HEALTH & WELLNESS
S PECIAL SECTION
RN Available 24 Hours
7 Days a Week
412.835.1200
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7 Days a Week
412.835.HOME
Fax: 412.835.1233
• Establish proper sitting habits. Keep your back straight, feet
at 90 degrees, and eyes level with the top of your computer
screen. Make sure your shoulders aren’t hunched when
resting your elbows on your desk to type.
• Stretch in place. Adding stretching to your daily routine is
beneficial for anyone. Stand up and do a few stretches at
your desk to get your muscles loosened up and moving.
Feeling spunky? Add a few jumping jacks in to get your
heart rate pumping for some extra energy.
• Realize how much sitting you do. Sitting for eight hours at
your job has negative effects on your body, but going home
and sitting on the couch for the rest of the night doubles
those effects, increasing cause for concern. If you have a
sedentary job, make a point of taking a walk when you get
home or spend some time on your feet with your kids or at
the gym. Keeping active during breaks and on the weekends
will help combat negative effects from the workweek.
HEART HEALTH—SKIP THE SUGAR!
Upper St. Clair
Fort Couch Rd.
412-265-1883
Crafton/Ingram
2725 Center St.
Karen L Johnson, DDS • Kathy Lopez, DMD • Eric Rackley DMD 412-265-1975
www.SouthHillsDentalArts.com
38 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Mt. Lebanon
Heart disease is the number-one killer of all Americans, but
awareness of the disease and its causes has allowed for a decrease
in the number of deaths associated with it in recent years. Eating
well and exercising are obvious ways to prevent the onset of
heart disease, but a recent study by the Journal of the American
College of Cardiology looks at another culprit that has damaging
effects on your heart: sugar (fructose). According to the study,
one to two servings of sugary drinks per day raises a person’s risk
of heart disease by 35 percent. It is important to be cognizant of
sugar intake, as it can often sneak into your diet unnoticed. Men
should only consume about 37.5 grams of added sugar (think
coffee drinks, sodas, yeast breads, cereals, fruit drinks) per day,
while women should stay around 25 grams. Starting out the day
with a latte, frozen beverage, or soda could add anywhere from
20 to 63 grams of sugar in just 12 ounces! Make sure to stop and
think before you consume added sugar for the sake of your heart
health, because sugar isn’t as sweet as it seems.