How to Get and Stay Heart Healthy

Ensure a good quality of life with a combo of smart choices and medications like Entresto.

By The LifeMinute Team

January 31, 2017

The experts weigh in on keeping your number one organ functioning at its best.

Get Heart Healthy

"We're working together with Novartis and Good Housekeeping to educate the American population about heart failure," says Dr. Alan Gass, Medical Director of the Heart Transplant Program at the Westchester Medical Center. Heart failure is a condition on where there heart, which is a muscle, can no longer pump blood efficiently around the body. That translates into the most common symptoms of heart failure: Shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles, easy fatiguability or sometimes it's a subtle as not being able to do what you used to do whether it's a day, a week, or a year before.

It's really important that people are educated about a breakthrough medication called Entresto, which helps people stay alive and out of the hospital.

Entresto may not be right for everybody. If you're pregnant or have a history of angiodema you should not take Entresto. If you're on medication called ACE's or ARB you should not take it. Have a good conversation about Entresto to see if it's the right medication for you.

Live Your Best Life

It's not only about medication. Equally important it's about lifestyle modifications, says Good Housekeeping's Lori Jenks. "Do things like eating a low sodium diet, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy fish and nuts and seeds," she says. "I say eat the rainbow, focus on those brightly colored fruits, the dark and leafy greens. On top of that get physical activity. It can be as simple as a 30 minute walk a day. If walking is too much, you can stand up and do some light stretching at your desk if you're at work or watching tv at home at night." Also: Quit smoking and get adequate rest.

For more information go to Entresto.com

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