LEWISBURG — February is Rock Red for Healthy Hearts Month, but an Evangelical Community Hospital cardiologist says we should make heart healthy choices all year long. Dr. Petra Lynch says it is important to recognize your risk factors.
Lynch says ask yourself, “Has anyone in your family, at a young age, had a heart attack? Do you smoke? Are you over weight? Do you not exercise? Do you have diabetes? Do you have other vascular disease or blockages? Do you have high cholesterol? Do you have high blood pressure? For women, do you have a history of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia?”
Dr. Lynch says it is important to make lifestyle changes, “The first thing that I tell people is to cut out the fast food, followed by sugars. You also need to exercise, and stop smoking. I think where there is a will, there is a way. You just need to be convinced and passionate about what you do. It’s just about how passionate you are about preventing heart disease and how passionate you are about your lifestyle change. A lot of people will follow, if you just lead the way.”
You can hear more of her heart healthy tips by downloading Wednesday’s WKOK Sunrise. February is Rock Red for Healthy Hearts Month, and there is a free heart screening coming up Friday morning at the Central PA Chamber of Commerce in Milton. You can sign up for that and learn more about preventing heart disease here. (Codi Jade)