Focus on Heart Health at the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA

February is American Heart Health Month and as a leading community-based organization dedicated to improving the nation’s health, the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA (FSPY) wants to help families in our community be heart healthy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Key risk factors are high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and smoking, and about half of Americans have at least one of these three risk factors. Several other risk factors for heart disease include: having diabetes; being overweight or obese; a poor diet; physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use.

The Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA is hosting several events this month that focus on heart health. On Wednesday, February 13, FSPY will host a Healthy Heart Lunch and Learn at 12:15pm with a nurse from Saint Barnabas Medical Center who will discuss important habits to prolong health. Attendees are asked to bring their own healthy lunch to the event and the Y provides light refreshments. Please register by visiting FSPY’s Welcome Center.

On Thursday, February 14, Overlook Medical Center will be at FSPY from 10am-12pm for Heart Health Month. They will provide free blood pressure and glucose screenings and information on heart health. To register, please call Overlook at 908-522-2842.

Both events are free and open to the public. All FSPY guests are asked to please bring a valid, government-issued photo ID to enter the FSPY building. FSPY is located at 1340 Martine Avenue in Scotch Plains.

FSPY also offers the YMCA’s Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program. This program helps adults with hypertension lower and manage their blood pressure. The program focuses on regulated home self-monitoring of one’s blood pressure using proper measuring techniques, individualized support and nutrition education for better blood pressure management. Additionally, FSPY offers the Y’s Diabetes Prevention Program for those at risk for type 2 diabetes, teaching them lifestyle changes to help prevent the disease. For more information on either program, contact Donna Peart at dpeart@fspymca.org or 908-889-8880.

Here are some tips from the Y on staying heart healthy this month and throughout the year:

• Get Physical: Being physically active every day is fun and can improve the function of your heart. Plan and schedule opportunities for active play; for example, include a brisk 10-minute trip around the block after meals or a 10-minute walking break during the day. If your family enjoys active video games, select versions that require moving the body’s large muscle groups while playing.
• Take a Snooze: Lack of sleep can be associated with elevated cholesterol and blood pressure. Adults need at least seven, but no more than nine hours of sleep at night to aid with the prevention of heart disease. Children need 10-12 hours of sleep per night. Develop bedtime routines for the whole family to assist with falling asleep faster and staying asleep.
• Shape Up Those Recipes: Makeover your family’s favorite recipes by reducing the amount of salt and saturated fat and substituting a lower fat food without sacrificing tastes. For example, use low-fat yogurt instead of sour cream and skip the seasoning packet and use pepper and olive oil instead. Read food labels to learn more about what is in the package, select foods that have less than 1,000 mg of sodium per serving.
• Feeling the Pressure: Revised blood pressure guidelines from the American Heart Association mean that nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure. Lowering or maintaining normal blood pressure can greatly reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke. Start self-monitoring your blood pressure and know the numbers. Discuss the results with you doctor if needed and visit FSPY to learn about the Y’s Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program.
• Play Together: Spending time together as a family is a great way to reduce stress, which is important to heart health. Make homemade valentines for your children’s classmates or build a snow fort together in the yard or the park.

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About the Y

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 22 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. Visit fspymca.org for more information.