Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. But you can take control of your heart health by following simple lifestyle changes to reduce your risks. An online program developed by St. Elizabeth Healthcare offers tips, tools and strategies for living a life free from heart disease.
Jeanie Foley is a registered nurse and the prevention and wellness program manager for the Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth. She oversees mobile screenings in the community and brings heart health education to schools and other organizations. Foley led the development of Take Time for Your Heart and says this free virtual program can benefit everyone.
“It’s great for older adults, but also for families with children, pregnant women and people approaching middle age,” Foley says. “It’s also a perfect tool for people with a heart disease diagnosis who may be looking to improve their quality of life or decrease symptoms or problems they are experiencing because of their disease.
“With this program, everyone can learn something to help them take better care of their hearts.”
You Can Take Time for Your Heart
Anyone can access Take Time for Your Heart anytime, day or night, from a computer, smartphone or tablet. The website includes a wide range of information presented in various ways, including engaging videos and interesting articles.
“There’s something for you, no matter your learning style,” Foley says.
Take Time for Your Heart answers many questions people ask about heart disease. By visiting the site, you’ll learn how you can:
- Be more active.
- Control blood sugar.
- Improve eating habits.
- Manage cholesterol.
- Reach a healthy weight.
- Regulate blood pressure.
- Transform your sleep.
“That’s just a small sampling of the information you’ll find at Take Time for Your Heart,” says Foley, who expects to add even more information to the site over time.
You Can Achieve Heart Health
Take Time for Your Heart fits into any lifestyle. You can also dive deeper into topics you may not have time to discuss with your provider. These include decreasing sodium to reduce stress and managing your medications.
“So many times, we healthcare providers ask others to take measures they can’t easily incorporate into their busy lives,” Foley says. “It just doesn’t work for them. But Take Time for Your Heart is a program you can access on your own time and on your terms.”
She even recommends that families review parts of the program around the dinner table.
“Even if you don’t have heart disease today, you can improve your family’s health for the future. Take Time for Your Heart can help you teach your children how important it is to eat healthy and move more,” Foley says.
You Can Start Small to Make Big Changes
Foley says starting small is the best way to make changes without feeling overwhelmed. “At St. Elizabeth, we care deeply about our community and want everyone to have the tools they need to get and stay healthy,” Foley says. “The steps can seem like a lot, but if you focus on one thing at a time, begin slowly, and remember that this process isn’t a sprint — it’s a marathon — you can easily incorporate changes to decrease your risk of heart disease and other chronic health conditions.”
How to Take Time for Your Heart
Get started online with Take Time for Your Heart here. Use any tablet, smartphone or computer to access. Learn more about heart and vascular care at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
