Taney County Health Department: ‘Don’t go breaking your heart’

Heart shaped decorations, cards and candies are everywhere, a sure sign that Valentine’s Day is near. Beyond Valentine’s celebrations, February is also American Heart Health Month, a reminder to care for the heart that matters most, your own. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. To help change this trend, Taney County Health Department (TCHD) encourages everyone to schedule health screenings and make healthy choices, because the best way to avoid breaking your heart is to protect it.

“Our goal is to support anyone ready to take steps towards improving their health” states Chelsea Osbourn, Nutritionist at TCHD. “Our WISEWOMAN program helps identify key risk factors for heart disease and offers prevention solutions. The ladies who take advantage of the fullness of this health counseling can experience life-changing results.”

WISEWOMAN (Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation) provides heart disease and stroke prevention screenings and education to women who are 35-64 years of age and meet income guidelines. Through this program, TCHD staff provide personalized health coaching to women at risk for heart disease, helping them set achievable goals and make meaningful lifestyle changes. These coaching sessions empower women to take control of their health, because even small adjustments can lead to big improvements in heart health.

A few simple lifestyle changes can help lower the risk of heart disease. Consider these steps:

• Choose healthy food and drinks—Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and drink more water.

• Limit sodium— Removing extra salt from your diet can help lower blood pressure.

• Get regular physical activity— Staying active supports a healthy weight and lowers blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

• Avoid smoking— Cigarette smoking greatly increases risk of heart disease.

Be mindful of your heart health this Valentine’s Day. By implementing a few simple changes, you can show your heart some love and lower your risk of heart disease. For more information about heart health or the WISEWOMAN program, contact the Taney County Health Department at 417-334-4544, visit our website at taneyhealth.gov, or like our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X pages.