2 minute read
HEARTS
www.1199SEIUBenefits.org/HealthyHearts From your heart to theirs
It’s an amazing machine.
Your heart works around the clock to keep your body and mind running smoothly, pumping blood and oxygen to all of your organs. But to do its job well, it requires regular maintenance. Taking care of your heart allows you to enjoy your friends, family and daily activities. So take the time to maintain your heart health: Know your numbers – blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, Body Mass Index. Get routine checkups – annual physicals, with recommended screenings. Eat healthfully – fruits, vegetables, lean meats, dairy, whole grains and water. Exercise regularly – try to get 30 minutes a day—remember, it doesn’t have to be all at once; every little bit counts. Maintain a healthy weight – a combination of healthy eating and exercise. Manage stress – self-care, meditation, “me” time. Don’t smoke – smoking damages blood vessels, raising blood pressure.
Get heart smart with our online resource center!
Meet Sylvanus
Sylvanus Kidd Home Health Aide People Care
After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, Sylvanus Kidd made changes to her diet and lifestyle to get her blood sugar under control— and stay heart healthy. “I walk more and watch what I eat,” Sylvanus explains. She’s cut down on sodium and fatty foods and often prepares oatmeal with berries and walnuts for breakfast. “Not only is it good for my heart,” she says, “I feel energetic when I eat healthy.” She also drinks plenty of water and makes it a point to “know her numbers,” having her cholesterol and blood sugar levels monitored by her physician and checking her blood pressure twice a day. “When I watch my heart health, I know I’m doing the best I can in order to live a long and healthy life.”
When I watch my heart health, I know I’m doing the best I can in order to live a long and healthy life.
Expert Opinion!
“My research is about developing strategies to reduce the racial gap and the morbidity gap in terms of cardiovascular disease— hypertension, high blood pressure and stroke. One way to solve the problem is to bring health into the community (barber shops, senior centers, churches). Going to communities and talking to folks about their health is not foreign to me. I’m very comfortable talking to people of different ages and different cultures.”
Gbenga Ogedegbe, MD, Professor of Population Health & Medicine, Chief Division of Health & Behavior and Director Center for Healthful Behavior Change in the Department of Population Health at the School of Medicine at NYU Langone.
Long-life Tip
Knowing your numbers is one of the most important things you can do to stay heart healthy. So visit our Healthy Hearts page to view the Know Your Numbers chart and our easy-to-use BMI calculator.
