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Public Employees' Benefit Board

Heart Health
Did You Know?
Heart Disease is the #1 Killer of American Women
Heart disease kills more women in the U.S. than the other top four causes of death combined.
February, National Heart Month, is full of reminders to help women pay attention to the health of their tickers. It all starts February 3 with "Go Red for Women Day." Wear something red that day to help yourself and your co-workers think about heart health, and take these tips to heart:
 

  • Don’t smoke, and if you do, quit. People who smoke are two to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than non-smokers.
  • Aim for a healthy weight. It’s important for a long, vigorous life. Overweight and obesity cause many preventable deaths.
  • Get moving. Make a commitment to be more physically active. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.
  • Eat for heart health. Choose a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, and moderate in total fat.
  • Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, high-density, low-density and triglycerides) and blood glucose.  Work with your provider to improve any numbers that are not normal.
 
Online Help for Heart Health

 

Have a Hearty Workout
February is National Heart Month



Your heart needs exercise to work efficiently. All it takes is a brisk, 30-minute walk most days of the week.  
  • Warm up Starting gradually helps avoid injuries and aches and pains afterward. Breathe deeply.  
  • Step it up Exercise moderately for at least 30 minutes. You should have enough breath to carry on a conversation while you exercise.  
  • Cool down Allow your body to cool down gradually. Stretching now will help keep you limber.  
— Employee Assistance Program 
 
Both your heart and mind benefit from exercise because it helps manage stress.  
 
Stress may affect the heart directly, or it may afftect such risk factors as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking and diet. Cutting down on stress through exercise can make life more enjoyable. It can boost your self-image and help you deal with anxiety and depression.
 
 — Employee Assistance Program 

 
What have you done for your heart lately?
The heart is more than a symbol for love and valentines; it’s the organ on which our lives depend. It keeps our lungs breathing, our kidneys filtering, our nerves conducting, our brain computing. Night and day, month to month, year to year, decade to decade. No rest periods, no vacations, and no time off. If it stops, we stop.
 
So what have you done for your heart lately? Do you know which foods it favors? What fun activity keeps it strong? (It is a muscle, you know.) Do you know how to minimize its workload? (You don’t like being overworked do you?) Is it getting enough rest and relaxation every day?
 
Or do you just take your heart for granted, expecting it to operate at optimum performance without any care or maintenance? Take some time this month to evaluate the “places in your heart” that may need special attention. Your life might just depend on it.