In This Season of Love
This season dedicated to love brings forth emotions associated with greeting cards, advertisements, and precious moments shared with loved ones. We often hear that the heart is the window to the soul; indeed, it is generally easier to identify individuals whose words and actions reflect a “good” heart. However, determining whether a heart is not only “good” in character but also healthy poses a greater challenge. You may want to take steps to ensure your heart is healthy in both respects.
By Alicia Wanek
Prioritizing Heart Health
You probably have some knowledge about maintaining heart health. The American Heart Association emphasizes the significance of consistent physical activity, effective stress management, maintaining a healthy weight, eating nutritious foods, and avoiding smoking as essential practices for a heart-healthy lifestyle. Yet, these fundamental principles often prove difficult to implement daily. Finding time for exercise is tough, quick meals become the norm, and escaping stress feels almost impossible amidst life’s busy demands from work and family. Additionally, you may face an underlying risk of heart disease due to hereditary or congenital issues that you might not even be aware of.
Quick Risk Assessment
What if you could discover your risk of heart disease with a procedure that takes less than 10 minutes? Advanced cardiac radiology today can provide just that, potentially offering you the reassurance you seek. Envision Imaging presents a non-invasive, pain-free procedure capable of capturing 70 to 90 images of your coronary arteries without any needles, injections, or removal of clothing. The quantity of plaque found can help establish a cardiac score, which you and your doctor can use to assess your risk level. If heart disease is identified, you can proactively discuss methods to reduce your risk. They also provide follow-up procedures such as CT scans, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, and angiography that your doctor may suggest for a more detailed examination of your cardiovascular health.
Raising Awareness for Women’s Heart Health
Traditionally viewed as primarily affecting men, the American Heart Association has been actively raising awareness about heart disease in women since 2004. Their successful “Go Red for Women” initiative has spotlighted the fact that cardiovascular disease take the lives of more than 500,000 women annually, with over 900,000 women joining the movement to help promote awareness. The campaign delivers a strong message and has also significantly influenced the sale of red dresses during February!
Knowing Your Cardiac Score
Understanding your cardiac score can be beneficial for everyone. During this time of year, when we emphasize family, meaningful moments, and “good” hearts, it may be the perfect opportunity to evaluate your heart’s health so that it can continue to thrive, allowing you to enjoy those cherished experiences for many years ahead.
Editor’s Note: Envision Imaging offers a non-invasive, pain-free 10-minute procedure that captures 70 to 90 images of your coronary arteries without any needles, injections, or clothing removal.
To schedule an appointment or for additional information, visit www.envrad.com.
