Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, killing over 700,000 people each year.

The narrowing of the blood vessels in the heart, coronary artery disease, is the most common form of heart disease and the major cause for heart attacks. 

Some basic factors greatly increase the risk of heart disease:

·       Smoking
·       High cholesterol
·       High blood pressure
·       Lack of exercise

One of the best ways to improve heart health is to get help.  HealthEZ has a staff of Registered Nurses who can give the information and coaching needed to get better.

Want to have a CONFIDENTIAL conversation with a Nurse?
Call 24/7: 952-896-9130 or 800-203-1514  |   Email nurseline@healthez.com

 

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The Go Red Movement

Heart disease is the #1 killer of American women.  Join women across the country in the Go Red movement. Learn more about the Go Red Movement.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Brushing your teeth does a lot more for your body than fighting cavities.  Keeping a clean mouth and preventing the build-up of dental plaque can lower your chance of heart disease.  This isn't to say the plaque on your teeth is the same as the plaque in your arteries, but not brushing and flossing appears to be linked with a much higher chance at having a heart attack. So, along with exercise and proper diet, don't forget to brush your teeth!

Diabetes is a condition when the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar and starches into energy.  An estimated 7.8% of the United States population has some form of diabetes.   

When not properly managed, diabetes can lead to many serious effects, including but not limited to:

Almost all effects can be prevented with proper management.

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TYPES OF DIABETES

There are four distinct types of diabetes:

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RISKS

There are multiple risk factors for diabetes, including:

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MANAGING DIABETES

The best way to manage diabetes is work directly with a registered nurse to develop a plan. 

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Obesity affects over 1/3 of the general population and is without doubt the United States' largest pandemic. 

Self image and general well-being can be destroyed by obesity, but the damage goes far beyond.  Almost all of the nation's top killers list obesity as a contributing factor, including:

• Coronary heart disease
  
• Type 2 diabetes
  
• Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
  
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  
• Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
  
• Stroke
  
• Liver and Gallbladder disease
  
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
  
• Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
  
• Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness for people. BMI is an easy-to-perform method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI)

Obesity is a serious disease that needs appropriate medical help.

Concerned with the outcome? Talk to a Nurse
Call 24/7: 952-896-9130 or 800-203-1514  |   Email nurseline@healthez.com

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Eating Healthy

A healthy diet includes a variety of foods

• Protein – fish, meat, dairy products, eggs, nuts, beans
• Fat – oils, meat, dairy, nuts
• Carbohydrates – pasta, fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, sweets
• Vitamins – especially A, B, C, D, E, and K
• Minerals – especially calcium, potassium, iron
• Water – 80% of our bodies

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PROTEIN

How much protein do I need? The amount of protein each individual needs varies based on a variety of factors (exercise, exposure, etc.) but the new basic formula for adults is:

Body Weight (lbs)	Grams of Protein per Day
100	36
120	43
140	50
160	58
180	65
200	72
220	79
240	86

body weight x .36 = grams of protein. For instance, if you weighed 170 lbs, you would need about 60 grams of protein a day. (170 x .36 = 61.2 grams of protein)

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FATS

Not all fats are bad.  This may be surprising, but there are different kinds of fat, and some are good for you, in moderation. All fats, good or bad, should be consumed in moderation, generally not exceeding 10% of your daily intake. Trans fat is the worst kind of fat.  Trans fats are created when oils are turned into solid fats, these can be found in:

• many processed foods
• crackers
• cereals
• baked goods
• snack foods
• salad dressings
• fried food

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Fruits and Vegetables

Vegetables are one of the cornerstones of a healthy diet.  Picking the right vegetables with the highest nutrition value is very important, and surprisingly easy. Your eye is fine-honed tool for picking the most nutritious variety.  Look for a mix of the following:

• Rich colors (yellow, orange, red)
• Dark leafy greens
• Cooked tomatoes

Eating fruits and vegetables lowers your risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and improves gastrointestinal health and vision. 

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Fiber

Fiber is one of the most vital parts of a healthy diet.  It's also one of the most confusing. High-fiber diets play a huge role in reducing the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, diverticular disease, and constipation.  How to get more fiber in your diet:

• Eat whole fruits instead of juice
• Eat whole grain cereals for breakfast
• Snack on raw vegetables
• Eat beans and other legumes

Men should consume 30 grams of fiber a day, women and children 20 grams. [ note: information from the Harvard School of Public Health ]

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Carbohydrates

Despite advice from recent trend diets, carbohydrates are essential to a balanced diet, fueling the body and allowing proper organ function. As with any other part of a healthy diet, picking the right kind of carbohydrates is extremely important; good carbohydrates help the body, while bad carbohydrates hurt it. Bad carbohydrates can contribute to weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease.   The bad carbohydrates:

• highly processed foods
• pop
• pastries
• white rice
• white bread

Good carbohydrates deliver vitamins, minerals, and fiber while promoting good health. The good carbohydrates:

• vegetables
• fruits
• beans
• whole grain bread
• brown rice
• wild rice

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Regular exercise may be one of the most important factors in good health and good life in general.

According to the Mayo Clinic, regular exercise can:

• Improve mood and ward off symptoms of depression
• Combat chronic diseases
• Control weight
• Strengthen heart and lungs
• Promote better sleep
• Improve sex
  

You don't need to exercise constantly to reap massive benefits and greatly improve general health, nor do you have to get all your exercise at once.

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The American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend the following:

30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week and strength training 2 times a week -or- 20 minutes of vigorous activity three times a week and strength training 2 times a week. Moderate exercise activities:

• Swimming
• Walking
• Gardening
  

Vigorous exercise activities:

• Jogging
• Running
• Cross-country skiing
• Shoveling

 

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Smoking is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States.

Because cigarette smoking and tobacco use are acquired behaviors -- activities that people choose to do -- smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in our society.

Cancer caused by smoking

• lung
  
• voice box (larynx)
  
• mouth (oral cavity)
  
• throat (pharynx)
  
• bladder
  
• the swallowing tube connected to the stomach (esophagus)

Smoking is also linked to the following cancers:

• pancreas
  
• cervix
  
• kidney
  
• stomach
  
• some leukemias

Source: American Cancer Society

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Learn about the nation's leading mental conditions from the National Institute of Mental Health.

 
Anxiety Disorder 

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps one deal with a tense situation in the office, study harder for an exam, keep focused on an important speech. In general, it helps one cope. But when anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it has become a disabling disorder. 
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, is one of the most common mental disorders that develop in children. Children with ADHD have impaired functioning in multiple settings, including home, school, and in relationships with peers. If untreated, the disorder can have long-term adverse effects into adolescence and adulthood. Learn more

Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmental Disorders) 

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs), cause severe and pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others. These disorders are usually first diagnosed in early childhood and range from a severe form, called autistic disorder, through pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), to a much milder form, Asperger syndrome. They also include two rare disorders, Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. Learn more

Bipolar Disorder 

Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a serious medical illness that causes shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. Learn more

Depression 

Depression is a serious medical illness; it’s not something that you have made up in your head. It’s more than just feeling "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. It’s feeling "down" and "low" and "hopeless" for weeks at a time. Learn more

Eating Disorders 

An eating disorder is marked by extremes. It is present when a person experiences severe disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme reduction of food intake or extreme overeating, or feelings of extreme distress or concern about body weight or shape. Learn more

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) 

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD, is an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it. Learn more

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors such as handwashing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. Performing these so-called "rituals," however, provides only temporary relief, and not performing them markedly increases anxiety. Learn more

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress. Learn more

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat. Learn more

Schizophrenia 

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that affects about 1.1 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. People with schizophrenia sometimes hear voices others don’t hear, believe that others are broadcasting their thoughts to the world, or become convinced that others are plotting to harm them. These experiences can make them fearful and withdrawn and cause difficulties when they try to have relationships with others. Learn more

Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder) 

Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety Disorder, is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation — such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others — or, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms almost anytime they are around other people. Learn more

Want to have a CONFIDENTIAL conversation with a Nurse?
Call 24/7: 952-896-9130 or 800-203-1514  |   Email nurseline@healthez.com