March 28, 2024

Newton Wellness Talks: Heart healthy all year long

February is national heart month, the American Heart Association (AHA) and other organizations including CareMore Medical Associates want to remind you to stay heart healthy though the winter and all year long. The AHA recommends focusing on four key areas related to heart health:

1. Eat Smart by eating out at fast food restaurants less; try healthy cooking more at home. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean protein can help. Along with reducing the amount of salt in your diet can improve overall heart health.

2. Add Color by eating colorful fruits and vegetables to your diet each day. A whole medium sized fruit like an apple or orange is a serving. Canned fruits and vegetables if you can’t get fresh also count as a serving of fruit or veggies!

3. Move More by putting away your screens and getting outside for a walk, jog or activity. When the weather isn’t so great, take your walking indoors. If time is a constraint, break your walking into 5 to 10 minute segments throughout the day.

4. Be Well by making self-care a priority. Keep stress at bay by getting enough sleep and remaining active in your day.

Successful heart health also begins with not smoking and avoiding secondary smoke. Smokers have a higher likelihood of developing heart related diseases. Heart disease can be prevented and controlled, but you must follow your treatment plan — and quitting smoking is a big part.

If you have diabetes, it’s important that you monitor your condition. Diabetes can affect many major organs in your body, which can lead to an array of serious problems when left untreated. The good news is that diabetes is treatable and often preventable. Individuals with diabetes may avoid or delay other health complications by:

• Work with your health care team to manage your disease, which may include the use of medications

• Knowing your health numbers by monitoring blood cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight

• Choosing a healthy lifestyle by starting to follow the four steps above

• Contacting your insurance company to find out more information about additional health benefits they may offer

• If you have insurance through a Medicaid MCO (AmeriHealth Caritas, Amerigroup, or United HealthCare), be sure to contact Member Services to find out more about their Value-Added Benefits—this number can be found on the back of your insurance card

• Programs include smoking cessation, support for families in need of food and exercise tips, and access to a healthy starter kit

There are tons of great resources out there to create healthy meals that have diversity in fruits and vegetables, exercise routines that work, and tips on taking care of you. Even if you don’t have heart health concerns, these tips are still a great motivation to improve your overall health. Your doctor can be a great source of information that can help you create and stick to the plan that works best for you!

If you want to learn more about heart health, attend the free Goodwill of Central Iowa and CareMore Clinic educational meeting at 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 16 at Goodwill Industries, 600 N. Second Ave. W., Room 241.