The Record Special Sections Health Quarterly 02-16-2020 | Página 6

6 ❚ SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020 ❚ THE RECORD
HEALTH QUARTERLY / ADVERTISING SECTION
ATLANTIC HEALTH SYSTEM
Healthy Heart and Healthy Lifestyle
By PUJA PATEL, MD and IRENE WONG, DO
Family physicians with Atlantic Medical Group,
Primary Care at Totowa and on-staff
at Chilton Medical Center
H
eart disease is the leading cause
of death in the United States. Heart
disease includes coronary artery
disease and heart attacks. About
one-fourth of all deaths are caused
by heart disease.
Risk factors for heart
disease include: high
blood pressure, high
cholesterol, smok-
ing, diabetes, being
overweight or obese,
unhealthy diet, lack
of physical activity, and excessive alcohol
consumption. A lot of these risk factors are
modifiable, and not only reduce the risk of
heart disease, but are integral to maintain-
ing overall health.
Being healthy is a way living and not sim-
ply something that is prompted when you
have been diagnosed with a chronic disease.
Living a healthy
lifestyle starts in
childhood. We learn
a lot of our eating
and exercise habits
from our parents, so
as parents, we need
to set good examples
for our children.
Below are some
helpful tips to help
keep healthy heart
Puja Patel, MD
healthy:
EAT A HEART HEALTHY DIET
Elevated cholesterol is a risk for develop-
ing heart disease. You can help your chil-
dren make healthier food choices simply by
knowing how to read a nutrition label.
n Know your cholesterols.
n Substitute unsaturated fats
for saturated fats.
n Limit processed foods.
n Add fiber-rich foods.
n Provide healthy snack options.
A basic heart healthy diet includes lean
meats, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and
whole grains.
ENCOURAGE
PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY
n Regular physical
activity helps streng-
then our hearts
and allow our hearts
to pump blood more
efficiently, which
can help lower blood
pressure.
Irene Wong, DO
n Children should
get 30-60 minutes of physical activity
per day.
n Plan activities your children enjoy
into their daily routine.
n Get active as a family.
LIMIT SCREEN TIME
n Excessive screen time can lead to a
sedentary lifestyle, which increases the risk
for obesity and cardiovascular disease in
children.
n Limit screen time to less than two
hours per day. This includes TV, computers,
phones, and video games.
SCHEDULE AN ANNUAL EXAM
AND SPORT PHYSICAL
n It is important that children get their
annual physical. During their annual visit,
their doctor will check their height, weight,
BMI and blood pressure, all of which are
important for your child’s heart health.
n If your child is an athlete, it is important
to see a doctor prior to starting any sports.
The American Heart Association recom-
mends that all children and teens be screened
for any potential cardiac risk factors.
IMPROVE SLEEP HYGIENE
n Good sleep habits play a key part in
a healthy lifestyle. Research shows that
improved sleep is linked to healthier weight.
n Keep regular sleep schedules, even
on weekends. Distractions such as screen
time should be limited or one hour prior to
bedtime. Avoiding eating three hours prior
to bedtime.
The American Heart Association says a
heart-healthy diet from an early age lowers
cholesterol and if followed through adoles-
cence and beyond, should reduce the risk
of coronary artery disease in adulthood.
Morristown Medical Center Expands Cardiac Care
A
tlantic Health System’s Morristown
Medical Center, nationally rec-
ognized for heart care, recently
opened the second of two new
36-bed units for patients with heart dis-
ease, completing a two-story expansion of
the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute.
The unit will serve cardiac surgery
patients, while the first 36-bed unit, which
opened in November, serves structural
heart disease patients who have complex
disorders and diseases of the heart.
This expands the heart care program
at Morristown Medical Center — named
the number one hospital in New Jersey
— to 180 beds, all within its Gagnon
Cardiovascular Institute.
“The completion of the Gagnon Cardio-
vascular Institute expansion further illus-
trates our deep commitment to grow and
meet the continued needs of our patients,
who come from all over the country to
Morristown Medical Center to receive life-
saving care,” stated Trish O’Keefe, Ph.D.,
RN, president, Morristown Medical Center,
vice president, Atlantic Health System. “We
are proud that Morristown Medical Center is
home to one of our nation’s leading cardiol-
ogy programs and some of the most highly
skilled cardiologists and caregivers who pro-
vide extraordinary caring each and every day.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF ATLANTIC HEALTH SYSTEM
To meet the demand for expert care, the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at Morristown
Medical Center recently opened two new units, each containing 36 private patient rooms.
The two-story vertical expansion began
in December 2017 in response to the high
demand for the medical center’s pro-
grams. More than 100,000 heart patients
are served each year, and this number is
expected to increase significantly as the
population continues to age.
“With this much-needed expansion
complete, we will be able to offer exemplary
cardiac care to more patients who trust
Morristown Medical Center’s experts with
their hearts,” said Linda D. Gillam, MD, MPH,
MACC the Dorothy and Lloyd Huck chair
of Cardiovascular Medicine at Morristown
Medical Center and medical director of
the cardiovascular service line for Atlantic
Health System. “We take great pride in the
fact that our heart care program and medi-
cal center are among the best in the nation,
and this state-of-the-art expansion of the
Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute will further
enhance the care and overall experience we
provide to our patients.”
In addition to 72 new private rooms, the
55,400 square foot addition increases clini-
cal space and adds dedicated MRI technolo-
gy for the exclusive use of cardiac patients.
Neil and Lois Gagnon, who helped es-
tablish the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute
in 2008, have continued their generosity
and made the lead gift to facilitate the
Institute’s expansion, which is a part of the
Growing Forward Campaign. “We were
thrilled to have a role in shaping cardiovas-
cular care in our community. We’re proud
of this facility and support the life-saving
work that is performed here,” Neil Gagnon,
Foundation for Morristown Medical Center
honorary trustee, said.