Living Well
Make time to focus on living well – for yourself AND the ones you love!
We all strive to stay healthy, but we also all know that sometimes making the best decisions for ourselves isn’t an easy task. With a world full of temptations, it can be difficult to live a healthy and active life.
Capital Medical Center believes in keeping our community informed about ways to take our health into our own hands and make the smartest lifestyle choices. In this Living Well section, you will find helpful articles with important information that can help you live better every day.
From basic information to common tips to more extreme life-changing opportunities, we believe in helping you lead your own way to a longer, happier and healthier life!
See our featured articles below or click on one of the options to the left to learn more about ways to live well!
Live it Out!
Here are four simple ways you can live heart-smart. And if you need some motivation, just remember:
80 percent of heart disease and stroke is preventable!
- Eat Smart: Avoid foods with saturated fats and trans fats. Choose meat and poultry that is lean. Eat more fish. Cut down on salt. Include plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy products in your diet.
- Unpack Those Extra Pounds: People who are overweight or obese have a higher risk for heart disease.
- Get Off The Couch: Physical activity, whether it’s a brisk walk or mowing the lawn, strengthens your heart and improves circulation. Try to exercise 30 to 60 minutes a day, five days a week.
- Say No To Tobacco: If you smoke, the single best way to prevent heart disease is to quit the habit.
Helping Mr. Sandman
A good night’s sleep is important for good health. Unfortunately, an estimated 70 million Americans have a hard time falling or staying asleep. They suffer from a wide variety of sleep disorders – everything from snoring and sleep apnea to insomnia and restless leg syndrome. Lack of sleep contributes to chronic tiredness, weight gain, depression and other health problems. For example, about 25 percent of adults are habitual snorers, a sign of a serious disorder called sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea stop breathing for 10 to 15 seconds or longer, sometimes hundreds of times during the night. As a result, the brain and the rest of the body are not getting enough oxygen. Left untreated, sleep apnea can result in multiple health problems, including high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, diabetes and depression.
If you’re not getting a good night’s sleep or think you might snore (just ask your loved ones!), talk to your doctor or contact one of the Sleep Disorder Centers at Capital Medical Center.
Olympia Sleep Laboratory
(360) 754-9559
olympiasleeplab.com
RPSW Sleep Center
AASM Accredited
(360) 754-1739
www.rpswsleepcenter.com
Heartburn – Or Heart Attack?
You’re feeling a burning sensation in your chest. Is it just a case of heartburn? Or the first signs of a serious heart attack? Answering those questions can be the difference between life and death.
So how do you know?
Heartburn Symptoms
Heartburn has nothing to do with your heart. It occurs when a small amount of digestive acid leaks out of the stomach and into your throat. People with heartburn experience a burning sensation, usually after lying down, bending or eating. Sometimes there is a bitter taste in the mouth.
Heart Attack Symptoms
Like heartburn, a heart attack can start with mild chest pain or upper body discomfort. Indeed, most heart attack symptoms begin slowly. The pain often spreads to the back, neck, jaw, stomach and arms, especially the left arm. Other heart attack symptoms include:
- Sudden and severe pressure, pain, or tightening in the center of the chest (However,in many cases, women having a heart attack do not experience chest pain.)
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort with sweating, nausea, dizziness and lightheadedness
When in doubt, play it safe and call 9-1-1 within the first five minutes after symptoms occur.
The Simple Truth About Arthritis
One in five adults in the United States suffers from arthritis, an inflammation of the joints that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and lack of mobility. Unfortunately, half of all Americans believe that nothing can be done to treat arthritis. True, there is currently no cure for arthritis: but there are many treatments available, such as physical therapy and medications, which can relieve the symptoms. There’s no reason to live with unnecessary pain. Talk to your physician about the best treatment options for your situation.
You could also join us at one of our Joint & Spine Seminars and learn what you can do about knee or hip pain. You will learn some of the causes and some of the latest treatments, including information about medications, nutrition and exercise.
See more about our Free Joint Pain (and other) Free Seminars>>