You are never too young, or too old, to take care of your heart. Preventing heart disease is one of the key factors to keeping your heart healthy, and with February being Heart Health Awareness Month, now more than ever, it is vital to raise awareness and be informed about heart health.
Physicians Regional Cardiologist, Dr. Sarah deLeon Mansson says, “The foundation of cardiovascular treatment is exercise and adopting a more heart healthy diet. By incorporating stress reduction techniques such as yoga & meditation, along with the latest diagnostic and therapeutic regimens if necessary, my office provides a space for patients, both men and women, to be treated with this whole person approach.”
Some of these healthy habits include maintaining a healthy weight, sustaining healthy sleep habits, and refraining from smoking. Additionally, eating a healthy diet that is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt, staying away from refined carbohydrates, and exercising 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week, can be beneficial as well.
According to the American Heart Association the facts below are key to keeping a healthy heart:
• Watch your numbers closely: With age comes increased risk for heart disease, and your blood pressure, cholesterol, and other heart-related numbers tend to rise.
• Watch your weight: As you grow older your body needs less calories. Excess weight will strain your heart because it is working harder to keep up, this increases your risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Exercising regularly and eating smaller portions of nutrient rich foods can help maintain a healthy weight.
• Know the signs: Heart attack symptoms in women can be differ from those in men. Knowing the signs of a heart attack or stroke makes it more likely you will receive care in a timely manner. Acting fast can save your life and prevent serious disability.
• Manage your stress: We all have stressors in our lives. Whether it be at work, home, or in our day to day interactions in life, stress is inevitable. However there are many ways to combat and manage stress in your life.
– Count to 10 before you speak or react. Taking the time to think through your response to a stressful situation can help you make an informed decision about what you want to say and even help find a resolution
– Take a break. Going for a walk, walking the dog, listening to music or a podcast can help take your mind off of stress
– Exercise. Working out your aggression or stress is not only great for your mental health, but for your physical health as well
– Take time for a quick meditation or mindful moment
– Sleep on it, if it is not urgent it can be very helpful to take a beat and make a decision after a good night’s rest
– Remove yourself from the stressful situation. Physically removing yourself from a situation that is causing stress can help reduce stress immediately and help prevent further tension/conflict
Please consider the benefits of all the heart health tips above and remember that even though heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, it is also one of the most preventable.
Sarah deLeon Mansson, D.O., FACC CARDIOLOGY
Dr. Sarah deLeon Mansson is board certified in cardiology, and promotes an integrative approach to cardiology with healthy lifestyle choices and therapeutic whole body medicine. She practices non-invasive clinical cardiology to include echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), nuclear cardiology, electrocardiograms (ECG or EKG), holter monitors, and women’s heart health.
Dr. Mansson’s offices are located in Naples at Physicians Regional – Pine Ridge, 6101 Pine Ridge Rd and Physicians Regional – Collier Blvd, 8340 Collier Blvd. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 239-348-4221, or schedule online at
www.PhysiciansRegionalMedicalGroup.com