Dr. Christopher Vaccari, an experienced cardiologist, says he regularly encounters three major heart health problems in patients: coronary artery disease, irregular heart rhythms, and congestive heart failure. Masu.
And everything can be improved through lifestyle choices. Your cardiologist can give you some helpful tips.
“There are three keys,” he said. “Diet, exercise, and avoiding activities known to be bad for your heart.”
A healthy diet includes limiting sugar, salt, and high-calorie foods. To find out, Dr. Vaccari suggests checking food labels. There are also apps to help you track your numbers.
One of the biggest culprits when it comes to sugar is drinks. When it comes to salt, it's not what you add at the table, but the sodium you get from eating processed foods like deli meats, bread, and fast food.
Sugary drinks and processed foods are also high in calories and don't offer much return.
This has to do with the amount of food you actually consume.
“Even though we're working so hard to lose weight, we overestimate how much we eat,” he said. “That's why you may feel like you're not losing weight.”
When it comes to exercise, Dr. Vaccari said dramatic improvements are seen when people move from a sedentary to an active lifestyle.
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“You have to take it easy,” he said, noting that you can start with 30 minutes of walking a day and work your way up to more aerobic exercise over time.
People over a certain age have more concerns about bone and joint health and should consult a doctor before starting an exercise regimen, he said.
Unhealthy behaviors to eliminate include smoking and drinking alcohol.
Dr. Vaccari said he knows it can be difficult to control certain behaviors.
“Sometimes it helps to know your numbers,” he said, referring to things like blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. “That can motivate you to quit certain habits.”
Dr. Vaccari recommends contacting your health care provider if your morning blood pressure is consistently above 140/90. Usually if your LDL cholesterol is over 130. If your fasting blood sugar level is over 126.
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Seeing family and friends affected by heart disease can be motivating. Sometimes all you need to do is celebrate your birthday.
“Unfortunately, for many people, after their first heart attack, it's a wake-up call,” he says.
If you need help maintaining your heart health, visit Meritus Hagerstown Heart online. Meritushealth.com/locations/meritus-hagerstown-heart Or call us at 301-797-2525. And if you live near Hancock, Dr. Vaccari will begin seeing patients weekly starting in March at the recently opened Meritus Primary Care office, 351 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
