February is American Heart Month and as a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening community through healthy living, the Waynesboro Family YMCA urges everyone in Waynesboro and East Augusta area to take steps to prevent chronic diseases, such as heart disease, so they can lead longer, healthier lives.
To address the prevalence of heart disease in the United States, the Y made a commitment to the Million Hearts campaign, an initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years.
The root causes of many chronic diseases, including heart disease, are unhealthy behaviors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy eating and tobacco use. With a presence into more than 10,000 communities across the nation, the Y has the ability to address the root causes of chronic disease at both the individual and community level and improve health and well-being.
The Y offers community-based healthy living and chronic disease prevention initiatives that support people in changing their lifestyles, encourage organizations and communities to adopt behaviors that promote healthy living and promote the public’s health through advocacy.
Here in Augusta County, the Waynesboro Family YMCA encourages heart health through Virginia Premier Partnership to encourage Medicaid Recipients to focus on preventive health and getting active weekly. We have our Silver Sneakers programs which are designed for Older Active Adults to improve and support wellness. We have a wide range of Group Fitness classes to tone and strengthen the mind, body and spirit.
We are in the application process for a Diabetes Prevention Program funded by the Virginia Department of Health. This Diabetes Prevention Program will help those at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles in order to reduce their chances of developing the disease. Type 2 diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and people with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke as those who do not have it.
Contact Nikki Brown, our Community Relationship Director for more details about programs or how you can get involved at 943-9622 ext. 204.
Things You Can Do for a Healthier Lifestyle
1. Practice prevention – you already know what this means in terms of diet, exercise, and not smoking.
2. Keep in mind a vision of living an active, healthy life well into your 80s.
3. Work first and foremost on your inner sense of well-being.
4. Actively take measures to reduce stress. This includes getting eight hours of sleep a night without fail.
5. Find out who you really are – a secure, flexible sense of self is a great preventive of illness.
6. Be easy about diet but head toward less fat, red meat, processed food, refined sugar and carbohydrates, along with a balance of food groups that favors fruits and vegetables.
7. Learn to meditate. If that’s not possible, take two breaks a day where you sit silently and alone to collect yourself.
8. Associate with people who share your positive outlook, uphold your spiritual ideals, and delve into the world’s wisdom traditions.
9. Express and share your emotions. Take steps to get rid of toxic emotions.
10. Find an outlet for love, which means both being loved and showing love.
More online at www.WaynesboroYMCA.com.
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