As we enter February, it’s the time to celebrate not just affairs of the heart, but our incredible actual hearts, that sustain life. These “workhorse” organs pump nutrients and oxygen throughout our bodies, and they help remove waste as well by pumping it to our detoxifying organs, such as the liver — for our entire lifespans.
Though it’s critical for our hearts to function properly, coronary artery disease (CAD) — the most frequently diagnosed type of heart disease — is a serious threat to the lives of Americans. CAD is the leading cause of death in the United States and causes 610,000 (one in four) deaths each year.
What happens when CAD develops? Waxy, fatty plaque, which is made up of cholesterol, fats, and other substances, accumulate and harden on the arteries. Since it narrows the arteries, our blood flow is impeded, which leads to heart attack, as well as stroke.
In order to take the best care of our hearts, we need to be proactive about getting our heart health evaluated, so you and your provider can know how it’s functioning. An important test we provide at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital (BRRH) is cardiac stress testing, which measures how your heart performs when you’re exerting yourself. Often, you’ll be tested while you’re on a treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle. Stress testing tells your provider if any problems exist with your heart itself or its valves, whether enough blood is getting to your heart, and how it’s beating.
A stress test indicates to your provider what your risk level is for experiencing a cardiac event. As with other health conditions like cancer, early detection is key in order for you and your physician to get a plan in place to improve your heart health and prevent problems down the road. Taking the initiative with your heart health not only gets you the care you need earlier, it means you’re more likely to avoid a health emergency later on, as well as the dangerous and costly complications that accompany them.
You can support your heart health by:
- Eating well: Focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats like olive oil and avocados. Avoid ultra-processed foods (UPFs), fast food, processed meats like bacon and hot dogs, and foods high in sugar and fat.
- Making physical activity part of your day: Get at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly (or a safe level of exercise for you, as determined by your stress test and provider).
- Getting sufficient rest: Develop good sleep habits, like keeping screens out of the bedroom and logging off social media for several hours before bed and creating a soothing nighttime routine that includes listening to music or enjoying a cup of tea.
- Effectively taming stress: Strive for work/life balance, engage in activities you enjoy, get outside every day, and adopt a mindfulness technique, like prayer or meditation.
Between the clinical diagnostics that your provider advises and BRRH offers and your own efforts to live a heart-healthy lifestyle, you can stay aware of your heart health and do all you can to lower your risk for heart disease and other heart conditions, like heart attack and heart failure.
As always at BRRH, our goal is to work hand-in-hand with local providers to provide our community with the most advanced cardiac care services. We are fortunate to have respected cardiologist Dr. Randell Croft Thomas and Cardiology PA Doyle Lyn Shelton offering care at the Mauzy Phillips Center. Our in-house stress testing program also allows for prompt and effective clinical decision-making, saves patients travel time, and strengthens our position as a rural hospital that offers needed care to community members, close to home.
Tonia W. Hale, DNP, MAOM, BSN, RN, is Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nursing Officer of Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine. Hale is a proven leader with almost 40 years of progressive healthcare experience. A native of East Tennessee, she holds an associate’s degree in nursing from Walters State Community College, a baccalaureate degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree in organizational management from Tusculum University, and a doctor of nursing practice degree in executive leadership from East Tennessee State University. Ms. Hale is currently a resident of Burnsville.