Central Carolina HEALTH - Winter 2012 - (Page 12)

HEART SMART Older—and Healthier! START THESE FIVE LIFESTYLE CHANGES TODAY AND WATCH HOW YOUR HEART’S HEALTH IMPROVES IN JUST ONE YEAR Time and time again, you’ve heard what you need to do to take care of your heart: exercise, lose weight, quit smoking. But do you know what a difference each change actually makes? Take these five steps and you’ll help improve control of your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar and reduce your risk of heart disease. Read on to learn what to do and how each step can help. 1 attain your ideal body weight 12 | W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 THE FIRST STEP: Find a physical activity you like. THE ONE-YEAR PAYOFF: Exercise helps you maintain an ideal body weight. Also, your blood pressure should be down about three points and your good (HDL) cholesterol levels should be higher. Make sure you talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise program. Most people succeed by scheduling time for exercise and looking for small opportunities for movement, such as walking laps around the field while waiting for a child’s game to start. As little as 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous activity will result in substantial health benefits. (That’s 30 minutes a day for five days, if you’re not mathematically inclined.) Mahesh Patel, MD, preventive cardiologist on staff at Central Carolina Hospital, adds, “While continuous exercise is what is traditionally recommended, breaking down those 30 minutes throughout the day can also be beneficial.”

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Central Carolina HEALTH - Winter 2012

Central Carolina HEALTH - Winter 2012
From the CEO
Health Beat
Crafting a New Life
All Clear
Heart Smart
Volunteer Spotlight

Central Carolina HEALTH - Winter 2012