5 Reasons to Wear Red in February
Over the years, the month of October has become synonymous with the color pink and Breast Cancer Awareness month. It’s everywhere—from professional sports teams donning pink gear to your favorite soda introducing a limited-release pink can. Breast cancer, and all cancers, are horrible, devastating illnesses that greatly affect the lives of many. But there’s a […]
10 Tips for Adding Heart Healthy Foods to Your Diet
By Brittany Nelson, RD, CHWC You see them on menus everywhere—in sandwiches, salads, omelettes and more. Avocados have become trendy during the past few years—and with good reason. They’re full of healthy fats, which was one of the recommendations of the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines also warned against eating foods with refined […]
Truth About Cholesterol in Women
By Valerie Beard, MD Riverview Health Physicians Good cholesterol. Bad cholesterol. What number should be high? Which one should be low? If you’re not quite sure, you’re not alone. Cholesterol is a lipid, or fat. Your liver produces roughly 75 percent of your cholesterol—only 25 percent comes from your diet. Nearly 20 percent of American […]
Quantity vs. Quality While Eating Healthier
By Brittany Wonnell, RD, CHWC Often at the beginning of the year, we begin new resolutions that can include changing the way we eat. When thinking about defining which foods are “healthy” or “unhealthy,” it’s important to understand not just the quality of your food but also the quantity you’re eating. You can gain weight […]
3 Easy Steps to Find Your Target Heart Rate Range
By Ryan Lawson, Exercise Specialist We’re all familiar with the phrase “use it or lose it,” and it perfectly applies to our body and muscles. Muscles are made to be used, and if they’re neglected it’s our health and quality of life that suffers. Cardiovascular exercise is defined as any activity that increases your heart […]
What You Never Knew About How Stress Affects Your Heart
By J. Mario Pyles, MD, FACC A racing heartbeat, a pit in your stomach, a pounding in your ears—all of these are familiar symptoms of increased heart rate caused by a moment of extreme mental stress. Most people have probably experienced this, because mental stress is a normal part of life. However, long-term mental stress […]
Carbohydrates: Friend not Foe
By Katie Boscia, MS, RD, IBCLC, CDE Everyone can benefit from a carbohydrate-conscious diet, not just people living with diabetes. When people are first diagnosed with diabetes, they sometimes cut carbohydrates, or carbs, completely from their diet. This is unfortunately not the way to go. Any extreme diet restriction that’s not medically necessary can deprive […]
Healthy Exercise Habits for People with Diabetes
By Ryan Lawson, Exercise Specialist Exercise has been shown to be an excellent way to regulate and/or help manage diabetes. There are two types of exercise recommended to help control diabetes: aerobic exercise and strength training. Aerobic exercise is defined as any sustained exercise such as jogging, rowing, swimming or cycling that stimulates and strengthens the […]
COPD Treatment: Managing a Progressive Disease with Proactive Therapy
By Jennifer Carr, BSN, MA If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you’re not alone. COPD affects more than 15 million Americans according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COPD is a term for a group of conditions that causes breathing problems which include but […]
Setting Your Child Up for a Healthy Heart
By Emily Ruden, MD Cardiologist at Riverview Health There’s no doubt that getting your kids to eat healthy can be a challenge. But setting a good example from a young age can not only shape their eating habits for later in life, but it can set them up for excellent heart health as an adult. […]