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No matter how young you feel, it’s important to keep tabs on your heart health and take the right steps to reduce your risk for heart disease. Baylor offers educational classes and support groups throughout the year for those wanting to learn about improving their heart health. Some risk factors for heart disease include:
But take heart. Changing your lifestyle can have a significant impact on preventing heart conditions. First, learn to control the risk factors that you can. Smoking causes blood vessels to constrict which limits your blood flow, and amphetamines increase your blood pressure as well as your heart rate. Carrying extra weight causes your heart to work overtime to carry blood and can also indicate a build up of artery-blocking plaque. Even if you have a family history of these conditions, don’t give up hope.
If you are uncertain of your risks, Baylor offers a Heart Beat Risk Profile to screen for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and weight. Search online for a physician at Baylor specializing in cardiology or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.
Sources:
American Heart Association
Organ donations offer patients with organ failure the chance to live a full, healthy life. Baylor Regional Transplant Institute has completed more than 8,000 transplants since it opened in 1984.
Transplants benefit those suffering from autoimmune diseases, hepatitis, cancers and many other types of organ failure. Kidney transplants are the most common type of transplant procedure. Over 100,000 people are on a wait list for organ transplants nationwide, and in 2008, approximately 35 percent of Americans committed to becoming organ donors.
Living donors are able to give a kidney or a portion of the liver, lungs, heart or intestinal organs. Despite what many think, most living organ donors recover in two to six weeks and go on to live normal lives.
Deceased donors can donate kidneys, pancreas, liver, lungs, heart and intestinal organs. Laws for organ donations vary from state to state, but in Texas, you may register online.
How are organ recipients determined? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Services & Resources Administration (HRSA) and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) maintain a computer network which links all transplant hospitals and organ procurement organizations in a secure, real-time environment. Tissue match, geographical distance between the donor and recipient, time on the waiting list and medical urgency are among the considerations in determining organ recipients.
Organ transplants are one of the most amazing procedures in the medical field. For more information on transplants at Baylor, call 1.800.774.2487.
Donate Life America
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
Delicious dark chocolate, tea, fresh strawberries, red grapes and oranges…sound good? All of these treats contain compounds called antioxidants, which help protect your cells.
Antioxidants provide protection to cells from the damaging effects of pollutants, medications and other environmental toxins. Many experts believe damaged cells, also called free radicals, are a factor in the development of heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Antioxidants may help to reduce your risk for heart attacks and strokes due to the compound’s ability to prevent cholesterol from sticking to artery walls.
According to the American Heart Association, it’s better to receive antioxidants as well as other nutrition through your diet rather than by supplementation, which you can do by incorporating lots of fruits and vegetables. As for chocolate, the darker it is, the more antioxidants it contains. But try not to fall head over heels for dark chocolate; it’s still high in calories and sugar!
Healthy options for antioxidant-rich foods include:
Search our online health library for more information on nutrition and other health topics, or search for a physician specializing in nutrition.
Like most people, you probably have a mix of positive and negative perceptions about your body. However, positive and negative self-perceptions may impact you more than you think. Baylor offers educational tools and support to help you achieve and maintain a physically and emotionally healthy lifestyle.
Developing a positive body image and a healthy mental attitude is crucial to everyone’s happiness and wellness. Negative perceptions, such as anxiety or depression may cause food avoidance or binging to fill a negative emotional void. Unfortunately, these negative emotions lead many- more than eight-million Americans- to develop some form of eating disorder.
There are two main types of eating disorders, anorexia and bulimia. Binge eating is also being researched as a possible third. Anorexia is characterized by a fear of food and weight gain. Those suffering from anorexia do not eat enough food to maintain a healthy weight, often resulting in malnutrition, and can be fatal. Bulimia consists of recurring waves of overeating accompanied by vomiting and a sense of being out of control. People who constantly eat more than their body needs to be healthy may be classified as binge eaters. Unlike with bulimics, binge eaters do not purge what they have eaten. All eating disorders are serious and have serious consequences, whether it’s malnutrition or morbid obesity.
Eating disorders can be prevented and are almost always accompanied with feelings of anxiety, depression or other stressors. The National Eating Disorders Association gives the following advice on preventing eating disorders:
If you or a loved one is struggling with poor body image, call 1.800.4BAYLOR or search our free online resources.
National Eating Disorders Association
National Anorexia Disorder Association
Your family history may mean you are more prone to certain diseases, but you have the power to prevent some, including cancer. Baylor offers tips for cancer prevention and support for those living with this disease.
Although prevention is not guaranteed, you may be able to reduce your risk for colon, cervical, breast, lung, skin, oral and prostate cancers. What are the common factors in reducing your risk for these types of cancer?
Symptoms of cancer including fatigue, loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss may not appear until the disease has spread. Getting regular pap smears, colonoscopies, breast exams, prostate exams or mammograms are your best bet to catch precancerous or cancerous cells early. A new vaccine to prevent some types of cervical cancer is also now available for women ages nine to 26.
Baylor offers screening and health awareness events throughout the year to educate our community on the importance of early detection. Find a class or event close to you or search for a physician online.
Prevent Cancer Foundation
American Cancer Society
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