Picture a heart-healthy lifestyle
P
icture the lifestyle of West
• Eat more colorful fruits and vegetables,
Virginia farm families. What do
whole grains, lean proteins, healthy
you envision? Fields and gardens that
fats and drink lots of water.
yield healthy foods for the family
Farming can be risky business. During
table? Nature and scenery for plenty
difficult years, incomes can be impacted,
of outdoor activity? Friendly, helpful
resulting in difficulty
neighbors? This
affording the rising
may describe
Heart disease is the #1 cause of
costs of food, health
many West
death.
care, insurance
Virginia farms,
West Virginia ranks highest in the
and transportation.
yet a rural
nation in heart attacks.
Long work days
lifestyle may not
Heart disease is highest among the
may mean that
be the healthiest
less educated and lower income.
individuals are not
lifestyle. In fact,
Compared to the rest of the nation,
able to make time
the Mountain
West Virginians are more likely to
for appointments.
State has a
have risk factors that often lead
This situation affects
surprisingly
to heart disease, such as diabetes,
preventive doctor/
high blood pressure and high
high rate of
dental visits and
cholesterol.
heart disease.
immunizations.
West Virginia adults report less
Although
Another barrier to
healthy habits than adults elsewhere:
trends are
tobacco use, overweight/obesity,
good health is safe,
improving,
poor dental health, drinking more
convenient places
it’s important
soda, eating fewer vegetables and
to be active, such
fruits, and being inactive.
for individuals,
as trails, parks and
families and rural
playgrounds.
communities to
Our beliefs can also undermine health.
take action now to reduce heart disease.
For example, an attitude that personal
• Talk with your health care provider
habits or family health history don’t
about family health history and tests.
matter may lead to poor choices.
• Know your ABCs:
When it comes to daily choices,
West Virginians may smoke more,
– Aspirin: Ask your doctor
exercise less and have less nutritional
if aspirin is right for you.
diets.
– Blood pressure
– Cholesterol
Don’t let past habits determine the
– Don’t smoke: Call the free
quality of your life. Take control of
West Virginia Tobacco Quitline
your health. Talk to family, friends and
at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
neighbors about practical changes for
healthier homes, churches, schools and
• Know your numbers: Body Mass
communities. We are a state of resilient,
Index, blood pressure, blood sugar,
resourceful people and communities,
cholesterol, waist measurement
and we can turn the statistics around.
(under 35 inches for women and
Let’s act now to prevent heart disease
under 40 inches for men)
and make our rural lifestyle the picture
• Be more active. Aim for 30 to
of health.
60 minutes every day with exercise
By Elaine Bowen, WVU Extension
that makes you sweat and your heart
Specialist – Health Promotion
pump.
Winter 2016
WVU Update
The West Virginia University
Extension Service and the WVU
Davis College of Agriculture,
Natural Resources, and Design are
pleased to offer this educational
insert to the Farm Bureau NEWS
as a service to West Virginians.
Check our websites for
more news (www.ext.
www.ext.
wvu.edu and www.
davis.wvu.edu).
Lindsay Wiles,
Editor
Greg Jacobs, Graphic Designer
Editorial Planning Committee:
Hannah Fincham, Joan Harman,
Lewis Jett, John Murray, Kevin
Shaffer, Ben Spong, Lindsay
Willey and Ronnie Helmondollar
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Director, Cooperative Extension
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