TOPIC OF THE DAY

  New Year’s Resolution: Take Care of Your Heart ( NewsUSA ) -People make New Year’s resolutions to create positive change, from finances to fitness to focus. This year, consider a resolution that could save your life: listen to your heart. In the United States, more than 650,000 people die each year from heart disease, which has been the leading cause of death for decades. Many heart disease deaths could be prevented with early action and intervention. People with heart disease may experience "classic" symptoms, such as chest pain or heart palpitations. For others, an early warning sign might be something that doesn’t initially seem to be related to the heart at all, such as shortness of breath, dizziness, swelling, or loss of consciousness. Resolve to not ignore these or any other symptoms.  Don’t dismiss something you might think is minor  especially when it’s your heart, any issue (big or small) is important. Visit your doctor or seek emergency services as soon as po...

  Healthy Eating for a Happy Heart ( NewsUSA ) – When stress hits hard as it has during the pandemic, many of us eat more, and less-than-healthy comfort foods may be the treats we reach for first. But an unhealthy response to stress can be hard on your body, especially your heart. That’s why it’s smart — at the top of the New Year, or anytime — to try to eat more foods that nourish. It’ll make your heart happier, and maybe trim your waistline, too. Don’t know where to start? Let the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) help. "We have many recipes for healthy and really tasty dishes, plus an award-winning eating plan called Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH for short," says Charlotte Pratt, Ph.D., M.S., R.D., a nutrition expert at NHLBI. For years, the DASH eating plan has ranked among the U.S. News & World Reports’ best diets for healthy living and heart health. Its secret, says Pratt: "Eating nutrient-dense foods and meals that are ...