Page 6 - Sharon Hospital | Life & Health | Winter 2013

Bleary-eyed? Take ongoing sleep problems to heart
Not sleeping enough can do more than
make you grumpy. It can harm your heart.
Numerous studies show that lack of
sleep can increase a person’s risk for high
blood pressure and heart disease, reports
the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute.
In particular, a condition called sleep
apnea, in which a person’s breathing is
disrupted many times during sleep, can
contribute to heart disease.
Tell your healthcare provider if:
w You have trouble falling or staying
asleep.
w You often feel sleepy during the day.
w Others say you snore loudly or stop
breathing for short periods during sleep.
When your symptoms indicate you
have a problem, your provider may order
a sleep study. If a sleep disorder is diag-
nosed, it can often be treated.
HEART DISEASE
HERE’S a not-so-secret formula
for preventing heart disease: Small
changes plus time equals a big
di erence.
Even minor improvements in
your eating and exercise habits
can help reduce your heart disease
risk. Just change what you
can, and strive to make
more changes over time.
Creating new habits
can sometimes take days
or weeks, but by taking
small steps, you can start nding a
healthier way to live your life.
Note your nutrition
Donald Soucier, DO, Chief of
Cardiology at Sharon Hospital, recom-
mends that you strive to eat a diet that
is low in saturated and trans fats, cho-
lesterol, salt, and added sugar but rich
in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Doing so will help you manage your
weight, cholesterol and blood pressure.
w Cut back on sweetened drinks.
w Add more fruits and vegetables to
your meals.
w Switch from whole to low-fat
milk.
w Select low-fat cheese and yogurt.
w Skip the fries.
w Choose whole-grain breads and
cereals.
w Snack on fresh fruit instead of
cookies or salty crackers.
w Don’t add extra salt or sugar to
foods at the table.
w Bake, steam, boil or broil foods
instead of frying them.
w Choose lean cuts of meat.
Focus on fitness
Healthy adults should get 30 min-
utes of moderately intense exercise
ve days a week. ey should also do
strength training twice a week.
w Can’t do it all at once? Try exercising
in 10-minute chunks.
w Go for a brisk walk during your
break or lunch hour.
w Use the stairs instead of the elevator.
w Park farther away from the store or
your workplace so you have to walk
a bit.
w Get a bicycle and use it.
w Take up an active hobby, such as
golf or gardening, or return to a
sport you used to enjoy.
Need more tips?
Your doctor can review your risks
for heart disease and provide you
with more information about reduc-
ing them.
Source: American Heart Association
Help your
heart stay
healthy
To schedule an appointment with
Regional Heart Group at Sharon Hospital,
please call 860.364.4505.
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