MCH News Archives

WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 39796 [post_author] => 9192204 [post_date] => 2025-02-10 12:17:06 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-10 17:17:06 [post_content] => [post_title] => 5 Tips to Improve Your Heart Health During Heart Health Month [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => heart-health-tips-5-steps-for-a-healthy-heart [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-04-07 10:22:25 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-04-07 14:22:25 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://monadnockcommunityhospital.com/wellness-wednesday-copy/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )

Array ( [_yoast_indexnow_last_ping] => Array ( [0] => 1744035746 [1] => 1744035746 ) [_edit_lock] => Array ( [0] => 1744035605:9192204 ) [_edit_last] => Array ( [0] => 9192204 ) [page_sections] => Array ( [0] => a:8:{i:0;s:4:"hero";i:1;s:7:"wysiwyg";i:2;s:7:"wysiwyg";i:3;s:7:"wysiwyg";i:4;s:7:"wysiwyg";i:5;s:7:"wysiwyg";i:6;s:7:"wysiwyg";i:7;s:9:"post_grid";} ) [_page_sections] => Array ( [0] => field_5a74c7ee071c2 ) [_yoast_wpseo_primary_category] => Array ( [0] => ) [_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score] => Array ( [0] => 90 ) [_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords] => Array ( [0] => [] ) [_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms] => Array ( [0] => [""] ) [_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes] => Array ( [0] => 1 ) [page_sections_0_hero_slider] => Array ( [0] => 0 ) [_page_sections_0_hero_slider] => Array ( [0] => field_5af4ae4adb200 ) [page_sections_0_image] => Array ( [0] => 39797 ) [_page_sections_0_image] => Array ( [0] => field_5af4b0553202b ) [page_sections_0_title] => Array ( [0] => ) [_page_sections_0_title] => Array ( [0] => field_5af99e4fd1223 ) [page_sections_0_text] => Array ( [0] => ) [_page_sections_0_text] => Array ( [0] => field_5bfc041f4dfcd ) [page_sections_0_actions] => Array ( [0] => ) [_page_sections_0_actions] => Array ( [0] => field_5af4b0783202c ) [page_sections_1_section_title] => Array ( [0] => Wellness Wednesday: Wellness Tips ) [_page_sections_1_section_title] => Array ( [0] => field_5ada5134d3021 ) [page_sections_1_wysiwyg] => Array ( [0] =>

At Monadnock Community Hospital, we believe that wellness isn't just a destination—it's a journey we embark on together. That's why we've launched our Wellness Wednesday campaign, an initiative designed to inspire, inform, and empower our community to lead healthier, happier lives. ) [_page_sections_1_wysiwyg] => Array ( [0] => field_5a79c5dfc5cca ) [page_sections_1_width] => Array ( [0] => normal ) [_page_sections_1_width] => Array ( [0] => field_5af99fbbc9de1 ) [page_sections_2_section_title] => Array ( [0] => 5 Tips to Improve Your Heart Health ) [_page_sections_2_section_title] => Array ( [0] => field_5ada5134d3021 ) [page_sections_2_wysiwyg] => Array ( [0] => Your heart works tirelessly to keep you going—so why not give it some extra care? Small lifestyle changes can make a big difference in protecting your heart and reducing your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Here are five practical ways to prioritize your heart health:

Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet

Focus on whole, nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Minimize trans fats, excess sodium, and added sugars. Science: The Mediterranean diet, rich in healthy fats and plant-based foods, lowers heart disease risk (1).

Stay Active

Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. Activities like walking, swimming, or biking can strengthen your heart and improve circulation. Science: Regular exercise lowers blood pressure and improves cholesterol levels (2).

Quit Smoking

Smoking damages blood vessels and increases plaque buildup, leading to heart disease. Quitting improves heart health almost immediately. Science: Within a year of quitting, your risk of heart disease drops by 50% (3).

Manage Stress

Chronic stress increases blood pressure and heart rate. Practice relaxation techniques like mindfulness, yoga, or breathing exercises to keep stress in check. Science: Stress reduction is associated with lower cortisol and blood pressure (4).

Monitor Your Numbers

Regularly check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Early detection can prevent heart-related complications. Science: Keeping these metrics in check reduces cardiovascular risks significantly (5). ) [_page_sections_2_wysiwyg] => Array ( [0] => field_5a79c5dfc5cca ) [page_sections_2_width] => Array ( [0] => normal ) [_page_sections_2_width] => Array ( [0] => field_5af99fbbc9de1 ) [page_sections_3_section_title] => Array ( [0] => FAQ ) [_page_sections_3_section_title] => Array ( [0] => field_5ada5134d3021 ) [page_sections_3_wysiwyg] => Array ( [0] =>

What’s the best exercise for heart health?

Aerobic activities like walking, cycling, and swimming are excellent for improving heart health.

How does sodium affect my heart?

High sodium intake can increase blood pressure, which is a leading risk factor for heart disease.

Can heart disease be reversed?

While damage cannot always be undone, lifestyle changes can halt or slow progression. ) [_page_sections_3_wysiwyg] => Array ( [0] => field_5a79c5dfc5cca ) [page_sections_3_width] => Array ( [0] => normal ) [_page_sections_3_width] => Array ( [0] => field_5af99fbbc9de1 ) [page_sections_4_section_title] => Array ( [0] => Resources ) [_page_sections_4_section_title] => Array ( [0] => field_5ada5134d3021 ) [page_sections_4_wysiwyg] => Array ( [0] =>

) [_page_sections_4_wysiwyg] => Array ( [0] => field_5a79c5dfc5cca ) [page_sections_4_width] => Array ( [0] => normal ) [_page_sections_4_width] => Array ( [0] => field_5af99fbbc9de1 ) [_yoast_wpseo_focuskw] => Array ( [0] => Heart Health Tips ) [_yoast_wpseo_title] => Array ( [0] => %%title%% ) [_yoast_wpseo_metadesc] => Array ( [0] => Celebrate Heart Health Month by discovering five essential tips to improve your heart health. From a heart-healthy diet to managing stress, these science-backed strategies can protect your heart and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. ) [page_sections_6_section_title] => Array ( [0] => Expert Advice: Brooke N. O’Connor, APRN – Cardiology ) [_page_sections_6_section_title] => Array ( [0] => field_5ada5134d3021 ) [page_sections_6_wysiwyg] => Array ( [0] => "Your heart is the engine of your body—keep it running smoothly with small, consistent lifestyle changes. A heart-healthy diet, regular movement, and stress management can make all the difference."

About the Provider:

Brooke N. O’Connor, APRN, is a dedicated cardiology specialist at Monadnock Cardiology Associates. She earned her nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner degrees from Regis College in Weston, MA, and has served as a Lead Cardiology Nurse Practitioner in the Dartmouth Health system for six years. Brooke focuses on personalized cardiovascular care, including heart disease prevention, management of high blood pressure, and cholesterol optimization. Her approach combines evidence-based medicine with compassionate, patient-centered care to help individuals take control of their heart health.

Quick Tip:

Stay well, Brooke N. O’Connor, APRN ) [_page_sections_5_wysiwyg] => Array ( [0] => field_5a79c5dfc5cca ) [page_sections_5_width] => Array ( [0] => normal ) [_page_sections_5_width] => Array ( [0] => field_5af99fbbc9de1 ) [_yoast_wpseo_linkdex] => Array ( [0] => 48 ) )