This week we celebrate Valentine’s Day … rather than turning to sugary candies, why not buy your sweetie the ingredients for a DIY
fruit and gift basket at this Thursday’s Pathfinder Produce from 2-5 p.m. Here are a few links with ideas if you are
feeling creative:
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Every Valentine’s Day, we enjoy seeing cascading red hearts
that decorate all the storefronts, and the fun stories on Facebook. Here at Pathfinder Village, I especially
enjoy the card exchange with our school students and the residents’ dance that
are our annual traditions. But matters
of the heart are not merely focused on romance this month … it’s American Heart
Month, and a good time to start taking care of “the old ticker.”
Our Pathfinder School students are participating in Jump Rope for Heart for the first time
this year, with the culminating jumping event happening on February 26. If you are interested in supporting the
students as they raise money for the American Heart Association, please email our Adaptive Physical Education
Teacher Megan Shirey. We also have a CPR
Training Course this week for new residential staff, taught by Assistant
Director of Enrichment Char Orendorff, who is also a member of our Edmeston EMS
team. Char has been a key part in our heart
health program here at Pathfinder, as both our CPR/AED educator and
as our fitness and games expert as part of our Enrichment Department.
A new survey from the Cleveland Clinic indicates that most
Americans are uninformed about recognizing and preventing heart disease,
despite it being the number one cause of death for adults in the U.S. The survey found:
- 74% of Americans are not afraid of dying from heart disease
- 32% of Americans do not take proactive steps to prevent heart disease
- 70% of Americans are unaware of the symptoms of heart disease
The Cleveland Clinic has put together an impressive and informative web presentation on some of the myths and misperceptions
on heart disease; you may review it at this link. To spell it out plainly,
the signs of heart disease are below; check out this link for more from the WebMD site. Men and women often
experience different symptoms: If you have a combination of any of these signs,
you should talk to your medical care provider:
1. Chest discomfort, pain or burning sensations
often centered under the sternum.
2. Anxiety or feelings of impending doom.
3. Persistent cough or wheezing.
4. Dizziness.
5. Fatigue or weakness.
6.
Nausea,
vomiting or lack of appetite.
7.
Pain that
spreads from the chest, to the shoulders, arms, elbows, back, neck, or jaw.
8. Rapid or irregular pulse.
9. Shortness of breath.
10. Breaking out in a cold sweat.
11. Swelling, often in the feet, ankles, legs, or
abdomen.
A key part to taking better care of your heart is to eat
better, and that’s where our weekly Pathfinder Produce market can help. By making the shift to eating less processed
foods, and placing more fruits and vegetables on your plate, you can do a great
deal to improve your overall health.
Fruits and veggies are great on so many levels – they have vitamins your
body needs, they are low in saturated fats and do not have trans fats, and they
contain dietary fiber, which can be helpful in maintaining a healthy weight.
So, learn more about heart health, step it up with some
moderate exercise, and factor in some fruits and veggies during American Heart
Month.
Be well!
Lori
