One life. One body.
One chance to treat it well!
Are you able to walk to the mailbox without getting winded? Are you able to walk up and down the stair without stopping? If you said ‘No’ to these, it may indicate that you have a heart that needs a little TLC! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, uncontrolled high blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease and stroke. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute encourages the following changes for lowering your blood pressure:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Do physical activity for 30 minutes most days of the week.
- Eat a diet high is fresh fruits and vegetables, with low fat dairy products with reduced saturated and total fat.
- Choose foods that are lower in salt and other forms of sodium.
- If you drink alcohol, have no more than 1 drink a day for women and 2 drinks a day for men.
- Remember to take your blood pressure medicine.
As 2016 is just getting started, now is the time to make some changes! You and your physician should decide on what is a healthy weight for you. Likewise, the two of you can decide on which blood pressure medications will likely work well for you and your current conditions.
Next, take a good look at what you are eating! Are there a lot of processed foods? Restaurant, prepackaged and frozen meals can be high in sodium, as well as very large in portion sizes. Speak with your physician or a dietitian regarding your current dietary needs.
Lastly, get moving! As the outside temperatures are flirting with the 70’s, now is an ideal time to start short walks that can be extended as your endurance increases and the outside temperatures warm up. Is there some pain that is stopping you? When you speak with your physician about your blood pressure ask for a prescription for physical therapy. Our staff at Physical Therapy Associates can get you in good working order to meet your heart health goals. If you just need a little direction in your fitness endeavors but you don’t need to be treated, ask about our Gym or our Athletic Capability Enhancement (ACE) Programs to take you to the next level.
