February is National Heart Health Awareness month. As your partner in integrative medicine, we are here to help you maintain a heart healthy lifestyle – which includes staying active with regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and keeping stress to a minimum.
Recent statistics predict that 45 percent of people in the U.S. will have at least one issue related to heart disease by 2035. Heart disease has been dubbed the silent killer because many of its symptoms are hard to detect until it’s dangerously late. It is also the leading cause of death for women and unfortunately, we are seeing it growing in frequency in young adults.
While a preventative approach towards maintaining a healthy heart is imperative and something we offer all patients, we also work with patients who are already facing challenges like high blood pressure (hypertension), atherosclerosis (the hardening of the arteries), and diabetes.
Here’s a closer look at how we work with our patients to reduce the risk of heart complications:
Functional Medicine
Part of raising awareness for heart health is looking at the hard truth that most heart disease is preventable. While causes vary from person to person, poor dietary patterns, smoking, high blood pressure, and lack of physical activity are contributing factors that can all be modified.
Working to reverse risk and eliminate the causes of heart disease, a Functional Medicine doctor can help you create a comprehensive picture of your health and biochemical makeup. Going beyond standard treatments, your care plan will then be tailored to your precise health history.
After getting to the root cause of your symptoms, Functional Medicine providers a pathway towards fully optimizing your health. Our Functional Medicine team includes providers and dietitians who work together to empower patients with individualized diet and lifestyle modifications that can reverse factors that contribute to heart disease.
Acupuncture
Studies have demonstrated that acupuncture may improve heart health by lowering blood pressure and even improving function in patients with heart failure. Acupuncture is also effective in assisting with immediate lifestyle changes like improving sleep, aiding with weight loss, quitting smoking, and reducing stress.
Massage
Stress can lead to a variety of health challenges, including heart disease. Massage can be an effective tool in managing stress, as it helps reduce stress hormones and improve circulation at the same time. While it may seem like a luxury, massage is an invaluable tool for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. To help make massage an accessible part of self-care, we are now offering our patients a Monthly Massage Wellness Plan. Learn more, here!
Chiropractic Physical Medicine
Your heart is the most important muscle in your body and it requires exercise to stay healthy. Our Chiropractic Physical Medicine team can help you resolve any musculoskeletal challenges or injuries that are preventing you from living your best, active life!
We recommend exercise for at least 150 minutes per week (that’s less than 25 minutes a day)! If anything is stopping you from staying active, book an appointment with our Chiropractic Physical Medicine team.
Get Your Blood Pressure Checked Often
It’s important to get your blood pressure checked regularly – at least once a year for adults, and more often if you have high blood pressure. This month we’ll be offering blood pressure screenings with every complimentary functional medicine consultation.
For more heart healthy tips, stay tuned on our social media this month! Click here to schedule an appointment of free consultation at any of our convenient Chicagoland and suburban locations!
