February...Invest in your Heart Health

Walsh’s Pharmacy has maintained that people within our community deserve the best health care services, programs and advice that we can provide. Sometimes the best medicine is simply a good dose of knowledge.

February not only features Valentine’s Day, and the Winter Olympics, it is also Heart Month and a perfect time to focus on developing strategies to maintain a healthy heart.

According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, cardiovascular disease affects more lives in Canada than any other illness. But there’s good news. You can protect your heart and reduce your risk by simply adopting a few good habits. Here are just a few which you might undertake:

Be Active. Get a move on to protect your heart. Regular activity helps prevent and control risk factors such as High Blood Pressure, and High Cholesterol. Remember, it’s important to consult with your doctor before beginning any fitness oriented program, especially if you’ve not been active;

Eat Right. Choose a diet which emphasizes vegetables, fruit, whole grains, etc. For guidance, check Canada’s Food Guide and remember to check the label. You can also find the guide on our website: www.walshspharmacy.ca

Watch your Waistline. A nutritious diet and exercise regimen are vital to losing weight and keeping it off, as is portion control. Here’s a suggestion from the Heart & Stroke Foundation: Fill ½ your plate with vegetables, ¼ of your plate with whole grains, and ¼ with lean protein;

Monitor your Blood Pressure. High Blood Pressure affects one in five Canadians and is a major risk factor for heart disease. Yet 43% of people with high blood pressure don’t know they have it, because there are no symptoms. To ensure your blood pressure is maintained within the normal range, take regular readings at various times of day. Use our free in-store Blood Pressure Kiosk, but if you can’t visit Walsh’s regularly, perhaps you should consider a home-use automatic blood pressure monitor. Walsh’s Pharmacy carries a complete line of BIOS Diagnostics Blood Pressure Monitors.

Stop Smoking.  Using tobacco products, or merely being exposed to second hand smoke, increase the risk of developing heart disease. Consult your doctor, or a Walsh’s Pharmacy pharmacist, about an appropriate Smoking Cessation program that’s right for you. Attend a blood pressure clinic, or have your blood pressure monitored regularly. Check in-store for details about our smoking cessation programs.

When you visit Walsh’s Pharmacy, you’re in good hands. We can answer your questions about the products and services we sell, as well as provide answers about the health and wellness of you and your family…but then, that’s to be expected from a good neighbour who’s been a part of your neighbourhood since 1952. 

Be sure to visit us in-store, or our website at: www.walshspharmacy.ca