Are You Taking Care of Your Heart?
By: Matt Slimming, PT, DPT, Founder and CEO
Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure? Do you get out of breath going up a flight of stairs? Your heart is vital to your survival. At Star Physical Therapy, our therapists understand how important it is to address underlying issues and create a plan to help prevent injury and disease.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, accounting for one in four deaths each year. Fortunately, most forms of heart disease are preventable by making lifestyle changes, including exercising, practicing good nutritional habits, and reducing stress in your everyday life.
February is American Heart Month. Our team at Star Physical Therapy can help improve your heart health by helping you learn how to eat a well-balanced diet, exercise regularly, and avoid anything that can cause damage to it.
Request an appointment with one of our specialists to learn how to keep your heart healthy!
5 Tips for Better Heart Health
Taking action and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will assist you in making sure your heart is healthy. When your heart doesn’t get enough attention, significant problems might arise in the artery lining, leading to plaque buildup. Plaque forming in your arteries is the cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Here are 5 simple ways you can make sure your heart continues to perform at its best:
- Exercise to increase your heart rate: Walking and biking around your area regularly can help you raise your heart rate. Exercising regularly can help you lose weight, reduce your stress and improve your mood.
- Participate in strength training: Strength training is one of the most effective injury-prevention strategies for the body and heart. Your therapist can help you develop safe strength-training techniques.
- Maintain mobility of the joints and muscles: Regular stretching and mobility work keeps you active and makes you feel better. The more active you are, the healthier your heart is! Knowing the right workouts and therapies for your joint and muscle health will help you feel better and enhance your overall function.
- Eat healthy meals: Nutrition plays a huge role in heart health. Plant-based foods, whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats like fatty fish and olive oil should all be in your diet. Fried foods, trans fats, processed foods, and added sugar should all be avoided.
- Manage your stress: Stress can raise blood pressure, so do your best to find daily ways to relax. The less stressed out you are, the less tension and stress you place on your heart. Exercising, getting adequate sleep, stretching before bed, or taking a nightly warm shower are all things that could help with relaxation.
The best approach to keep your heart strong and healthy is to exercise regularly. It’s a natural, safe, and effective way to help improve your heart function! Physical therapy is an excellent method to add additional physical activity to your daily routine.
What to Expect in Physical Therapy
If you’re looking for a safe way to improve your heart health, physical therapy is a great option. At Star Physical Therapy, our team of experts can play a leading role in preventing, reversing, and managing heart-related conditions. Our therapists can help you improve your heart health by advising you on lifestyle adjustments that include daily exercises, nutrition, and stress reduction strategies based on your individual needs.
Our team comprises movement experts who have the knowledge and training to evaluate and treat several kinds of acute and chronic pain conditions and abnormal physical function related to an injury, disability, disease, or unhealthy lifestyle.
We perform a thorough evaluation that includes your overall health status to create an exercise plan that ensures you’re getting as much physical activity as you can throughout the day. This will consist of treatments to address any injuries you may have and to help prevent other health issues.
We can guide you through proper exercises and specialized treatments to relieve your joint and muscle pain, increase your strength and flexibility, and improve your overall health by getting your blood flowing and your heart rate up. Participating in regular physical therapy appointments can help lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, significantly decreasing your chances of cardiac arrest in the future.
Our goal is to incorporate activities to improve your heart health so you can enjoy your life!
Request an Appointment Today
Caring for your heart is just as important as caring for any other part of your body. For American Heart Month, our team at Star Physical Therapy can help you get back into shape safely and healthily!
Contact us this month to learn how you can improve your heart health by incorporating more physical activity into your life!
“When I first started coming, I was in a wheelchair part time. I moved on to using a walker, then graduated to only using a cane. I still have balance issues and a little pain, but everything was great. The staff was amazing, thanks for everything.”
-Janet G.
Five Heart-Healthy Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day
This month, we’re celebrating our two favorite heart-centric holidays: Valentine’s Day and National Heart Month!
National Heart Month is the time of year we work to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and how to prevent it, such as regular exercise and a healthy diet.
This year, we thought we’d combine the two celebrations by sharing five heart-friendly ways to celebrate all things love and romance.
1. Sign Up for a Ballroom Dance Class
- Aerobic exercise is one of the best things you can do for your heart, and ballroom dancing is a fun way to raise your heart rate with your sweetheart.
2. Take a Romantic Stroll
- Walking is great all-around exercise–and a stroll along a pretty nature trail or under the stars is the height of classic romance!
3. Share Some Heart-Healthy Treats
- High-quality dark chocolate and fruits like strawberries and pomegranates are healthy, sweet, and festive for the season.
4. Cook a Healthy Romantic Meal
- Team up in the kitchen to fix a healthy Valentine’s Day meal centered around fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats like olive oil.
5. Take a Relaxing Bubble Bath
- Reducing stress is as important to heart health as eating right and exercising. Now’s the time to use that “special occasion” bath bomb. Light some candles, shut the door, and relax with your favorite romantic read.
Looking for more information about boosting your cardiovascular health? Schedule an appointment with Star Physical Therapy today!
Feel Better by Eating Better!
Valentine’s Day Rose Latte
This Valentine’s Day Rose Latte recipe is a cozy, romantic drink that blends creamy comfort with delicate floral sweetness. It’s the perfect way to treat yourself—or someone you love—to a beautiful and relaxing moment.
Ingredients
- 2 1⁄2 cups Unsweetened Plant-Based Milk
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp Maple Syrup
- 1 tsp Beet Powder
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 tsp Rose Water
Optional:
- 1⁄2 tsp Ground Cardamom
- 2 Espresso Shots
- Add the unsweetened plant-based milk, maple syrup or agave, beetroot powder, and cardamom (if using) to a small pot over low heat.
- Heat on low for about 5 minutes or until warmed to your liking, stirring frequently. Then take off the heat and stir in the vanilla extract & rose water.
- Pour the espresso shot into your mug (if using). If you have a milk frother, use it to froth the plant-based milk mixture (this is optional too).
- Pour the rose milk latte into your mug and top with dried rose petals and an extra dash of cardamom if you like. Enjoy!
Now Offering Massage Therapy
We’re excited to announce that therapeutic massage is now available at our New Orleans East, Lakefront, and Algiers clinics!
Our licensed massage therapists offer 60-minute sessions designed to support your recovery, relieve tension, improve mobility, and help you feel your best. Whether you’re dealing with stress, muscle tightness, or recovering from an injury, massage therapy can be a powerful complement to your physical therapy plan.
Ready to relax, rejuvenate, and recover? Call your clinic today to schedule your massage or click the button below.
Limited-Time Offer: $10 OFF your first session!
Use promo code MASSAGEME when you book.
Exercise of the Month
LOWER TRUNK ROTATIONS
Start by lying face up on the floor with your knees bent. Allow your knees to slowly drop to one side. Your lower back should rotate, but your shoulders should stay flat on the ground. Hold for 30 seconds. Bring your knees back up and then drop them to the opposite side.
2 Sets, 2 Reps.
Let’s Get You Better ASAP!
Don’t let pain dictate your life. Take the first step towards reclaiming your mobility and well-being with our expert support. Start your journey to a healthier you today.
