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Heart Disease Resources

People of all ages need to keep their heart healthy. Eating well, exercising regularly, and seeing your health care provider can help you keep your heart healthy. Work with your healthcare provider and adopt good lifestyle habits to help lower the risk of heart disease.

Heart disease describes conditions related to plaque building up in the walls of the arteries. Other conditions include arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms), congenital heart failure, and heart valve problems.

What is your risk?

Heart disease can happen to anyone, including children. You can be born with it, and a family history of heart disease may increase your risk.

Most heart disease develops over time due to poor habits such as smoking or eating an unhealthy diet. Having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes also increases your risk of heart disease. Talk with your provider about ways to prevent or manage diabetes and control other risk factors.

What is a good resting heart rate?

A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). Remember, factors such as age, physical activity, and overall health can affect what is considered your normal resting heart rate.

Talk to your provider if you have concerns about your heart rate.

How does high blood pressure affect heart health?

The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Causes for high blood pressure include:

  • Diabetes
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Smoking
  • Not getting enough regular physical activity
  • Unhealthy diets, including high amounts of sodium and alcohol

Talk to your provider about how you can lower your blood pressure to help avoid heart disease and stroke.

How can you lower your risk of heart disease?
• Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, poultry, and fish; avoid having too much salt or sugar
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise at least 150 minutes per week
• Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar at a healthy level
• Don’t smoke or use any tobacco products
• Follow your doctor’s recommendations
Can heart disease be treated?
Yes. Talk to your provider about how to safely reduce the risk of heart disease. You can also talk about setting goals for a healthier heart. Your provider may also prescribe medication.
What are symptoms of a heart attack?

A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. Be aware of the following symptoms:

  • Fatigue
  • Cold sweat
  • Nausea
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain in the jaw, neck, arms, shoulder, or back

Call 911 if you or someone you know is having a heart attack.

What can cause Congestive Heart Failure?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic condition that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood and meet your body's needs. The following factors may increase your risk of CHF:

  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol levels
  • High blood pressure
  • Poor diet
  • Not getting enough physical activity
  • Smoking and/or using tobacco
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Stress

Talk to your provider to learn more about CHF.

What can cause heart arrhythmia?

A heart arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. Factors that may cause arrhythmia include:

  • Blood sugar levels that are too low or too high
  • Caffeine, illegal drugs, and certain medications
  • Dehydration
  • Low levels of electrolytes, such as potassium, magnesium, or calcium
  • Physical activity
  • Strong emotional stress or anxiety
  • Vomiting or coughing
  • Smoke
  • Use illegal drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines
  • Drink alcohol more often and more than is recommended (no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women)
  • Take certain antibiotics and over-the-counter allergy and cold medicines

Talk to your provider about how to prevent arrhythmias.

Here are some resources to help you prevent or manage heart disease:

 

Managing Blood Pressure Flyer

American Heart Association

 High Blood Pressure Resources Page (CDC)

Heart Health Articles and Videos (Healthwise)

 

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Fidelis Care Highlights National Minority Health Month
4/13/2022 • Posted by Fidelis Care

Living-with-Sickle-Cell-Fidelis-Care-Support

Local Health Plan Offers Health and Wellness Support and Co-Hosts Webinar to Raise Awareness About Black Maternal Health

Long Island City, NY [April 13, 2022] – Fidelis Care is raising awareness about the health disparities that affect minority communities. In honor of National Minority Health Month this month, Fidelis Care shares the following guidance from Senior Medical Director, Dr. Jermel Hawkins, Jr., to help communities of color take control of their health and wellness.

  • Stay Active - Regular exercise can help boost moods, contributes to maintenance of a healthy weight, and improves sleep. It also lowers risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Black and Hispanic Americans experience higher rates of diabetes, so prioritizing movement is important. It is recommended to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week.
  • Eat Healthy - Improving eating habits can result in better health and prevent diseases. Fruits and veggies make great snacks throughout the day and give you a boost of energy. Minorities often face higher rates of elevated blood pressure and obesity - both are risk factors for cardiovascular health events like heart attacks.
  • Get Regular Screenings - Regular checkups and wellness exams help increase the chances of living a longer, healthier life. Regular visits to a primary care provider and routine care and screenings can help to prevent certain medical conditions or detect them early when they are easiest to treat.
  • Focus on Mental Health - Mental wellness plays a significant role in an individual’s overall well-being. Supporting mental health decreases the risk of more serious health conditions such as heart attack and stroke. It’s also important to get adequate sleep and practice relaxation exercises such as meditation or yoga. It’s also important to talk about stressful events with a supportive person and build a list of positive coping tools.
  • Get Vaccinated and Boosted - COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, protect communities of color from COVID-19. For information on getting your free booster shot, talk with your doctor or pharmacist – or visit vaccinefinder.org.

 

Black Maternal Health Webinar set for April 15

During Black Maternal Health Week, Fidelis Care will team up with Northwell Health to co-host a webinar, “Awareness and Advocacy for Better Health Outcomes.” The webinar will highlight the importance of access to quality maternal health care, explore the roots of maternal mortality among Black women, and feature insights from physicians, a Nurse Care Manager from Fidelis Care’s BabyCare program, and community leaders.

For more information about the Fidelis Care BabyCare program visit fideliscare.org/babycare.

“Fidelis Care remains committed to health equity and to addressing the social determinants of health that impact Black maternal health outcomes,” said Dr. Vincent Marchello, Chief Medical Officer. “We are proud to partner with Northwell Health on the Black Maternal Health webinar as we collaborate to reduce racial disparities and prevent maternal deaths and complications.”

The webinar is scheduled for Friday April 15 from Noon to 1 PM and registration is encouraged. To RSVP for the Black Maternal Health webinar, click here.

 

About Fidelis Care:
Fidelis Care is a mission-driven health plan offering quality, affordable coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life. With more than 2.4 million members statewide, Fidelis Care believes that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance.  Follow us on LinkedIn at linked.com/fideliscare, on Twitter at @fideliscare, Instagram at @fideliscare, and on Facebook at facebook.com/fideliscare. For more information, call Fidelis Care at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.