DATA IN A HEARTBEAT
Wireless device provides better tracking
of heart failure—and better prevention.
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Platteville, WI
Permit No. 7
BITS
H e a lt h
1
Keep your chin up.
A positive attitude may help boost
cardiovascular health, according to research published by
the American Heart Association (AHA). You can focus
on the good things happening in your life by keeping a
gratitude journal—write down anything, large or small,
that makes you smile. And when things don’t go your
way, make a conscious effort to look for the silver lining.
2
If you have chocolate, go dark.
Studies have shown
that chocolate—the darker the better—may help lower
blood pressure. But if you eat it, do so in moderation.
It’s a high-calorie food, and being overweight is hard on
your heart.
3
Have a good, long laugh.
Funnily enough, laughter
really is good medicine. According to the AHA, it gets
more oxygen into your blood, activates your muscles,
quickens your pulse, stimulates your circulation and
helps you relax.
So spend time with a friend or loved one who knows
how to crack you up. Or find books or movies—or even
crazy cat videos on the Internet—that tickle your funny
bone.
4
Get your ZZZs.
Poor-quality sleep may raise your
blood pressure and increase your risk for heart disease.
To sleep better:
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Set a bedtime and stick to it. Do your best to go to bed
at the same time every night and wake up at the same
time every morning—even on the weekends.
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Try to get 30 minutes of natural sunlight a day, espe-
cially in the morning.
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Make your bedroom comfortable—remove distrac-
tions like the TV, computer or cellphone. And keep the
temperature cool.
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Have a relaxing bedtime routine, such as reading or
taking a warm bath.
Additional sources: Mental Health America; National Institutes of Health
Our cardiologists aim to keep
your ticker in top-notch shape.
To make an appointment, call
855-296-6265.
It’s your move
E
xercise is one of
the best things you
can do to help keep
your heart healthy. It helps
reduce total cholesterol,
lower blood pressure and
cut the risk of diabetes,
and it helps you maintain a
healthy weight.
To get moving and stay
on track:
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Start slowly, especially if
you haven’t been active for
a while.
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Work up to whatever
amount of activity your doc-
tor recommends.
The American Heart
Association recommends
that all adults do at least
30 minutes of moderately
intense exercise five days
a week and strengthening
exercises twice a week.
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Keep things interesting
by trying different activities.
Walking, biking or swim-
ming can be fun, but so can
working in the garden.
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Stop exercising if you
have severe pain or swell-
ing, but expect a little
muscle soreness at first.
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If you have to stop
exercising for a while, don’t
get discouraged. Just start
again, and work up to your
previous level.
4 FOR
YOUR
HEART
These safeguards
may surprise
and delight you
Protecting your heart
is serious business.
But keeping it healthy
can be easier—and a
lot more fun—than
you may think pos-
sible.
✦
Here are four
relatively simple steps
to help you take care
of your ticker:
NO GAIN WITH PAIN
Exercise is good
for arthritis. But if
you have more joint
pain two hours after
exercising than before
you started, you’ve
overdone it. Ease up at
your next workout.
Arthritis Foundation
FLAXSEED FACTS
The
body can’t digest the
fiber in whole flax-
seed, so grind it in a
coffee or spice grinder
before using. To enjoy
its health benefits
and nutty taste, add
ground flaxseed to
muffin mixes, cereals,
smoothies, cooked
veggies or salads.
American Institute for Cancer
Research
A SOFTER TOUCH
Toothbrushes are
nearly 5,000 years old.
Early ones were made
of things such as wood
and hog bristles. The
nylon-bristled ones we
use today came out in
1938.
American Dental Association