February is Heart & Stroke Awareness Month

Did you know???? Heart Disease and Stroke is Preventable if you know your RISK FACTORS

Your Risk Factors for Heart Disease and Stroke Smoker High blood pressure Diabetes Physically inactive Consume excessive alcohol Overweight High cholesterol or especially elevated LDL “lousy cholesterol”

What can you do? If you smoke- get help from a smoking cessation counselor. There are programs that cover the cost of medications that may help you quit Have your Blood Pressure checked- Normal BP is less than 140/90 or 130/80 if you have diabetes Know your blood cholesterol and how to improve your LDL known as “lousy” cholesterol If you are concerned about your weight- work with your health care team to develop a plan to achieve a healthy weight Limit your alcohol consumption- No more than 2/day and 10/week for women. No more than 3/day and 15/week for men Get active- do more, have fun!

Take the first step towards a longer healthier life Book an appointment with our Registered Nurse in the Family Health Team. She will work with you and your physician to assess your risk factors and help you to lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Lifestyle modifications can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by up to 80% - but only 1 in 4 people know it!

Judy Cobus, RN Our Registered Nurse (RN) works together with your physician and the other members of your health care team to provide your health care. We are fortunate to have Judy Cobus who brings an extensive background in cardio- vascular nursing to our team. Judy conducts cardio-vascular and respiratory health assessments and works with your health care team to provide treatment and management of disease, education and advocacy for her patients. She also works to support new moms and babies, participates in our healthy weight and mental health programs and is a member of our memory clinic team.

Know the Warning Signs of Stroke

Heart Attack Symptoms Chest pain, pressure, squeezing, heaviness or fullness Arm pain, jaw pain or back pain Shortness of breath, sweating, nausea or lightheadedness with or without chest pain Dizziness and extreme fatigue. Feelings of anxiety CALL 911- “do not wait and see”

Our Family Health Team Offers Smoking Cessation Counseling (free Nicotine Replacement Therapy is available) Healthy Weight Program Cardiovascular Risk assessment: includes BP monitoring and Blood Cholesterol counseling Heart Healthy Nutrition Classes given by our Dietitian Lifestyle Coaching to help you achieve your goals