Message from Your Wellness Coordinator
If you have completed your online health assessment and biometric screening, don't forget to log back into your Hometown Health Portal and begin earning points toward your $100 Visa gift card!

Did you know that if you missed your onsite biometric screening, you can still qualify for the $25 Visa gift card? 

Please contact your Human Resource office requesting a Physician Qualification form or download the form from your Hometown Health portal. Simply have your healthcare provider fill out this form (submission instructions included), and complete your online health assessment on the Hometown Health portal! Your visa gift card will be sent to you after completion! You will have until March 31 to earn this incentive.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly via email.

All the best,
Gwen
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Ten Minutes to a Healthier Heart

Don't avoid exercising because you're short on time. Even quick workouts can benefit your heart.

Does spending an hour at the gym seem daunting - and something you really don't have time for? Fitness experts say you can workout 10 to 15 minutes at a time and still reduce your risk for heart disease.

The American Heart Association recommends all adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week.

What is moderate physical activity? It includes:
  • Brisk walking, jogging or running
  • Biking
  • Swimming
  • Dancing
  • Jumping rope
Food for the Heart 

Heart-healthy eating involves more than slashing fat and cholesterol. Learn what foods and food can help keep you healthy. 

You want to eat well to protect your heart. You start by limiting certain foods you know can cause trouble, such as butter, red meat, cheese and fried foods. But did you know that one of the keys to heart-healthy eating is to concentrate on what to add to your meal plan?
Reducing saturated and trans fats, cholesterol and sodium in your diet is a good start, but there is a lot more to heart-healthy eating. The following guidelines will help you tackle the rest of your meal plan.
Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans (legumes) and whole-grain products. These foods are naturally free of cholesterol and saturated fat. Also, they are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. And they are the only category of foods that will provide heart-healthy fiber.
Angry People Hurt Their Hearts

Persistent anger can lead to heart problems. Learn why people with aggressive personalities may be setting themselves up for trouble down the road. 

Scientists have long observed connections between emotions and health. The heart and the head are often inseparable, whether it is heartache or heartbreak.

Intense emotions like anxiety, happiness and sexual arousal usually come with increases in heart rate and blood pressure. But when it comes to your heart, anger may be a dangerous emotion. An upsetting event - especially one that involves anger - is a common trigger for abnormal heart rhythms or even heart attacks.

How to Tell if It's a Heart Attack 

Heart attacks are a major cause of premature death. Know the signs.

You'll know when you're having a heart attack by that telltale elephant-sitting-on-your-chest feeling, right? Maybe, but not always.
Some heart attacks start slowly. You may have some mild chest pain or discomfort. You may not think you're having a heart attack and wait too long to get help.

Heart attack symptoms:
  • Chest pain or discomfort, usually in the center of your chest. It may last longer than a few minutes, or it may go away and come back. You may feel pressure, squeezing, pain or fullness.
  • Pain or discomfort in other areas. You could have pain in one or both of your arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath. You may have this with or without chest pain or discomfort.
  • Other symptoms. Such as nausea, breaking out in a cold sweat or feeling lightheaded.
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