American Heart Month in Alexandria

Recognize American Heart Month with us by learning how to better take care of your heart.

How Can I Improve My Heart Health as I Age?

Implementing heart-healthy lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease. These lifestyle changes may also help increase your overall health and well-being.

Stay Active – Regular physical activity that you enjoy and are able to do goes a long way. Strive for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week.

Monitor Blood Pressure and Cholesterol – Check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels regularly with the guidance of your primary care physician. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are significant risk factors for heart disease, but early detection can help alleviate risks.

Maintain a Healthy Weight – Achieve this through a combination of a nutritious diet and exercise. Excess weight puts additional strain on the heart.

Manage Stress Effectively – Find what works best for you to manage your stress levels. Common techniques include deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness. Chronic stress can negatively impact your heart’s health.

Limit Alcohol and Avoid Smoking – Excessive alcohol consumption can raise blood pressure. Smoking and even secondhand smoke significantly increase the risk of heart disease.

Adopt a Heart-Healthy Diet – Read on to explore what a heart-healthy diet includes.

What is a Heart-Healthy Diet?

Changing eating habits can be a difficult task to start. However, you can take these simple steps to begin.

• Control portion sizes: Try using smaller plates or bowls to help control portions.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables: They are great sources of vitamins and minerals, which can help prevent heart disease.
• Eat more whole grains: They are good sources of fiber, something that helps control your blood pressure.
• Limit unhealthy fats: Saturated and trans fats increase your cholesterol and can lead to coronary artery disease.
• Choose low-fat proteins: Options such as skim or low-fat dairy products, eggs, fish, skinless chicken, legumes, soybeans, and lean ground meats.
• Limit sodium intake: Consuming foods with a lot of added sodium can lead to high blood pressure.
• Plan ahead: Creating daily menus ahead of time can help you stay on track with your heart-healthy diet.
• Treat yourself occasionally: It is ok to treat yourself. Just don’t let one treat turn into a repeated excuse for giving up your healthy eating plan.

Where Can I Go in Alexandria for Heart Help?

Amelia Heart Center – Their mission is to advance the health of their patients through compassionate, competent, comprehensive cardiac and vascular care. They have offices in Arlington, Springfield, and Alexandria.

Carpenter’s Shelter – They offer a free clinic every Thursday night for residents and the Alexandria community.

Virginia Heart – For more than 40 years, Virginia Heart has been a nationally recognized provider of premier cardiovascular care to the Northern Virginia community. They have offices in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, and more.

How Does Griswold Help?

If you or a loved one is struggling with heart health in Alexandria, Griswold is here to help. While we do not offer medical services, with our in-home care services, one of our experienced Caregivers can offer personal care, homemaking, and companionship. We are here to help you live assured. Our care can span a few hours a week of respite care to 24/7 with our 24-hour home care. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can best help you. We can put together a personalized care plan and often have a Caregiver to your home within 24 hours.