This week we continue to celebrate Black History Month with another inspirational video of one of our students, Kendra Moore. You'll also want to tune in to the meetings with campus physicians and hear their stories.

Now more than ever, it’s important to take care of your heart. Heart disease is not only a leading cause of death in the US, but people with poor cardiovascular health are also at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Making heart health a part of your self-care routine is easier than you think. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are five things that you can do on a daily basis to keep your heart healthy:

Eat healthy fats. Show your heart some love by preparing tasty, nutritious meals and avoiding trans fats, which can raise your LDLs (bad cholesterol). Stick to foods that contain polyunsaturated and saturated fats and avoid high processed foods like packaged baked goods, snack foods, and fried fast foods.

Practice good dental hygiene. Flossing your teeth daily can help remove dangerous bacteria which can move into the bloodstream and raise your C-reactive protein. This protein is a marker for inflammation in the blood vessels and can lead to an increased risk of heart disease or stroke. 

Get enough sleep. Studies show that not enough sleep can cause disruptions in biological processes including increased blood pressure. Be sure to schedule your bedtime so that you get six to eight hours of sleep a day.  

Stand Up. Not getting enough physical activity puts you at risk. In fact, a recent study found that those who sat the most throughout the day had a 147 percent increased risk of a cardiovascular event and a 90 percent increase of death caused by the event.

Say no to secondhand smoke. Studies show that people who are exposed to secondhand smoke have a 25 to 30 percent higher risk of developing heart disease. Let those who smoke know that you do not want to be around it.

AIMS is proud to present Morning Yoga to reduce stress and relax your body. These sessions will take place in the Savannah Auditorium from 7:45-8:15 a.m. every other Monday morning. Be sure to wear a mask as social distancing will be practiced. In addition, please bring a yoga mat, water bottle and appropriate clothing for PBL.

Dates: 2/15, 3/1, 3/15, 3/29, 4/12, 4/26

Questions: Taylor Kennedy, Savannah M2 Aims Representative

Introducing the very first orthopedic interest group based on the Savannah campus, with satellite branches on the Macon and Columbus campuses coming soon. The current senior executive board will be rolling out programs soon such as guest lectures, journal clubs, current research, a database for physicians who want to be involved in mentorship, and much more. The first event will be a journal club meeting on intertrochanteric fractures and total hip arthroplasty in March.

Interested in getting involved? Join the junior executive board. Just send your CV and a letter of intent with how you will contribute and what you hope to accomplish to MUSMOrthopedic@gmail.com. Since the group is new, ideal candidates will possess determination and drive to get this group started.

This Week@MUSM is the official student newsletter of the Mercer University School of Medicine. Visit our website to learn more or view past issues.