Take heart–
and make it
healthy
A
HEALTHY HEART PUMPS about
100,000 times a day, delivering blood to and
from the far reaches of your body.
But if you have heart failure, your heart doesn’t work
as well as it should. Heart failure is a form of heart disease.
Your heart still pumps, but it may not pump enough
blood. Or it may not pump with enough force to send
enough blood to all of your body’s tissues and organs.
Signs of trouble
Symptoms of heart failure can include:
●
Feeling tired
●
Feeling short of breath
●
Trouble sleeping
●
Pain in
the abdomen
●
Loss of appetite
●
Unexplained weight
gain
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Swollen legs and ankles
●
Frequent dry cough
See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
During a checkup, your doctor will ask about your symp-
toms. He or she may also look at your heart with x-ray,
echocardiogram or other imaging tests.
Ticker TLC
If you have heart failure, your doctor will develop a treat-
ment plan for you. It is very important that you follow
the plan, especially early in the process. And you’ll need
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to stay in touch with your doctor on a regular basis.
You may also need to:
●
●
Take certain drugs that can help lower your blood
pressure.
●
●
Follow a diet and exercise plan. Eating better and
being active can help strengthen your heart. It also helps
improve your overall health.
Sometimes heart failure may happen because of a
heart valve that isn’t working right or a blocked artery.
Your doctor can tell you more about how these problems
can be fixed.
Take control
There are certain risk factors for heart dis-
ease that can't be avoided. You may be at
risk if you:
●
Are over age 65
●
Are a man
●
Are African American
●
Have a family
history of heart disease
But there’s good news. There are three
basic good habits that can help prevent
heart disease:
Stay away from tobacco.
If you
smoke, it’s time to quit. If there’s a smoker
in your home, it’s time to help him or her
quit. Smoking at least doubles your risk
of developing heart disease.
Be active.
Just 30 minutes a day at
least five days a week can help lower your
risk. Remember that any exercise is better
than none.
Eat good foods.
The foods we eat
can contribute to high cholesterol, high
blood pressure, diabetes and weight gain.
These are all major risk factors for heart
disease. Try to eat lots of vegetables, fruits and whole
grains. You’ll also want to cut back on salt.
If you already have heart disease or haven’t exercised
in a while, talk to your doctor about a diet and exercise
plan that’s best for you.
Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Heart
Association
The first Friday of February is National Wear Red Day,
and we want you to post photos of yourself or your
loved ones wearing red! On February 5, visit
www.facebook.com/manchestermemorial, “like”
our page and choose“Photo/Video”to upload your photo.
You’ll get a message asking for your name and postal
information to receive your CREATION Health prize!
GO RED