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February is Heart Month

Healthy heart, healthy you

We focus on healthy hearts every day at UM Health-Sparrow and during February’s Heart Month some extra attention is given to showcase the benefits of healthy eating and healthy lifestyles. Below are some heart health tips as we strive to raise awareness in Mid-Michigan about the prevalence and severity of heart disease, which claims 655,000 lives in the United States each year.

UM Health-Sparrow is offering a three-part Women’s Heart Health Webinar Series led by trusted UM Health-Sparrow professionals covering all aspects of heart health. Find registration information at UM Health-Sparrow.org/WomensHeartHealthSeries.

Please join us in improving health, saving lives, and making every month Heart Month!

In case of emergency, please call 911.

Cardiovascular Medicine

Thoracic Cardiovascular Institute (TCI)

Asian Family Preparing Food Kitchen

Healthy Eating

  • Healthy eating can help you significantly reduce, if not eliminate, your risk of heart disease. Start with small changes like eating 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily and limiting consumption of salts, processed foods, saturated fats, and alcohol. 
  • Looking to manage your weight? See how UM Health-Sparrow Bariatrics can help you maintain or achieve a healthy weight.
  • Check out our UM Health-Sparrow Healthy Bites videos to find healthy recipes for any occasion.
  • You don’t need to be a chef to make nutritious, heart-healthy foods for the whole family. Learn new recipes, how to add more color to your diet, and more at Heart.org
  • Quick tips for healthy eating:
    • Eat 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. 
    • Read food labels and look for the Heart-Check mark on packaged foods. Cut back on processed foods
    • Limit intake of added sugars (like in some sports drinks, coffee, juice, condiments, ice cream, soda, and baked goods) and replace with fruits, 100% juice, sparkling water, and unsweetened tea. 
    • Cut back on salt consumption. Watch out for sneaky sodium in pizza, meats, soup, and sandwiches.
    • Replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats such as fish, nuts, and avocados.
    • Add more color to your diet including tomatoes, oranges, blueberries, and eggplants.
    • Limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day or less for women and two drinks per day or less for men.
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Exercise

  • Devote this month to loving yourself more. MAC is excited to get you moving more and feeling your best this #HeartMonth and beyond. Visit UM Health-Sparrow.org/MAC to learn about the programs, services, and amenities offered at the MAC. 
  • AL!VE at Eaton wants to help you transform, empower, and enhance your wellbeing. Take a group exercise class, join the fitness center, and more at myalive.com
  • Find tips on fitness basics, staying motivated, and moving more at Heart.org.

Healthy Lifestyle

  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American men and women, but the good news is that heart disease is often preventable.
  • Do you know the symptoms of heart attacks and stroke? The American Heart Association shares what to look out for at Heart.org.
  • Learn how to manage stress with heart-healthy habits and other mental health and wellbeing tips at Heart.org.
  • Smoking puts you at higher risk for heart disease and stroke. Learn the risks and quit today at Heart.org.

Sleep

Diabetes

  • According to the CDC, more than 34 million Americans have diabetes and one in five of them don’t know they have it. Knowledge is the key to controlling diabetes.
  • The multidisciplinary team approach at UM Health-Sparrow Diabetes & Endocrinology enables us to provide comprehensive care for even the most complex medical and surgical needs. Read about Mid-Michigan’s only multidisciplinary diabetes service and how we can help you at UM Health-Sparrow.org/Diabetes or call 517.364.8080.
  • Read about diabetes types, causes, treatment, and more at Diabetes.org
  • Take a risk test, find nutrition tips, make a fitness plan, and more at Diabetes.org.

Weight Management

  • Managing your weight is a key factor in preventing heart disease, as well as other health complications. See how UM Health-Sparrow Bariatrics can help you maintain or achieve a healthy weight this Heart Month and beyond.
  • Find tips on managing your weight, fitness basics, staying motivated, and moving more at Heart.org.