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If you are cooking at home, it can be tempting to prepare comfort foods that are high in saturated fats or sugars. Packaged foods can be especially tempting, but these items are typically not beneficial for your heart health. In this segment, we will provide some tips for maintaining a heart-healthy diet in today’s world. 

In the current climate, gyms are closed and we are all doing our best to maintain a healthy routine while staying at home. These are strange times, but they don’t have to be bad news for your heart. 

There are plenty of ways to stay active during a period of social distancing. While it may be tempting to relax on the couch, committing to just thirty minutes of physical activity a day can have a big impact on your heart health. Tomorrow in part two of this segment, we will provide some tips for heart-healthy home cooking. By combining these two elements, you will be well prepared to weather the storm. 

Far less invasive than a standard colonoscopy, a virtual colonoscopy via CT scanning is a welcome, non-invasive procedure that also accomplishes the goal of detecting any signs of colon cancer or other abnormalities. You might want to schedule a virtual colonoscopy if you’re uncomfortable proceeding with a regular colonoscopy or there is a medical issue that would put you at risk in a standard colonoscopy (risk of excess bleeding).

Unfortunately, like many cancers, the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer can often be confused for those of other conditions. This is why it’s important that people the age of 50 and older get tested for colorectal cancer even if they don’t experience any of the common symptoms. Generally, people will often experience these symptoms after the cancer has progressed to a stage that is more difficult to treat than asymptomatic cancer that is found through early detection.

Age 50 is well known as the benchmark for when to get screened for colon cancer assuming normal health circumstances. This screening period generally starts at age 50 and then continues periodically until age 75. Needless to say, it’s highly recommended that people follow these general guidelines for screening to detect any abnormalities as a preventative method for colorectal cancer.

There is some mixed information about how impactful vitamin D is regarding heart health, and whether or not boosting your body’s vitamin D levels through supplements would be beneficial. We can say with confidence that there are certainly benefits to healthy levels of vitamin D, especially for bone health, but the story for the heart is a little more complex.

Cardiovascular disease is by far the leading cause of death among diabetics. According to the American Heart Association, at least 68 percent of people 65 or older with diabetes die from heart disease, and at least 16 percent die of stroke. In fact, diabetic adults are more than twice as likely to die from heart disease as adults without diabetes.

If you know you have a family history of high blood pressure before the age of 60, you’re not alone. Those with a family history of high blood pressure do have a higher risk of having high blood pressure themselves, one of the primary risk factors for heart disease.

The causes of heart disease can take many forms, which is why mental health - as much as any other form of wellness - is essential for a healthy heart. Regardless of whether or not you suffer from heart disease, it’s important to take the time you need to address your mental health needs. Whether you suffer from anxiety, depression, or both, finding the resources you need to help you achieve a healthier mental state will offer compounding benefits for your overall health.