American Heart Month February 2024, 2025
Below are the graphics and information posted on What the HALE Fitness and Nutrition from American Heart Month.
As some of the graphics may be hard to read, you can zoom in on the screen or go to the What the HALE Fitness and Nutrition Facebook and Instagram pages or to the American Heart Association for clearer images/graphics.
As some of the graphics may be hard to read, you can zoom in on the screen or go to the What the HALE Fitness and Nutrition Facebook and Instagram pages or to the American Heart Association for clearer images/graphics.
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Did you know that February is American Heart Month?!
The AHA (American Heart Association) works closely with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) to create cardiovascular health and fitness guidelines through science-based evidence from the latest peer-reviewed scientific studies.
Why should this matter to you?
Because cardiovascular disease doesn't give a shit about what race you are, what gender you are, what genetics you have, what age you are, or how much you exercise.
HOWEVER...
You can do things that can reduce your risk factors for cardiovascular disease or a cardiac event as well as have a more successful outcome if you do have a cardiac event or get diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease.
Check in at What the HALE Fitness and Nutrition on our Facebook and Instagram not just this month but frequently to get PRO TIPS and information on what you can do to reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease along with PRO TIPS and information regarding health, nutrition, fitness, and wellness!
You can do it!
The AHA (American Heart Association) works closely with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) to create cardiovascular health and fitness guidelines through science-based evidence from the latest peer-reviewed scientific studies.
Why should this matter to you?
Because cardiovascular disease doesn't give a shit about what race you are, what gender you are, what genetics you have, what age you are, or how much you exercise.
HOWEVER...
You can do things that can reduce your risk factors for cardiovascular disease or a cardiac event as well as have a more successful outcome if you do have a cardiac event or get diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease.
Check in at What the HALE Fitness and Nutrition on our Facebook and Instagram not just this month but frequently to get PRO TIPS and information on what you can do to reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease along with PRO TIPS and information regarding health, nutrition, fitness, and wellness!
You can do it!
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These are infographics from the American Heart Association in 2018, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
All of these numbers are relevant.
As a critical care paramedic, I can tell you we go on a significant amount of calls regarding cardiovascular health and emergencies.
Some of these cardiovascular calls have good outcomes, others, not so much.
As a fitness and health professional, there are times when these cardiovascular calls are extremely frustrating and take it's toll; physically and mentally.
Why?
Because many aspects of cardiovascular health and disease can and are influenced by the habits people have!
Fitness/health/nutrition/wellness habits have a significant impact on cardiovascular health from disease prevention to being able to recover from a cardiovascular event, should one occur.
Good quality fitness, health, nutrition, and wellness habits, done constantly over time can be the difference between watching TV shows like ER/Chicago Fire, and VS being the patient in the back of the ambulance/ER being worked on by us paramedics.
If you are concerned about your cardiovascular health or have some risk factors for cardiovascular disease, it's not too late to start changing your habits for a better quality of life!
There are many quality health/fitness/nutritional/wellness professionals, like myself, who can help you get started and going on the path to an overall healthier lifestyle, healthier habits and help reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors.
You can do it!
All of these numbers are relevant.
As a critical care paramedic, I can tell you we go on a significant amount of calls regarding cardiovascular health and emergencies.
Some of these cardiovascular calls have good outcomes, others, not so much.
As a fitness and health professional, there are times when these cardiovascular calls are extremely frustrating and take it's toll; physically and mentally.
Why?
Because many aspects of cardiovascular health and disease can and are influenced by the habits people have!
Fitness/health/nutrition/wellness habits have a significant impact on cardiovascular health from disease prevention to being able to recover from a cardiovascular event, should one occur.
Good quality fitness, health, nutrition, and wellness habits, done constantly over time can be the difference between watching TV shows like ER/Chicago Fire, and VS being the patient in the back of the ambulance/ER being worked on by us paramedics.
If you are concerned about your cardiovascular health or have some risk factors for cardiovascular disease, it's not too late to start changing your habits for a better quality of life!
There are many quality health/fitness/nutritional/wellness professionals, like myself, who can help you get started and going on the path to an overall healthier lifestyle, healthier habits and help reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors.
You can do it!
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In 2010, the American Heart Association (AHA) created a program Healthy for Good, Life's Simple 7, which outlined the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and to provide guidelines along with tips on how to reduce those risk factors.
The AHA, along with the CDC and ACSM, do continuous research to help keep this information up-to-date. This information not only helps the general public but also the health care professionals, fitness professionals, and nutrition professionals who work with individuals who want to become healthier and reduce their risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
In 2022, the AHA updated Healthy for Good, Life's Simple 7 to Life's Essential 8, which now includes the impact of sleep on cardiovascular health.
Cardiovascular health is nothing to shrug off or ignore.
Having the mindset of if you ignore it, it doesn't exist or it will go away is a recipe for disaster and even death.
Here at What the HALE Fitness and Nutrition, this month, we will dive into the AHA's Life's Essential 8 and how it impacts YOU.
There is no better time than THE PRESENT to discuss your cardiovascular health with your primary care provider (PCP) to determine what risk factors you may have. Then you can look into your health/fitness/nutrition habits and how they impact your cardiovascular health with a fitness and nutrition professional, who can help you, along with your PCP, to start reducing those cardiovascular disease risk factors.
You can do it!
The AHA, along with the CDC and ACSM, do continuous research to help keep this information up-to-date. This information not only helps the general public but also the health care professionals, fitness professionals, and nutrition professionals who work with individuals who want to become healthier and reduce their risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
In 2022, the AHA updated Healthy for Good, Life's Simple 7 to Life's Essential 8, which now includes the impact of sleep on cardiovascular health.
Cardiovascular health is nothing to shrug off or ignore.
Having the mindset of if you ignore it, it doesn't exist or it will go away is a recipe for disaster and even death.
Here at What the HALE Fitness and Nutrition, this month, we will dive into the AHA's Life's Essential 8 and how it impacts YOU.
There is no better time than THE PRESENT to discuss your cardiovascular health with your primary care provider (PCP) to determine what risk factors you may have. Then you can look into your health/fitness/nutrition habits and how they impact your cardiovascular health with a fitness and nutrition professional, who can help you, along with your PCP, to start reducing those cardiovascular disease risk factors.
You can do it!
There are 8 aspects of the American Heart Association's (AHA), Healthy For Good; Life's Essential 8 program and guidelines/tips for cardiovascular health.
Today, we will take a look at the AHA tips on HOW TO EAT BETTER for cardiovascular health.
This infographic is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to options regarding healthier nutritional choices and habits.
Changing nutritional habits and learning how to make better quality nutritional choices doesn't have to be overwhelming, daunting, or tedious!
Utilizing a heath/fitness/nutrition/wellness certified professional, like myself and people like me, can help you navigate through the vast amount of legitimate information as well as the misinformation/pseudoscience, to help you make the best choices to ensure positive results toward your goals.
If you have questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Today, we will take a look at the AHA tips on HOW TO EAT BETTER for cardiovascular health.
This infographic is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to options regarding healthier nutritional choices and habits.
Changing nutritional habits and learning how to make better quality nutritional choices doesn't have to be overwhelming, daunting, or tedious!
Utilizing a heath/fitness/nutrition/wellness certified professional, like myself and people like me, can help you navigate through the vast amount of legitimate information as well as the misinformation/pseudoscience, to help you make the best choices to ensure positive results toward your goals.
If you have questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Day 2 of 8 from AHA's Healthy For Good; Life's Essential 8 is weight management.
Now, this infographic is a little bit misleading and has some overgeneralization going on. Let me explain.
1. Keeping track of calories in vs calories out.
This can be tricky as we generally underestimate how many calories we intake, and we overestimate how many calories we actually burn. Even the use of wearable fitness trackers and cellphone apps have a percentage of error that can mislead a person in their calorie expenditure.
2. Knowing your BMI.
First off, BMI is complete bullshit. BMI does not take into account muscle mass whatsoever. This is a problem because a person who has a lot of lean muscle mass and low body fat percentage can be considered morbidly obese where a person who doesn't have a lot of lean muscle mass compared to body fat can be considered healthy.
BMI is still around because it is a simple and arbitrary way to determine body fat for medical and insurance purposes. More precise body fat composition measures can be done to determine a more accurate percentage of body fat, which is a better indicator of how much body fat a person has. These measures, however, take time, effort, and, in some cases, cost money to perform.
3. Tips for success.
The information in this section is good information and accurate.
What can you do with this information?
The best way to apply this information to your cardiovascular health and/or fitness/health/nutrition/wellness goals is to seek out and utilize certified health/fitness/nutrition professionals. We are trained to help navigate these three sections and more that are involved in weight management! We are eager to help you obtain your goals and have the best quality of life you can!
If you have questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Now, this infographic is a little bit misleading and has some overgeneralization going on. Let me explain.
1. Keeping track of calories in vs calories out.
This can be tricky as we generally underestimate how many calories we intake, and we overestimate how many calories we actually burn. Even the use of wearable fitness trackers and cellphone apps have a percentage of error that can mislead a person in their calorie expenditure.
2. Knowing your BMI.
First off, BMI is complete bullshit. BMI does not take into account muscle mass whatsoever. This is a problem because a person who has a lot of lean muscle mass and low body fat percentage can be considered morbidly obese where a person who doesn't have a lot of lean muscle mass compared to body fat can be considered healthy.
BMI is still around because it is a simple and arbitrary way to determine body fat for medical and insurance purposes. More precise body fat composition measures can be done to determine a more accurate percentage of body fat, which is a better indicator of how much body fat a person has. These measures, however, take time, effort, and, in some cases, cost money to perform.
3. Tips for success.
The information in this section is good information and accurate.
What can you do with this information?
The best way to apply this information to your cardiovascular health and/or fitness/health/nutrition/wellness goals is to seek out and utilize certified health/fitness/nutrition professionals. We are trained to help navigate these three sections and more that are involved in weight management! We are eager to help you obtain your goals and have the best quality of life you can!
If you have questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
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Welcome to Day 3 of AHA's Healthy For Good; Life's Essential 8 program, HOW TO BE MORE ACTIVE!
Physical activity and exercise are not only essential in regards to cardiovascular health, it also has so many more overall body benefits!
There is no replacement for the effects and results of physical activity and exercise on the human mind and body.
There are no medications, supplements, quick fix scams, MLM products/programs, or fad diets/products/programs that can have the same sustainable effects and results as consistent physical activity and exercise.
The majority of the US population doesn't meet the MINIMUM recommendations from the AHA, CDC, and ACSM listed in the above infographics.
There are many reasons why I encourage exercise to the weight loss clients I work with, and cardiovascular health is one of the biggest!
Getting started on an exercise program/routine doesn't have to be overwhelming, scary, or embarrassing!
Seeking out a legitimate, certified, fitness/exercise trainer can help you reach your goals and help with your cardiovascular health. We are trained to work with any level of client, from beginning to advanced!
If you have questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Physical activity and exercise are not only essential in regards to cardiovascular health, it also has so many more overall body benefits!
There is no replacement for the effects and results of physical activity and exercise on the human mind and body.
There are no medications, supplements, quick fix scams, MLM products/programs, or fad diets/products/programs that can have the same sustainable effects and results as consistent physical activity and exercise.
The majority of the US population doesn't meet the MINIMUM recommendations from the AHA, CDC, and ACSM listed in the above infographics.
There are many reasons why I encourage exercise to the weight loss clients I work with, and cardiovascular health is one of the biggest!
Getting started on an exercise program/routine doesn't have to be overwhelming, scary, or embarrassing!
Seeking out a legitimate, certified, fitness/exercise trainer can help you reach your goals and help with your cardiovascular health. We are trained to work with any level of client, from beginning to advanced!
If you have questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Welcome to day 4 of AHA's Healthy For Good; Life's Essential 8 program! Today, we will discuss HOW TO MANAGE YOUR BLOOD SUGAR.
Everyone should understand what their blood sugar is and how it impacts the body. Both high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can be deadly. Having regular, annual physicals and blood work is essential to controlling blood sugar!
As a paramedic, I have gone on many diabetic calls due to either the patient not knowing they have blood sugar issues or they lack control of their blood sugar due to certain choices. Sometimes, the outcome of these diabetic calls is less than favorable.
However, there are many people who have blood sugar issues that manage their levels well and understand what hyperglycemia/hypoglycemia can do to their body.
Recently, GLP-1 medications (semaglutide and tirzepatide have become readily available and accessible to more people, regardless of insurance. These medications can assist in weight loss and reducing A1C levels.
As the AHA's infographic shows, blood sugar can be managed if there are issues. Regardless of the type of diabetes, having good exercise/fitness/health/nutrition habits can make quality of life much better!
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Everyone should understand what their blood sugar is and how it impacts the body. Both high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can be deadly. Having regular, annual physicals and blood work is essential to controlling blood sugar!
As a paramedic, I have gone on many diabetic calls due to either the patient not knowing they have blood sugar issues or they lack control of their blood sugar due to certain choices. Sometimes, the outcome of these diabetic calls is less than favorable.
However, there are many people who have blood sugar issues that manage their levels well and understand what hyperglycemia/hypoglycemia can do to their body.
Recently, GLP-1 medications (semaglutide and tirzepatide have become readily available and accessible to more people, regardless of insurance. These medications can assist in weight loss and reducing A1C levels.
As the AHA's infographic shows, blood sugar can be managed if there are issues. Regardless of the type of diabetes, having good exercise/fitness/health/nutrition habits can make quality of life much better!
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Welcome to Day 5 of 8 from the AHA's Healthy For Good; Life's Essential 8 program! Today, we will be discussing HOW TO CONTROL CHOLESTEROL.
Cholesterol is essential to the human body, but too much can be deadly. Where the body makes all the cholesterol it needs from the liver, we do consume more through the foods we eat.
Everyone should know their cholesterol levels. Levels should be checked yearly.
Why?
When there is too much cholesterol in the blood, it can lead to atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attack, stroke, and death.
High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) can occur for many reasons, some of which can be controlled by changing health, fitness, and nutrition habits. Sometimes, changing these habits isn't enough, and medications prescribed by your primary care provider (PCP) are necessary, for example, when hyperlipidemia is caused by genetics.
Reasons high cholesterol levels can occur:
Genetics
Poor nutrition habits
Sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise
Obesity
Consistent high stress levels and lacof stress management
Smoking cigarettes
Consistent lack of sleep
This is a very simple explanation, and the links below give a much more detailed explanation of what cholesterol is and what levels should be.
https://www.heart.org/.../cholesterol/about-cholesterol
https://medlineplus.gov/cholesterol.html
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Cholesterol is essential to the human body, but too much can be deadly. Where the body makes all the cholesterol it needs from the liver, we do consume more through the foods we eat.
Everyone should know their cholesterol levels. Levels should be checked yearly.
Why?
When there is too much cholesterol in the blood, it can lead to atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attack, stroke, and death.
High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) can occur for many reasons, some of which can be controlled by changing health, fitness, and nutrition habits. Sometimes, changing these habits isn't enough, and medications prescribed by your primary care provider (PCP) are necessary, for example, when hyperlipidemia is caused by genetics.
Reasons high cholesterol levels can occur:
Genetics
Poor nutrition habits
Sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise
Obesity
Consistent high stress levels and lacof stress management
Smoking cigarettes
Consistent lack of sleep
This is a very simple explanation, and the links below give a much more detailed explanation of what cholesterol is and what levels should be.
https://www.heart.org/.../cholesterol/about-cholesterol
https://medlineplus.gov/cholesterol.html
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Welcome to Day 6 of AHA's Healthy For Good; Life's Essential 8: HOW TO MANAGE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.
Hypertension (high blood pressure), unfortunately, is very common. Sometimes, hypertension is genetic, but the majority of the time, it is brought on by personal habits and external influences.
Hypertension is no joke. It can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and death if it is not controlled either through behavior and habit modification or with medications.
Smoking, copious amounts of caffeine, poor eating habits, a sedentary lifestyle, high stress, poor sleep habits/lack of sleep, and certain supplements influence blood pressure in a negative way.
A person's blood pressure can be greatly influenced by exercise (fitness), healthy eating habits (nutrition), stress reduction (wellness), and good quality sleep. Having good quality habits in these areas can keep a person's blood pressure within healthy limits.
Utilizing legitimate, certified health, fitness, and nutrition professionals, like myself, can help you navigate fitness, nutrition, and wellness habit changes in a healthy, sustainable way.
Knowing what is normal for your blood pressure is essential for your overall health. Making sure that you have regular physicals with your primary care provider, taking your medications as prescribed, and having good fitness/nutrition/wellness/sleep habits, can keep your blood pressure in a healthy range as well as reduce your risk for heart attack, stroke, and death.
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Hypertension (high blood pressure), unfortunately, is very common. Sometimes, hypertension is genetic, but the majority of the time, it is brought on by personal habits and external influences.
Hypertension is no joke. It can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and death if it is not controlled either through behavior and habit modification or with medications.
Smoking, copious amounts of caffeine, poor eating habits, a sedentary lifestyle, high stress, poor sleep habits/lack of sleep, and certain supplements influence blood pressure in a negative way.
A person's blood pressure can be greatly influenced by exercise (fitness), healthy eating habits (nutrition), stress reduction (wellness), and good quality sleep. Having good quality habits in these areas can keep a person's blood pressure within healthy limits.
Utilizing legitimate, certified health, fitness, and nutrition professionals, like myself, can help you navigate fitness, nutrition, and wellness habit changes in a healthy, sustainable way.
Knowing what is normal for your blood pressure is essential for your overall health. Making sure that you have regular physicals with your primary care provider, taking your medications as prescribed, and having good fitness/nutrition/wellness/sleep habits, can keep your blood pressure in a healthy range as well as reduce your risk for heart attack, stroke, and death.
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Day 7 of 8 for AHA's Healthy For Good; Life's Essential 8 is HOW TO QUIT TOBACCO.
Tobacco use has a direct negative impact on more than just the cardiovascular system!
There is no such thing as "safe tobacco use" or "safe tobacco products."
Tobacco use and its effects on the body have been researched since 1950. Its negative effects have been documented for 74 years (1950 to 2024)... that's A LOT OF SCIENCE-BASED EVIDENCE!
Tobacco use will hinder any attempts for changing health/fitness/wellness habits.
Quitting tobacco use is not an easy task. Fortunately, there are adjuncts that can be utilized to help a person quit tobacco use. Some of the adjuncts are prescribed by a primary care provider, and others aren't. However, both incorporate behavior and habit modification for sustainable results.
The following articles are great reads about the effects of tobacco use on the body. (The links will be active on the What the HALE Fitness and Nutrition Facebook page).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14528877/...
https://www.cdc.gov/.../hea.../effects_cig_smoking/index.htm
https://smokefree.gov/.../how-smoking-affects-your...
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Tobacco use has a direct negative impact on more than just the cardiovascular system!
There is no such thing as "safe tobacco use" or "safe tobacco products."
Tobacco use and its effects on the body have been researched since 1950. Its negative effects have been documented for 74 years (1950 to 2024)... that's A LOT OF SCIENCE-BASED EVIDENCE!
Tobacco use will hinder any attempts for changing health/fitness/wellness habits.
Quitting tobacco use is not an easy task. Fortunately, there are adjuncts that can be utilized to help a person quit tobacco use. Some of the adjuncts are prescribed by a primary care provider, and others aren't. However, both incorporate behavior and habit modification for sustainable results.
The following articles are great reads about the effects of tobacco use on the body. (The links will be active on the What the HALE Fitness and Nutrition Facebook page).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14528877/...
https://www.cdc.gov/.../hea.../effects_cig_smoking/index.htm
https://smokefree.gov/.../how-smoking-affects-your...
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
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In 2022, the AHA updated Healthy for Good, Life's Simple 7 to Life's Essential 8, to include the impact of sleep on cardiovascular health!
Today is day 8 Healthy For Good, Life's Essential 8, HOW TO GET HEALTHY SLEEP.
Sleep is ESSENTIAL for our body to function properly. This is no exaggeration!
Sleep deprivation can literally kill you!
When people think about cardiovascular health, they often forget about how sleep impacts cardiovascular health.
Everyone is busy in their own way. Depending on what a person has going on in their life, sleep usually gets pushed to the side in order to accomplish daily tasks.
Unfortunately, our society seems to place an exorbitant amount of emphasis on remaining busy and cramming as much shit in during the day and making sleep less of a priority and even demonizing it.
That's seriously messed up. Especially since sleep is vital for our body!
Attempting to get an adequate amount of sleep so that we can function on a daily basis and have the opportunity to have a healthy quality of life should be something everybody should prioritize.
I understand that certain aspects of life can definitely hinder the ability to get adequate sleep, like kids, shift work, stress, and just overall shit in life...
But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try...
Because, let's face it... Your life literally depends on it!
Many people have sleep issues. Fortunately, there are many aspects of sleep and habits that can be addressed in order to help a person get good quality sleep.
If you have questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Today is day 8 Healthy For Good, Life's Essential 8, HOW TO GET HEALTHY SLEEP.
Sleep is ESSENTIAL for our body to function properly. This is no exaggeration!
Sleep deprivation can literally kill you!
When people think about cardiovascular health, they often forget about how sleep impacts cardiovascular health.
Everyone is busy in their own way. Depending on what a person has going on in their life, sleep usually gets pushed to the side in order to accomplish daily tasks.
Unfortunately, our society seems to place an exorbitant amount of emphasis on remaining busy and cramming as much shit in during the day and making sleep less of a priority and even demonizing it.
That's seriously messed up. Especially since sleep is vital for our body!
Attempting to get an adequate amount of sleep so that we can function on a daily basis and have the opportunity to have a healthy quality of life should be something everybody should prioritize.
I understand that certain aspects of life can definitely hinder the ability to get adequate sleep, like kids, shift work, stress, and just overall shit in life...
But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try...
Because, let's face it... Your life literally depends on it!
Many people have sleep issues. Fortunately, there are many aspects of sleep and habits that can be addressed in order to help a person get good quality sleep.
If you have questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
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Continuing on with American Heart Month!
Did you know that women and men present symptoms differently when having a heart attack or stroke?
It's very true!
Being aware of what to look for and getting medical attention as quickly as possible is essential to better outcomes if a person is having a heart attack and/or stroke.
As a paramedic, I have seen people walk into the ER because they "didn't feel good" and are having a massive MI (myocardial infarction is the medical term for a heart attack).
I have had people wait too long to seek medical attention for chest pain because they wanted to "sleep it off" or thought "it's just indigestion", end up coding, and nothing we could do could bring them back. They died.
I have had people not take their blood pressure medication(s) for various reasons and we get called out to a person "not acting right" or "weaker than normal" or " blood pressure is high. " By the time we can get to them, they are having a stroke.
If I get called to a woman who is above the age of 50 who "just doesn't feel right" or has sudden onset of vomiting, I make sure to do a 12 lead EKG with my cardiac monitor, to see if she is having an MI.
If I get called out to a male who is above the age of 45 who has chest pain, I do a 12 lead EKG to see if he is having an MI.
If I get called out to a suspected stroke, I have several Stroke Scales that I can utilize to help determine if a person is having a stroke, and I still do a 12 lead EKG to see how much, if any, involvement of the heart there is.
Why am I telling you this?
Because heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes don't discriminate, they can happen to ANYONE.
The AHA is very good at putting out information about heart attacks and strokes and what we can all look for regardless of our medical background should a heart attack or stroke occur.
Knowing what to look for and getting medical attention as soon as possible can literally be the difference between life and death.
Did you know that women and men present symptoms differently when having a heart attack or stroke?
It's very true!
Being aware of what to look for and getting medical attention as quickly as possible is essential to better outcomes if a person is having a heart attack and/or stroke.
As a paramedic, I have seen people walk into the ER because they "didn't feel good" and are having a massive MI (myocardial infarction is the medical term for a heart attack).
I have had people wait too long to seek medical attention for chest pain because they wanted to "sleep it off" or thought "it's just indigestion", end up coding, and nothing we could do could bring them back. They died.
I have had people not take their blood pressure medication(s) for various reasons and we get called out to a person "not acting right" or "weaker than normal" or " blood pressure is high. " By the time we can get to them, they are having a stroke.
If I get called to a woman who is above the age of 50 who "just doesn't feel right" or has sudden onset of vomiting, I make sure to do a 12 lead EKG with my cardiac monitor, to see if she is having an MI.
If I get called out to a male who is above the age of 45 who has chest pain, I do a 12 lead EKG to see if he is having an MI.
If I get called out to a suspected stroke, I have several Stroke Scales that I can utilize to help determine if a person is having a stroke, and I still do a 12 lead EKG to see how much, if any, involvement of the heart there is.
Why am I telling you this?
Because heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes don't discriminate, they can happen to ANYONE.
The AHA is very good at putting out information about heart attacks and strokes and what we can all look for regardless of our medical background should a heart attack or stroke occur.
Knowing what to look for and getting medical attention as soon as possible can literally be the difference between life and death.
HEART DISEASE IS THE #1 KILLER OF WOMEN.
As February continues along with American Heart Month, we will discuss cardiovascular disease in women and the Go Red for Women Campaign from AHA.
Where humans have much of the general same anatomy and physiology, men and women have different risk factors and present symptoms differently when it comes to cardiovascular disease.
Understanding risk factors and making sure you are on top of your cardiovascular health can help prevent stroke and heart attack as well as lessen the severity and recovery time if a cardiovascular event should occur.
From the AHA website to describe why they created the Go Red for Women Campaign:
In 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) faced a challenge. Cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an older man’s disease. To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease & stroke as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red for Women, a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
As February continues along with American Heart Month, we will discuss cardiovascular disease in women and the Go Red for Women Campaign from AHA.
Where humans have much of the general same anatomy and physiology, men and women have different risk factors and present symptoms differently when it comes to cardiovascular disease.
Understanding risk factors and making sure you are on top of your cardiovascular health can help prevent stroke and heart attack as well as lessen the severity and recovery time if a cardiovascular event should occur.
From the AHA website to describe why they created the Go Red for Women Campaign:
In 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) faced a challenge. Cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an older man’s disease. To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease & stroke as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red for Women, a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
This is beyond FUCKED UP!
Guess what?! I, like many other women, have big Ole boobies! They come in all sizes, some are natural, and some are implants.
DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION?!
Do you really think that any of us women give a rats ass about our breasts and if they get touched or moved during CPR if we went into cardiac arrest?!
(Minus a DNR-Do Not Resuscitate order in hand).
As a Critical Care Paramedic, it blows my mind how much misinformation and how may myths surround the skill of CPR on women.
A significant amount of where this misinformation and these myths come from lack of education, fear-mongerers, and society. And unfortunately, these all link together.
There are people who will ABSOLUTELY NOT start CPR on a woman because of BREASTS.
How do we change this narrative?!
EDUCATION. CPR education for EVERYONE. EVERYONE should know how to perform CPR because CPR DOES SAVE LIVES! CPR skills for most people are very basic, unlike what paramedics do. Bystanders to perform CPR until EMS arrives can greatly improve resuscitation outcomes.
IGNORE FEAR-MONGERERS. These people refuse to acknowledge and accept what reality is when it comes CPR on women. They typically spew word vomit to fit their narrative or sell you something.
SOCIETY. American society has sexualized and hypersexualized breasts. When it comes to CPR, breasts, be fatty tissue or implants, can get in the way. That's just how it is. When performing CPR on women, you aren't playing with their breasts, YOU ARE TRYING TO SAVE THEIR LIFE! THAT'S IT!
CPR saves lives, and someone having breasts SHOULD NEVER be a factor in whether or not they get CPR.
Any questions? Don't hesitate to drop a comment or send me a DM!
You can do it!
Guess what?! I, like many other women, have big Ole boobies! They come in all sizes, some are natural, and some are implants.
DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION?!
Do you really think that any of us women give a rats ass about our breasts and if they get touched or moved during CPR if we went into cardiac arrest?!
(Minus a DNR-Do Not Resuscitate order in hand).
As a Critical Care Paramedic, it blows my mind how much misinformation and how may myths surround the skill of CPR on women.
A significant amount of where this misinformation and these myths come from lack of education, fear-mongerers, and society. And unfortunately, these all link together.
There are people who will ABSOLUTELY NOT start CPR on a woman because of BREASTS.
How do we change this narrative?!
EDUCATION. CPR education for EVERYONE. EVERYONE should know how to perform CPR because CPR DOES SAVE LIVES! CPR skills for most people are very basic, unlike what paramedics do. Bystanders to perform CPR until EMS arrives can greatly improve resuscitation outcomes.
IGNORE FEAR-MONGERERS. These people refuse to acknowledge and accept what reality is when it comes CPR on women. They typically spew word vomit to fit their narrative or sell you something.
SOCIETY. American society has sexualized and hypersexualized breasts. When it comes to CPR, breasts, be fatty tissue or implants, can get in the way. That's just how it is. When performing CPR on women, you aren't playing with their breasts, YOU ARE TRYING TO SAVE THEIR LIFE! THAT'S IT!
CPR saves lives, and someone having breasts SHOULD NEVER be a factor in whether or not they get CPR.
Any questions? Don't hesitate to drop a comment or send me a DM!
You can do it!
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Strokes are no joke regardless of who it happens to.
Unfortunately, like with cardiac arrest and heart attacks, stroke symptoms in women are often minimized and/or ignored.
Because these symptoms are often downplayed or ignored, the outcomes for women who have heart attacks, strokes, or go into cardiac arrest have poorer outcomes than their male counterparts.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY!
It doesn't matter if you are a medical professional or not, knowing what to look for when it comes to strokes in women, (because they present different than men, just like with heart attack symptoms), SAVES LIVES!
If any of these symptoms occur, especially unexpectedly, call 911 or get to the ER.
IT'S 100% BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Unfortunately, like with cardiac arrest and heart attacks, stroke symptoms in women are often minimized and/or ignored.
Because these symptoms are often downplayed or ignored, the outcomes for women who have heart attacks, strokes, or go into cardiac arrest have poorer outcomes than their male counterparts.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY!
It doesn't matter if you are a medical professional or not, knowing what to look for when it comes to strokes in women, (because they present different than men, just like with heart attack symptoms), SAVES LIVES!
If any of these symptoms occur, especially unexpectedly, call 911 or get to the ER.
IT'S 100% BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Do you know what your blood pressure is?
Mine ranges from low 100s to 1-teens systolic over 50s to 70s diastolic. This is my normal range. When I get into the 120s or 130s systolic, that is hypertension for me. I also do 30 to 60 minutes of cardio 5 to 7 days a week and 40 to 90 min of weight lifting 5 to 7 days a week. So, if my blood pressure isn't within my range, I know something isn't right.
Knowing your normal blood pressure range is essential to your cardiovascular health! Having yearly physicals can help you track and trend your blood pressure, so that if you start trending towards hypertension (high blood pressure) or hypotension (low blood pressure) you can consult with your primary care provider to find the appropriate course of treatment.
If one of the courses of treatment for abnormal blood pressure is medication, make sure you communicate any adverse side effects to your doctor. There are many blood pressure medications available, so it is possible to find the right medication(s) for your needs.
Fitness, nutrition, wellness, stress, and sleep habits play a large and significant role in blood pressure and cardiovascular health. Seeking and utilizing legitimate, fitness/nutrition/wellness certified professionals can help you change habits for a better quality of life and better overall health!
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Mine ranges from low 100s to 1-teens systolic over 50s to 70s diastolic. This is my normal range. When I get into the 120s or 130s systolic, that is hypertension for me. I also do 30 to 60 minutes of cardio 5 to 7 days a week and 40 to 90 min of weight lifting 5 to 7 days a week. So, if my blood pressure isn't within my range, I know something isn't right.
Knowing your normal blood pressure range is essential to your cardiovascular health! Having yearly physicals can help you track and trend your blood pressure, so that if you start trending towards hypertension (high blood pressure) or hypotension (low blood pressure) you can consult with your primary care provider to find the appropriate course of treatment.
If one of the courses of treatment for abnormal blood pressure is medication, make sure you communicate any adverse side effects to your doctor. There are many blood pressure medications available, so it is possible to find the right medication(s) for your needs.
Fitness, nutrition, wellness, stress, and sleep habits play a large and significant role in blood pressure and cardiovascular health. Seeking and utilizing legitimate, fitness/nutrition/wellness certified professionals can help you change habits for a better quality of life and better overall health!
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
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TIME IS TISSUE in regards to stroke.
If you or someone you know is having a stroke, do you know how to recognize it?
There are 3 acronyms that can be used to recognize stroke.
FAST
FASTER
BE FAST
Using any one of these three acronyms will work when recognizing signs of a stroke.
By utilizing FAST or FASTER or BE FAST, people who are having a stroke have a greater chance of survival and better outcomes than those who ignore the symptoms of stroke or wait too long for medical help.
Any questions? Feel free to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
If you or someone you know is having a stroke, do you know how to recognize it?
There are 3 acronyms that can be used to recognize stroke.
FAST
FASTER
BE FAST
Using any one of these three acronyms will work when recognizing signs of a stroke.
By utilizing FAST or FASTER or BE FAST, people who are having a stroke have a greater chance of survival and better outcomes than those who ignore the symptoms of stroke or wait too long for medical help.
Any questions? Feel free to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
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In continuing with American Heart Month, let's discuss the differences between cardiac arrest (what EMS calls a CODE/CODE BLUE) and a heart attack (what EMS calls an MI -myocardial infarction) as well as the differences in symptoms between males and females when a heart attack/MI occurs.
The first infographic shows the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack where the second infographic shows the differences in heart attack symptoms in men and women.
Both of these are extremely important and should NEVER be downplayed or ignored.
How we treat our bodies greatly influences or risk factors for cardiac arrest and heart attacks! Are there factors that are out of our control, you bet! However, we have significant control over our heath, fitness, nutrition, and wellness habits.
... And those habits can give us much better outcomes when it comes to our cardiovascular health or cardiovascular event, should one occur.
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
The first infographic shows the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack where the second infographic shows the differences in heart attack symptoms in men and women.
Both of these are extremely important and should NEVER be downplayed or ignored.
How we treat our bodies greatly influences or risk factors for cardiac arrest and heart attacks! Are there factors that are out of our control, you bet! However, we have significant control over our heath, fitness, nutrition, and wellness habits.
... And those habits can give us much better outcomes when it comes to our cardiovascular health or cardiovascular event, should one occur.
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
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When a person goes into cardiac arrest, there are many bystanders who freeze, panic, have no idea what to do, or are afraid of being sued for performing CPR.
There are some who will say, "That's what paramedics and EMS are for!"
Unfortunately, us paramedics and EMS providers can't always be right there when a person goes into cardiac arrest.
That's why we need YOUR HELP until a higher level of care EMS provider(s) can get to you.
When EMS is not immediately available or is en route to a person in cardiac arrest, bystander CPR can greatly improve resuscitation outcomes. This is FACT.
There are many opportunities for a person to become CPR certified, be it through the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
It's even becoming more common for children in elementary school, middle school, and high school to be taught and certified in CPR.
If you want to become certified in CPR, you can do a search on the AHA or ARC websites for classes in your area!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
There are some who will say, "That's what paramedics and EMS are for!"
Unfortunately, us paramedics and EMS providers can't always be right there when a person goes into cardiac arrest.
That's why we need YOUR HELP until a higher level of care EMS provider(s) can get to you.
When EMS is not immediately available or is en route to a person in cardiac arrest, bystander CPR can greatly improve resuscitation outcomes. This is FACT.
There are many opportunities for a person to become CPR certified, be it through the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
It's even becoming more common for children in elementary school, middle school, and high school to be taught and certified in CPR.
If you want to become certified in CPR, you can do a search on the AHA or ARC websites for classes in your area!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
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Do you know what your cholesterol levels are?
These labs, like all labs, should be done YEARLY AT A MINIMUM!
Cholesterol levels are vital regarding cardiovascular health, and ignoring cholesterol levels or not getting labs drawn can have dangerous consequences.
Management of cholesterol levels can look different for each person depending on several factors:
Genetics
Exercise habits
Nutrition habits
Alcohol consumption habits
Smoking/vaping habits
Ethnicity
Gender
Age
Some of these factors can be influenced by changing habits, such as exercise, nutrition, alcohol habits, and smoking/vaping habits.
The other factors are things that we can't influence just by changing habits. These factors will need medication interventions along with changing exercise, nutrition, alcohol habits, and smoking/vaping habits to help keep cholesterol levels in check.
If you have questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/exercise/nutrition habits, or how to get your labs done, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
These labs, like all labs, should be done YEARLY AT A MINIMUM!
Cholesterol levels are vital regarding cardiovascular health, and ignoring cholesterol levels or not getting labs drawn can have dangerous consequences.
Management of cholesterol levels can look different for each person depending on several factors:
Genetics
Exercise habits
Nutrition habits
Alcohol consumption habits
Smoking/vaping habits
Ethnicity
Gender
Age
Some of these factors can be influenced by changing habits, such as exercise, nutrition, alcohol habits, and smoking/vaping habits.
The other factors are things that we can't influence just by changing habits. These factors will need medication interventions along with changing exercise, nutrition, alcohol habits, and smoking/vaping habits to help keep cholesterol levels in check.
If you have questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/exercise/nutrition habits, or how to get your labs done, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
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Physical activity and exercise are not only essential in regards to cardiovascular health, it also has so many more overall body benefits!
There is no replacement for the effects and results of physical activity and exercise on the human mind and body.
There are no medications, supplements, quick fix scams, MLM products/programs, or fad diets/products/programs that can have the same sustainable effects and results as consistent physical activity and exercise.
That being said said, with the introduction of GLP-1 medications as an adjunct to consistent exercise and better nutrition habits does cause sustainable fat and weight loss.
However, the majority of the US population doesn't meet the MINIMUM recommendations from the AHA, CDC, and ACSM on exercise and physical activity.
Also, if you are utilizing a GLP-1 to assist in your weight/fat loss, and NOT DOING STRENGTH TRAINING AND CARDIO ALONG WITH CHANGING YOUR NUTRITION HABITS...you won't get the sustainable results you are after.
There are many reasons why I encourage strength AND cardiovascular training to the weight loss clients I work with.
Where strength training has so many benefits, the only way to train your heart muscle is through cardiovascular exercise.
Getting started on an exercise program/routine doesn't have to be overwhelming, scary, or embarrassing!
Seeking out a legitimate, certified, fitness/exercise trainer can help you reach your goals and help with your cardiovascular health. We are trained to work with any level of client, from beginning to advanced!
If you have questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
There is no replacement for the effects and results of physical activity and exercise on the human mind and body.
There are no medications, supplements, quick fix scams, MLM products/programs, or fad diets/products/programs that can have the same sustainable effects and results as consistent physical activity and exercise.
That being said said, with the introduction of GLP-1 medications as an adjunct to consistent exercise and better nutrition habits does cause sustainable fat and weight loss.
However, the majority of the US population doesn't meet the MINIMUM recommendations from the AHA, CDC, and ACSM on exercise and physical activity.
Also, if you are utilizing a GLP-1 to assist in your weight/fat loss, and NOT DOING STRENGTH TRAINING AND CARDIO ALONG WITH CHANGING YOUR NUTRITION HABITS...you won't get the sustainable results you are after.
There are many reasons why I encourage strength AND cardiovascular training to the weight loss clients I work with.
Where strength training has so many benefits, the only way to train your heart muscle is through cardiovascular exercise.
Getting started on an exercise program/routine doesn't have to be overwhelming, scary, or embarrassing!
Seeking out a legitimate, certified, fitness/exercise trainer can help you reach your goals and help with your cardiovascular health. We are trained to work with any level of client, from beginning to advanced!
If you have questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
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The majority of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes can be prevented as our habits greatly impact risk factors for them.
Our health habits and lifestyle habits influence our lifespan, quality of life, and our overall health and well-being.
Are there factors that we have no control over?
Absolutely.
But I'm not talking about those factors.
I'm referring to:
Exercise and physical activity habits
Nutrition habits
Mental health habits
Sleep habits
Stress management habits
Smoking, vaping, and tobacco habits
Alcohol consumption habits
Medication habits
Annual doctor/PCP visits
All of the above are % in YOUR CONTROL.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OVERWHELMING to change habits.
Heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes CAN HAPPEN AT ANY AGE!
If you think that because of your age or if you are considered healthy or you don't have heart disease in your family, that heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes won't happen to you...
You may get a rude awakening, which may be life alerting.
The absolute best thing you can do is control your risk factors and stay on top of your overall health.
There are many of us in the health care, fitness, and nutrition industries that are legitimate professionals who want to help you.
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!
Our health habits and lifestyle habits influence our lifespan, quality of life, and our overall health and well-being.
Are there factors that we have no control over?
Absolutely.
But I'm not talking about those factors.
I'm referring to:
Exercise and physical activity habits
Nutrition habits
Mental health habits
Sleep habits
Stress management habits
Smoking, vaping, and tobacco habits
Alcohol consumption habits
Medication habits
Annual doctor/PCP visits
All of the above are % in YOUR CONTROL.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OVERWHELMING to change habits.
Heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes CAN HAPPEN AT ANY AGE!
If you think that because of your age or if you are considered healthy or you don't have heart disease in your family, that heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes won't happen to you...
You may get a rude awakening, which may be life alerting.
The absolute best thing you can do is control your risk factors and stay on top of your overall health.
There are many of us in the health care, fitness, and nutrition industries that are legitimate professionals who want to help you.
If you have any questions about any of these topics or how to get started on changing your health/fitness/nutrition habits, please don't hesitate to drop a comment or DM me!
You can do it!