Laura O’Reilly-Stanzilis RN MSM

February is American Heart Month. American Heart Month is a federally designated event that encourages Americans to focus on their heart health and get their families, friends and communities involved.

Healthy Heart Lifestyle

A healthy diet and lifestyle  that includes regular physical activity and stress management, are the keys to preventing and managing cardiovascular disease. What you do habitually, or on a regular basis, impacts your overall health, and gives you long-term health (and heart) benefits.

Talk to your healthcare provider about ways to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease and before starting  a new exercise program.

Visit heart.org and learn the signs of a heart attack — the familiar and not-so-familiar ones. If you or someone you’re with is experiencing symptoms, don’t ignore them or take time to self-diagnose. Go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 immediately for help. Every minute counts. The sooner you get medical help, the more you reduce the risk of heart damage or death.

On a (somewhat) lighter note, please enjoy this humorous video on the very serious topic of women and heart attacks with actress Elizabeth Banks from 30 Rock. Click HERE to view “A Little Heart Attack”.

Laura is a registered nurse, population health executive and organizational management consultant. She can be reached at www.ftgwellness.com/Laura@ftgwellness.com