MIndy’s CallIng

1 Pick
Checkup
fEbruAry is AmEriCAN
hEArt AWArENEss moNth
up the pace
For heart health, a fast walk
offers greater benefits than a
leisurely stroll.
2 Measure up
When your waist grows too
much, so can your risk of
heart disease. Use a measuring
tape to monitor your
belly.
3 Quit
4 Check
5 Model
already
If you smoke, do whatever it
takes to stop. Almost nothing
will benefit your heart more.
yourself
Do you have blood pressure
problems? Make sure to
monitor yours regularly.
good habits
Eat well and exercise, and
your kids will follow your
example. That’s good for
everyone’s heart.
Michael V. McConnell, MD, MSEE
professor of cardiovascular medicine, Stanford
School of Medicine, and director, Preventive
Cardiology Clinic, Stanford Hospital & Clinics
Try to make exercise enjoyable. I like to
run, bike, or swim outdoors, and ideally I
make plans to do so with friends.
I use a physical activity monitor so I have
a daily goal. It helps motivate me at the
end of the day to reach my goal, like an
extra walk with my dog.
HealtH HigHligHts
Get heArt smArt with these tips
eXPerT TiPS
Tracy L. Stevens, MD, FACC
medical director, Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s
Heart Center, Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart
Institute, Kansas City, Mo.
Give a unique, potentially lifesaving gift
to someone you love (or yourself):
a basket with a fully automatic blood
pressure cuff, a measuring tape (for
your belly), dental floss, and, of course,
some heart-healthy treats, such as a few
unsalted almonds, a bar of dark chocolate,
and a half bottle of red wine.
W ebMD.coM 59 JAN/FEB 2013
Eat your heart out with 24 Foods That Can
Save Your Heart, the most popular slideshow
on WebMD’s Heart Health Center.
6 Add
7 Size
8 Do
9 Snooze
10
.com
new foods
Work more veggies, whole
grains, and nonmeat protein
into every meal.
down
Focus on smaller portions
when you fill your plate. Use
a smaller plate and shorter
glass. Try to say no to seconds.
the twist
Yoga may help lower
your blood pressure and
cholesterol and improve
circulation.
more
Insomnia has been linked
to heart disease risk. Talk
to your doctor about how to
improve your sleep routine.
Learn more
Get tips on how to care for
your heart at WebMD’s
Heart Health Center.
Stephanie Coulter, MD
cardiologist and director, Center for Women’s
Heart and Vascular Health, Texas Heart
Institute, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital
Too busy to exercise? Work it in. For
example, when you are running errands,
find the farthest safe place in
the parking lot.
Exercise with friends. A support system
helps on days you just don’t feel like
getting off the couch.
OCeAn PHOTOGrAPHy/Veer