Stroke Screening. Obesity Alcohol, Caffeine, Drug use Stress Poor Nutrition. Some of the risk factors that

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1 Stroke Screening According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and a major cause of disability. A medical emergency, stroke is a brain attack. Everyone should know the signs and symptoms of stroke (cdc.gov/stroke) and call immediately if they think someone may be having a stroke. A person may be able to reduce risk factors, early on, through healthy lifestyle changes and medications one s doctor may prescribe, if indicated, to reduce stroke risks. Such lifestyle changes and medical management can help to reduce the number of strokes, disability and death. A nutritious diet, daily exercise regimen, and recurrent screenings can lead to a prolonged and healthy life. As always, you should discuss your unique health needs with their primary care practitioner. There are controllable and noncontrollable risk factors. Become familiar with these. Some of the risk factors that individuals CAN control include: High Blood Pressure Smoking High Cholesterol Obesity Alcohol, Caffeine, Drug use Stress Poor Nutrition Some of the risk factors that individuals CANNOT control are: Age Gender Race Past Stroke or TIA Family History Further, Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) is also a risk factor. Speak to your doctor and healthcare providers about your personal risk factors. A Stroke Risk Screening consists of interaction with a healthcare provider (physician or nurse), vital signs (blood pressure, pulse check), and a thorough review of one s risk factors. Such a screening, while a preliminary step to detect characteristics or conditions that may require further investigation and evaluation, is a very important health screening. To schedule an appointment with a neurologist to see if a Stroke Screening is right for you, call Sarabpreet Khara, Executive Director WJMC Neuroscience Service Line

2 When Your New Year s Resolution Goes Wrong CARE No Appointment Needed Monday - Friday 8 AM to 8 PM Weekends/Holidays 8 AM to 2 PM 2600 Belle Chasse Hwy. Gretna (next to Sun Ray Grill)

3 HAPPY SMOKE-FREE NEW YEAR 2015 COMMIT TO QUIT! Our FREE * Quit Smoking Program Includes: Free Medications Free Counseling Classes Quit for FREE wjmc.org/stopsmoking *If you starting smoking before 1988.

4 Exercise & New Year s Resolutions For many people, exercise and nutrition are common New Year s Resolutions. New habits are not born overnight. You have to keep working at them. Here are a few tips for a healthy New Year: Formulate Achievable Goals and Milestones. Instead of focusing on and working toward your ultimate fitness goal, break your goal down into smaller, achievable milestones. For example, if you want to lose 30 pounds, think of it as a goal of losing five pounds a month for six months. Keep in mind that your goals may shift as you work toward them. Do What You Like. If you look forward to a particular activity, you will do it more often. If you aren t sure what type of exercise you enjoy, try a variety of activities until you find the one you like the best. Ask for Help. Many types of exercise are not intuitive. If you are a member of a gym, ask a personal trainer to show you some moves or look up different exercise videos online. Keep a Food Journal. Write down everything you eat for a week and review the information. Look up the caloric value of the foods you have been eating. The numbers may surprise you. Once you assess your food choices, there are small changes you can make that will add up to a big difference. Implementing some of these ideas may help you toward your 2015 goals. If you stick with your resolutions, great things can happen! The West Jeff Fitness Centers can help you put a plan in place. For more information, call Christina Mamolo, Member/Marketing Coordinator West Jeff Fitness Center Note: Before starting a new exercise regimen, see your doctor or health professional.

5 NEW YEAR... NEW YOU! NO MONEY DOWN WJMC.ORG/FITNESSCENTER Marrero Center Medical Center Blvd. Oakwood Center Hector Ave. (Next to Oakwood Mall) Waiting is a pain. Same-day primary care. Manhattan Marrero Oakwood Lapalco Schedule an Appointment wjmc.org/familydoctors

6 Helping Heart Patients Navigate Their Condition Being hospitalized with a heart condition can be a stressful experience. The recovery process, which begins in the hospital and continues at home, can be equally stressful due to new medications, lifestyle changes and other concerns. Nearly 1 in 5 patients hospitalized with a heart attack and 1 in 4 patients hospitalized with heart failure return to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. These readmissions may not be directly related to their condition, but instead may be due to stresses patients encountered during their hospital stay, their lack of understanding of discharge instructions, an inability to carry out discharge instructions, or perhaps they just feel overwhelmed. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) created the ACC Patient Navigator Program to help hospitals establish a care team designed to support patients with heart disease during their hospitalization and in the weeks post discharged. The team consists of physicians, nurses, pharmacists and others working together to provide personalized care to each patient. At West Jefferson Medical Center (WJMC), our goal is make sure you don t go home feeling overwhelmed or alone. WJMC is one of ONLY 35 hospitals nationwide selected to participate in the ACC Patient Navigator Program. Studies show that patients benefit from care teams dedicated to helping them transition from the hospital to their home. Our goal in participating in this program is to reduce the number of patients who return to the hospital and making hospitalizations less stressful by providing more support during the recovery period. As part of this program, the members of your care team at WJMC will help you understand your condition, treatment, medications and help you prepare for your return home. Our team will help you take control of your health care. What Can You Do to Prevent Readmission? Understand the condition for which you were hospitalized. Follow all discharge instructions. Take your medications as directed. Schedule (and keep) follow-up appointments with your cardiologist. Participate in cardiac rehabilitation to help lower the risk of future heart problems. Commit to a healthier lifestyle. Eat a hearthealthy diet, exercise, stop smoking (if you smoke) and reduce stress. Tell your doctor if you start having chest pains or any other new or changing symptoms. For more information on WJMC s ACC Navigator Program, call Christy Kareokowsky, RN, BSN - Director WJMC Cardiac Service Line