American Heart Month - Heart Healthy Habits

Part of an ongoing series dedicated to raising health and safety awareness across the Temple community.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States. The good news is that deaths from cardiovascular disease are declining in the US, according to the American Heart Association. The bad news is that risk factors for heart disease are rising. Many of these risk factors are within our control:

• Don’t smoke. Make an agreement with yourself to quit and ask your healthcare professional for information and programs that may help.

• Improve your eating habits. Eat fruits, vegetables, cereals, dried peas and beans, pasta, fish, skinless poultry and lean meats. Ask your doctor, nurse or licensed nutritionist for help.

• Be more physically active. Look for chances to be more active. Take 10 to 15-minute walking breaks during the day or after meals. Check with your doctor before you start if you’ve been inactive a long time.

• Have regular medical check-ups.

• Have your blood pressure checked regularly.

• Take your medicine, if needed, to control high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.

Temple University’s Health and Safety Committee has partnered with the American Heart Association and Go Red for Women to present numerous workshops aimed at educating our employees on heart healthy habits. For a schedule of upcoming events, please click here.

If you have health insurance through Independence Blue Cross, please take advantage of the Healthy Lifestyles program, which provides coverage and reimbursement for smoking cessation programs, nutritionist visits, fitness programs, and more. Click here for more information. In addition, if you are a Temple University employee, you can be seen for blood pressure and cholesterol screenings at the Employee Health office on Main Campus. Please call 215-204-2679 to schedule an appointment.

This article is part of an ongoing series of health and safety articles aiming to raise awareness among Temple University employees, faculty and students about a range of health and safety issues. This is an initiative developed by Temple’s Health and Safety Committee, comprising members from across the University community. If you have health and safety questions, suggestions or concerns, please e-mail the Health and Safety Committee at healthandsafety@temple.edu.