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RPMH celebrates Wear Red Day |
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Written by Amanda Moreno
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Monday, 08 February 2010 |
Red, red, everywhere.
February is National Heart Month and Friday, Feb. 5, was National Wear Red Day.
The sea of red extended all the way to Sweetwater.
Just as pink has become the National Breast Cancer Awareness color; the color red is making a bold statement for heart health.
On Feb. 5, everyone was encouraged to take part in the movement and wear their favorite red article of clothing. The most recognized symbol for heart health is the red dress.
The Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital had a reception, with heart healthy snacks, such as almonds, pistachios, assorted fruits, dark chocolates and red dress shaped cookies. The reception was a welcoming site and an invitation to free blood pressure and cholesterol checks.
The RPMH volunteer staff worked together with the dietary department and other hospital staff to put on this event for the public. Throughout the year, the volunteers put on different activities to help raise awareness in the community. The hospital is always looking to expand it's volunteer program and welcomes anyone that would like to become a volunteer.
A healthy range for your cholesterol level, according to the American Heart Association, is below 200 mg/dL. Your HDL, which is good cholesterol, should be 40 mg/dL or higher. Their statistics, from 2007, show that 36.6 million American adults have cholesterol levels of 240 or higher, which is classified as a major risk factor.
A healthy blood pressure level should be below 120/80. A high blood pressure is anything over 140/90. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 1999-2004, there are 72 million adults, over age 20, with a prevalence of high blood pressure.
High levels of blood pressure are cholesterol can lead to heart attack or stroke, but there are precautions that can be taken to control these levels and prevent heart attacks and strokes.
The best way to monitor your levels is to have regular checkups with your doctor. If you have diabetes make sure that you are keeping it under control and monitor your levels at all times. Eating healthy, staying active, keeping an eye on your weight and cutting out tobacco use, are ways to lesson the chances of a heart attack or stroke.
Make sure and keep other risk factors, such as age, sex and heredity in mind. As age increases, the risk factors also increase. Neither of these problems is bias and also affect both men and women. Women are more at risk after menopause, but men are considered to be at a greater risk. Heredity also plays a key part in raising the risk factors. African Americans are more likely to have high blood pressure and are prone to strokes, earlier in life and can see severe results, according to the American Heart Association. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 09 February 2010 )
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