Healthy Living Newsletter

Happy Heart Health month! While February is synonymous with roses and yummy chocolates, the most important part of the month is caring for your heart. The Innovative Primary Care team shares these resources with you in hopes of keeping your ticker healthy and strong.  (Hint: stick with the dark chocolate!)
Spotlight on Wellness
Are you at risk?
Did you set a new year's resolution to put your health first? Do you need some motivation to keep it going? There's no better reminder than turning inward to the muscle we rely on most to function - our heart. Besides wanting to get fit for our outer looks, we should first focus on what truly makes us tick!

To keep your heart healthy, make sure you talk with y our Innovative Primary Care provider to determine the best steps for you - based on your age, your family history and key behaviors . Your provider will d etermine whether you are at risk for heart disease. There are both modifiable and non-modifiable factors that put us all at risk. Those we can't change include age, gender and family history.

A focus on those you can modify will be critical to your future health and well-being. They consist of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, being overweight, smoking, diabetes and poor diet.

These seven factors, if managed appropriately, can increase your odds of beating the statistic released today by the American Heart Association (AHA) that shows "45 percent of the U.S. population could suffer from cardiovascular disease by 2035."

If you haven't visited your IPC provider recently, we encourage you to schedule a visit today. In the meantime, visit the AHA's Life Check site to begin an honest assessment of your current lifestyle and obtain tools to keep your heart pumping strong for years to come.
Food for Life
Cooking light is just right
Ready to try some new heart healthy recipes? The American Heart Association has a ready supply to keep your ticker in tip top shape. One recipe that caught our eye is the Chipotle Chicken Bowl that features cilantro-lime quinoa. This recipe can be made for either lunch or dinner.
Healing Therapies
Heart Health Resources
Those of us who reside in the Valley of the Sun are fortunate to have many leading edge healthcare providers and resources close at hand.

  • The IPC office is now a service site for Aloha Cardiology, founded and led by
    Dr. Michael Barry, a cardiologist serving the Valley for more than 30 years. Dr. Barry prides himself in the accuracy of his diagnostic and treatment plans and in the successful minimization of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. His patients have maximized their quality of life - in a cost effective fashion. As such, Dr. Barry employs an integrated and holistic approach in the management of his patients. Aloha Cardiology has openings for patients at IPC on the second and last Wednesday of each month from 9:30am-4pm.
     
  • As you may know, Dr. Levitt is now practicing through the MDVIP model. As a part of that, you will receive body composition measurements and a lab draw for advanced cardio-lipid markers helping to dig more deeply into your heart health. With results in hand, you and Dr. Levitt will create a plan that is optimal for you and your future health needs.
     
  • University of Arizona is home to the Sarver Heart Center and it will be hosting a number of education events in Phoenix this month. As a proud graduate of the UofA Medical School and a big proponent of gut health and plant-based diets, Dr. Levitt recommends you check out the February 23 session on "Gut Microbes." Is your gut tied to your heart health? You bet! 
     
  • Walk for your heart and help others keep theirs pumping strong. Mark your calendar, get registered and join the 2017 Phoenix Heart Walk in downtown Phoenix on March 18.
Supplement Support
Assistance in your quest for a healthy heart
Quality, vetted supplements can assist with decreasing risk factors. Here is a sampling of Heart Health supplements available through Innovative Primary Care.
  • DioVasc
  • L Carnitine
  • Lifespan Optimizer
  • Magnesium Citrate
  • Nutrient 950
  • Pro Omega
  • Pterostilbene Supreme
  • Super EFA
  • Ubiquinol
  • Vasophil
  • Taurine
Visit our website for descriptions of these supplements and additional heart health supplements that are available through our office. Of course, we urge you to review any supplement and its benefits and contraindications with your provider before you make a purchase.

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