Women often know a lot about managing the household budget, juggling work and school schedules, and caring for the family. But when it comes to taking care of their own health, many do not know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women.

Once it develops, heart disease is a lifelong condition that will gradually worsen unless changes are made to daily habits. Fortunately, women may be able to prevent heart disease by making healthy lifestyle choices. These include:

• Following a healthy diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and includes a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Managing high blood pressure and consuming no more than 2,400 mg of sodium a day.
• Lowering total cholesterol to less than 200 mg/dL.
• Getting about 30 minutes of moderate-level physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week.
• Maintaining a healthy weight.
• Not smoking.

Women are invited to a free screening to learn more about why gender, race, lifestyle and age can affect their chances of developing heart disease so they can take steps to improve their heart health. The Women’s Healthy Heart screening hosted by Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake will be held Saturday, February 7 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the West Tower, Suite 207 at 9330 Poppy Drive. The event includes a blood cholesterol check, blood glucose test, blood pressure monitoring, weight evaluation, and personal health assessment with a nurse. The screening is free, but space is limited. Call 800-887-2525 to reserve your seat today.

Photo credit: Photos.com/Thinkstock

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com

Save enough pennies and you have a dime. Save enough dimes and you have a dollar. Save enough dollars and, well, get what you have always wanted. It may take some time for the big ticket items, but if you work hard and start saving early, you could achieve your goal. Staying healthy can work the same way. By doing the little things, you could live a longer, healthier life.

You would be amazed at the difference that a few dietary tweaks and a little more exercise makes! With that in mind, here are some ideas to help get you started on the road to a healthier you:

Trade a TV Show for a Walk.

Choosing to trade a TV show for a 10-minute walk every day can have positive, long-term effects on your physical and mental health, and it only takes a fraction of the time commitment you would give to a sitcom.

Plan Healthy Snacks for Your Week.

Taking 10 minutes at the beginning of the week to plan out healthy snacks for your entire week can help cut back on the problem of eating unhealthy snacks when you are tired. Pack individual snack bags of almonds, cheese slices, carrot sticks or snap peas that you can grab on the go. It will simplify your week, and give you a healthy alternative to fast food, sweets or chips.

Drink More Water.

Drinking water instead of soda or alcoholic beverages can be an amazing way to start living healthier. Being properly hydrated can give your skin a healthier glow, aid in weight loss and promote healthy organ function.

Play Hard.

Take 10 minutes to make a list of things you like to do that are active and post it where you can see it. Finding fun activities will help you create a healthy and more balanced lifestyle. Using a part of your weekends to go to a museum, take a hike, go swimming, rake an elderly neighbor’s lawn or just walk around the mall with some friends can make all the difference.

At Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake, we believe that we should all like who we see in the mirror, so living a healthy lifestyle should always be at the top of our lists. Jump in and begin a few ten-minute tweaks to start in on your journey to a healthier lifestyle. 

Photo credit: Hemera/Thinkstock

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com