Walk With the Doc Saturday February 11th, 8:00 am My Valentine Wish Whether you celebrate Valentine's Day alone or with someone special, it’s an opportunity to celebrate with healthy choices. My Valentine wish is for your health and happiness through wise choices. It’s a gift you can keep and give away. Personally, I’m regifting from CDC. Hope you find it a gift you can use in the coming days and perhaps regift to those special to you. Plan an activity that engages you in physical fitness. Regular physical activity helps control your weight, reduce your risk of heart disease and some cancers, improve mental health and mood, and increase your chance of living longer. Adults need 2.5 hours (150 minutes) of activity each week. If you like, break it up into smaller chunks of time during the day. It's about what works best for you. The goal is physical activity at a moderate or vigorous effort level for at least 10 minutes at a time. Treat yourself and loved ones to a meal that includes healthy options and foods low in saturated fat, salt, and sweets. Nutrition plays an essential role in maintaining overall health. Know your blood pressure and if it's high, make control your goal. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as it carries blood from your heart to other parts of your body. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. Quit smoking, and if you don't smoke, don't start. If you smoke and are ready to quit, then let’s talk. Smokers can also receive free resources and assistance by calling the help line at 800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). Learn the most common symptoms of a heart attack and call 911 immediately if these symptoms occur. The five major symptoms of a heart attack are: • Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back, • Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint, • Chest pain or discomfort, • Pain or discomfort in arms or shoulder, and • Shortness of breath. Avoid distracted driving and get to your Valentine's Day plans safely. Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. Distracted driving significantly increases the chance of a motor vehicle crash. Nancy Neighbors, MD About Valentine’s Day • A popular theory about Valentine's Day origin is that Emperor Claudius II didn't want Roman men to marry during wartime. Bishop Valentine went against his wishes and performed secret weddings. For this, Valentine was jailed. While in jail he wrote a note to the jailor's daughter signing it "from your Valentine". • In 1537, England's King Henry VII officially declared Feb. 14 the holiday of St. Valentine's Day. • In Victorian times it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine’s Day card. • An estimated 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year. • In Finland where Valentine’s Day translates into “Friend’s day”, it's more about remembering your buddies than your loved ones. • In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned onto their sleeves for one week for everyone to see and is the origin of the expression "to wear your heart on your sleeve." • Physicians of the 1800s commonly advised their patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining for lost love. • Richard Cadbury produced the first box of chocolates for Valentine's Day in the late 1800s. • More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine's Day. • The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. • Teachers will receive the most Valentine's Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets. Let’s take a walk Date: Saturday, February 11th Location: Jones Family Park (see map) Time: 8:00 am (Meet in front of Yogurt Mountain) Yogurt Mt. is the last store at the end of Valley Bend Shopping Center). If cloudy, bring an umbrella, we walk come rain or shine. Click here for Dr. Neighbors’ 2017 news page |
