How your family medicine doctors in Brandon, FL, can help you guard against heart disease
You want your heart to stay healthy, so you can stay healthy too. You’ve probably heard a lot about heart disease, but did you know you can do a lot to prevent heart disease? Your family medicine doctors can help. Drs. Joel and Elizabeth Biggers of Biggers Family Medicine in Brandon, FL, provide a wide range of medical services, including helping you guard against heart disease.
You can be proactive against heart disease by making lifestyle and dietary choices. Remember to:
Do not smoke, and if you are smoking, quit. Smoking is one of the main risk factors for heart disease and a wide variety of other medical conditions.
Limit high-fat foods in your diet. Choices to avoid include:
- Red meat
- Full-fat dairy products
- Fried foods
- Foods high in saturated fats
- Foods containing trans fats
Exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Regular exercise keeps your heart strong and efficient.
Try to maintain a healthy weight. Eating healthy foods low in sugar and fat will help. Try to include foods with high fiber content, like fruits and vegetables, so you feel full.
Try some stress reduction techniques to reduce cardiac workload. Check out yoga, meditation, or even walking, to calm your heart, mind, and soul.
Don’t forget to visit your family medicine doctor at least once each year for a physical, including a blood pressure check. Your family medicine doctor can order lab work to check cholesterol and blood sugar levels. High cholesterol and high blood pressure both contribute to developing heart problems. Your family medicine doctor can prescribe medication to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, which can save your heart and your life.
You may already have heart disease and not know it, so be sure and call your doctor or emergency services if you experience:
- Chest pain, pressure, or a squeezing feeling
- Chest pain that doesn’t go away, or gets worse
- Chest pain radiating down your arms, neck, or shoulders
- A rapid, irregular heartbeat and breathing difficulty
To learn more about how you can protect yourself against heart disease and how your family medicine doctors can help, call Drs. Joel and Elizabeth Biggers of Biggers Family Medicine in Brandon, FL. You can reach them in the office by calling (813) 655-4646, so call now.