Time to Assess Your Heart Health

It’s American Heart Month, a good time to assess your cardiovascular fitness. Heart health directly impacts physical and mental health, the ability to work safely, and overall quality of life.

Tips

1. Get regular checkups to monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Hypertension is a “silent killer.”
2. Get tested for pre-diabetes or diabetes, as recommended; type 2 diabetes doubles heart disease risk.
3. Modify contributing factors such smoking, lack of exercise, unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol, being overweight, or poor sleep habits.

Did You Know?

Depression, anxiety, or stressful situations may cause accelerated heart rate or blood-pressure fluctuations. Untreated mental health disorders can trigger the body to build up calcium that clogs arteries. WorkCare’s occupational health providers can recommend physical and behavioral health interventions to help reduce these risks.

Katy Cnossen, BSN, MSN, NP-C, is a Clinic Manager and Nurse Practitioner at WorkCare