It’s never too late to invest in your heart health.
Heart disease is the number one killer of American men and women; however, it’s comforting to know that just by improving your lifestyle, you can drastically improve the health of your heart. From our offices in St. Thomas and St. Croix, Dr. Jeffrey Chase, and cardiologist, Dr. Ahmet Sayan, can help reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Get Active
If you don’t already get regular aerobic exercise each week, then it’s time to start incorporating physical fitness into your lifestyle. This translates to about 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of intense exercise. If you already work out regularly, try upping the intensity of your current routine to gain even more benefits. If you are just starting your fitness journey, your cardiologist can discuss ways to begin working out safely.
Choose a Healthy, Balanced Diet
What you eat has a profound impact on your health. Your diet should consist of mainly whole grains, vegetables, lean proteins, legumes, nuts, and plant-based proteins, as well as lean animal protein such as chicken or fish. Avoid refined sugar and starches such as cakes, cookies, white bread, and pasta. Always check the nutrition labels and avoid most packaged foods, as they are chock full of sodium, sugar, and other preservatives.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
It’s also incredibly important to maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI). If you are overweight, it’s important to consult with your cardiologist to determine the best strategies to help you lose weight safely. Eating healthy and regularly exercising are two of the biggest habits you can adopt to help lose excess weight and maintain your ideal BMI.
Quit Smoking
If you use tobacco products or you smoke, it’s time to ditch the habit. Smoking causes a lot of serious health problems including an elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, and an irregular heartbeat. If you are having trouble quitting, your cardiologist can help you find successful ways to ditch the habit for good. It’s also important to avoid secondhand smoke, which can also have detrimental effects on your health.
Virgin Islands Orthopaedics and Medical Specialists deeply cares about the health of its patients, especially during the pandemic. This is why we are offering telemedicine appointments for patients dealing with minor issues or currently undergoing physical therapy; however, our medical team is still caring for patients dealing with cardiac and musculoskeletal problems. For walk-in emergency care, please give us a call first at our St. Thomas office at (340) 714-2845 or our St. Croix office at (340) 692-5000.