease can happen at any age according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
You could be at risk for heart disease and stroke if you have any of the following:
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- High Stress
- Genetics and family history of heart disease or stroke
How to prevent and manage heart disease
Prevention is the key for maintaining a healthy heart.
Listed below are some heart healthy tips to support your cardiovascular health:
- Have a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutritious heart healthy foods.
- Closely monitor your food intake every day.
- Swap nutrient-poor choices with low-calorie and nutrient-rich foods. Think lean meat veggie soups instead of fast-food pizza.
- Make meat a side dish, and not your main staple meal. Include more whole grains, and vegetables in your daily meals.
- Have oily fish such as salmon, herring, and trout twice a week, or supplement with fish oil. The Omega-3 fatty acids present in the fatty fish helps lower the risk of getting heart disease. Flax seeds and chia seeds are good vegetarian sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, if you are looking for vegetarian options.
- Snack smarter by swapping processed foods with fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains etc. Think apple instead of cookies, or dried fruit instead of animal rinds.
- Always choose fresh fruit juice without added sugar over canned juice. And whole fruit over fresh fruit juice.
- Go for water flavored with fresh fruit, vegetables, or herbs to quench your thirst instead of sugary carbonated drinks.
- Consume skimmed or fat-free dairy products.
- Reduce and gradually quit smoking.
- Practice moderate drinking when it comes to alcohol consumption. The 2015-2020 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
- Live a stress-free life by maintaining a holistic lifestyle. Do what makes you happy, and lead a free, but mindful and responsible life.
- Maintain a regular exercise schedule and stick to it.
- Try to have a regular sleep schedule where you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
‘Know your Numbers’ Health Screening
Knowing your numbers will help you stay on track when it comes to your heart health. If you’re already a patient of Dr. V’s, help your friends, family and coworkers get on track.
Los Gatos Doc is offering ‘Know Your Numbers’ health screenings this month where patients new to Los Gatos Doc can see where they stand with their::
- Blood Pressure
- Blood Cholesterol
- Blood Sugar/Diabetes
- Body Mass Index
- Hypertension
- Thyroid
- Vitamin D Deficiency
Have a heart healthy life with the primary care services offered by Los Gatos Doc clinic.
‘Know Your Numbers’ Health Screening
11 AM – 2 PM (Walk-Ins Welcome)
Wednesday, February 19th
Wednesday, February 26th
Read More About Chronic Care Management Services Offered by Dr V at Los Gatos Doc, Inc.