BE GOOD TO YOUR HEART AND STAY WELL AHEAD

You may have heard the words ‘cardiovascular disease’ when reading or listening to the news. This is actually an umbrella term, used for the host of diseases that involve the heart and blood vessels. These conditions, which are primarily lifestyle mediated, include heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. As I often tell my patients ‘you can’t change your genes but you can fit better into them.’

It should be no surprise, then, to learn that with the rise of obesity and diabetes (especially in children), physical inactivity, smoking cigarettes and salt intake, more and more people are suffering from these diseases.

TAKE A GOOD LOOK AROUND YOU

Yet there are ways to help stave them off. Start by taking a look at yourself and those around you. How do you see yourself? Do you have a ‘support group’ of family and friends? Are they, in fact, supporting you—emotionally and spiritually? When you are together, do they eat healthy meals?

There are many ‘habits’ that constitute neither a healthy nor an unhealthy lifestyle. Let’s take one of the most obvious—eating and nutrition. What are your eating habits? Do you traditionally eat meals or do you grab your food while you are rushing around? Do you have family dinners where people talk to each other and share stories?

ONE THING TO TRY

Try experiencing what I like to call a ‘gratitude dinner’ once a week. If possible, do it on Sunday. Have the whole family plan the menu and cook it together during the day. Then enjoy the meal together in the evening. Make this a gradual habit, which can bring your family unit closer together. By creating the meal together, the family is supporting each other—nutritionally, emotionally, and spiritually. On a very basic level, it is very important for children to learn that their parents support them and don’t only give lip service; the gratitude dinner can help to create this atmosphere.

I will be writing periodically about lifestyle and the many other health-related habits that help prevent heart disease. Let me know what you would like to discuss.

ABOUT DR. BULGARELLI

Robert J. Bulgarelli, D.O., practices Cardiology and Internal Medicine at Riddle Hospital. He received his degree in Osteopathic Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed a residency and fellowship in Cardiology at Lankenu Medical Center. He is the Director of Integrative Cardiovascular Medicine for Main Line Health System. He also completed a two-year distance fellowship with Dr. Andrew Weil at the University of Arizona’s Program in Integrative Medicine.