Berger Health | Connections | Winter 2019

2 Berger Health System • Winter 2019 Know your numbers HEARTFELT ADVICE Blood pressure High blood pressure makes your heart and blood vessels work harder. Cholesterol Unhealthy levels can raise your risk of a heart attack. Body mass index (BMI) BMI is an estimate of your body fat based on your weight and height. Blood sugar When your blood sugar is high, it can lead to diabetes, which is a major risk factor for heart attack. NEED A DOCTOR? We’ve got you covered. Search for a provider online at bergerhealth.com/provider-directory or call 740-420-8174 . Sources: American Heart Association; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Talk with your doctor about your personal risk of heart disease. Here are four types of numbers to know— and to keep an eye on: “We strive to educate our patients on how they can improve their heart health. Making these small changes can help improve your lifestyle,” says Dan Mudrick, MD, one of the OhioHealth cardiologists that will be presenting at the Heart Healthy Luncheon (on Friday, Feb. 22). For more information on our Heart Healthy Luncheon, please see our calendar of events on the last page. Sources: American Heart Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Compare food labels for sodium content. Too much sodium can boost blood pressure, which is hard on your heart. Different brands of foods can have different sodium amounts. It only takes a moment to read food labels and to choose the brand with the least amount of sodium. You might be surprised to learn that some foods that don’t have really high levels of sodium, like bread, are among the top sources of the mineral in the American diet—simply because we may eat several servings of them a day. 4 5 —Continued from front page Give your screens an earlier bedtime. Too little sleep can hurt your heart and increase your risk for other diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, which can also affect heart health. Watching TV or using your smartphone or computer close to bedtime can keep you awake. Try giving yourself a deadline for turning off your screens an hour before bedtime every night. Relaxing to music or a book may help you doze off.