Prevention Resources

Click on the headings below for a tip sheet related to each topic.  All tip sheets are available for download and print. 

Being active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle

* How Active Should the Average Person Be?
* What Type of Exercise Can You Do?
* High Blood Pressure 
* Toxins 

Alcohol and your Heart

How does excessive alcohol affect my heart?

Excessive drinking can lead to irregular heartbeats, stroke, high blood pressure, stretching of the heart muscle (Cardiomyopathy) making the heart less effective, and cancer.

Dysrhythmias

Symptoms of heart rhythm problems may include:
*Flutter feeling in your chest
*Chest pain
*Shortness of breath
*Fatigue
*Dizziness
*A racing heartbeat (tachycardia)
*A slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
*Worry
*Sweating or feeling “cold and clammy”

The role of obesity in the prevention of heart failure

Why is maintaining a normal weight important?

Excess weight increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure),
heart disease, and obstructive sleep apnea. All of these conditions place you at
higher risk for developing heart failure. Maintaining a normal weight is associated
with a lower risk of heart failure. 

 High Blood Pressure and Heart Failure

Blood Pressure is the measurement of the pressure or force inside your blood vessels (arteries) with each heartbeat. High Blood Pressure means that the pressure in your arteries is above the normal range. A blood pressure reading at or over 140/90mmHg is considered high blood pressure. As time goes on, the strain on your
heart caused by high blood pressure can cause your heart muscle to overwhelm your heart and cause it to fail.

Sleep Disorders - Sleep Apnea 

The most common symptoms are:

* Loud snoring
* Restless sleep
* Morning headaches
* Sleepiness or lack of energy during the day
* Waking up with dry mouth or sore throat
* Irritability and Mood changes
* Insomnia

Tobacco Cessation

Use of tobacco, in any form, harms our bodies in many ways. It raises blood pressure, constricts blood vessels, and can cause cancer – not just in the lungs! People who use tobacco have higher rates of heart disease and cancers in the mouth, throat, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, liver, stomach, colon, and even certain blood cancers called leukemia.

Because of all of these risks, tobacco use can limit your options when it comes to treating heart failure.

Understanding your Cholesterol and Triglycerides

Getting down to the basics. Lipids refer to “fats” normally found in your blood. There are two main types of blood fat: cholesterol and triglycerides. High cholesterol and triglycerides can increase your risk for heart disease, heart attack, or stroke in the future.

*Types of Cholesterol
*Preventing High Cholesterol
*Normal levels of Cholesterol
*Common Causes of High Cholesterol
*How often should cholesterol be tested and how do I do it

Stage A Heart Failure

Patient Tip Sheet – Risk Factors & Comorbidities
Risk factors are conditions or habits that increase the chance that a
person may go on to have a disease or illness. Patients with comorbidities have more than one disease or illness at the same time.

Patients who are at high risk for HF but do not have poor heart function
or symptoms of HF are said to have Stage A Heart Failure (HF). Patients
with Stage A HF should attempt to reduce risk factors and comorbidities
that could lead to HF.

Stress Management

Let’s Get Moving!

Physical activity is not JUST exercise. There are many ways to
add “exercise” into your daily routine:
* Dancing
* Gardening
* Brisk (fast) walking
* Doing household chores such as vacuuming, mopping, and
dusting

Physical activity not only lowers stress, but also:
* Supports a stronger heart
* Lowers cholesterol
* Improves blood flow
* Lowers blood pressure
* Lifts your mood and self-esteem