Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 5-5-17

Health
CONTROL YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
Check your
BP every day.
Talk to your
doctor about
your personal
blood pressure
goal. The ideal
way to hit your
goal is with a
healthy lifestyle. You may also have to use medi- cine. Tell your doctor if your BP changes.
KEEP AN EYE ON SYMPTOMS DAILY
If you’re living with
heart disease or conges-
tive heart failure in partic-
ular, stay on top of
changes in your body. One
easy way to do that is to
write down your symp-
toms when you notice
them. Do you feel shortness of breath? Are your hands and feet swollen? Do you have a cough? Tell your doc- tor if you notice anything new.
KEEP TRACK OF LIQUIDS
Ask your doctor if you need to limit how much fluid you get per day. Remember, it's not just what you drink that counts. Ice, ice cream, hard candy, sherbet, gelatin, and soup all add up. Weigh yourself every morn- ing. Quick weight gain can be a sign that you’re building up fluid.
EAT HEALTHY
Follow a well-rounded diet. Fruits and veggies should fill up about half of your plate at each meal. And don’t forget to have some whole grains. Low-fat or fat-free dairy will also help. Lean meats, seafood, beans, seeds, and processed soy should be your proteins. Keep solid fats, refined grains, and sugars to a minimum.
EXERCISE
Be active. It's great for you when you
have heart disease. It can lower your cho-
lesterol and blood pressure, and help you
lose extra weight. Move every day if you can.
Aim to work your way up to 30 minutes of
physical activity a day, at least 5 days a
week. Wondering what to do? Good exer-
cises for the heart use large-muscle groups like your legs. You could walk, ride a bike, or swim. Talk to your doctor before you start a new fitness routine to find out what's safe for you.
WATCH YOUR SODIUM
Sodium makes your body hold onto
fluid. That can raise your blood pressure,
cause swelling in your legs, or make it hard
to breathe. Most of your sodium comes from
salt. Don't cook with it, and don’t add it to
food before you eat, either. Instead, use
herbs or no-salt seasoning. Choose fresh
vegetables. If you use canned or frozen veggies, make sure they’re un- salted. Also, look for low-sodium foods at the store.
PAGE 8-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017