Claxton-Hepburn

SPOTLIGHT ON DR. SANGWAN Serving as the director of echocardiology and the co-director of cardiology at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, Geetanjli Sangwan, MD, MPH, FACC, believes that medical knowledge must be constantly improved and challenged. "My goal is to keep myself abreast of medical literature and the latest research, so as to impart excellent cardiac care," says Dr. Sangwan. "I believe the essence of being a true physician is in understanding the limits of our power to heal, yet never limiting our capacity to understand suffering. I continually seek to improve the overall quality of my patients' lives." In her spare time, Dr. Sangwan enjoys health and fitness, listening to music, watching movies, hiking, traveling, and sightseeing. Take Your Health to Heart Your heart beats approximately 100,000 times a day—that's nearly 35 million beats a year. Adopt these heart-healthy habits to keep your ticker in tip-top shape. THE HEART'S PRIMARY function is to pump blood through the body and circulatory system. It's indispensable to our health and connected to nearly every aspect of our bodies, and yet heart disease—a largely preventable condition—remains the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States. "The main culprits behind heart disease are modifiable risk factors, including being overweight or obese, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, unhealthy diet, and lack of physical activity," says Geetanjli Sangwan, MD, MPH, FACC, director of echocardiology and co-director of cardiology at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center. "By making simple lifestyle choices, such as eating more fruits and vegetables and exercising regularly, individuals can reduce their risks for heart disease." Have a Heart-to-Heart Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle doesn't mean you have to run a marathon or throw out all the chocolate. In fact, a Swedish study found that snacking on small quantities of dark chocolate containing high percentages of cocoa solids a couple times a week lowered female participants' risk of developing heart failure by one-third. Indulge in these fun, healthy habits to help maximize your heart's potential. • Spice up the kitchen. Cutting back on salt and sodium is one of the first steps toward living a more heart-healthy lifestyle. While this task may seem difficult, use it as an opportunity to experiment with other spices and seasonings, such as rosemary, oregano, dill, ground mustard, and fresh or powdered garlic. • Enjoy an evening stroll. Treating yourself to a 30-minute walk after dinner not only benefits your heart, it also can help aid digestion, decrease stress, and strengthen your lungs' ability to take in oxygen. • Give in to snack attacks. Keep a tray of fresh veggies such as baby carrots, sliced celery, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli, or a bowl of fruit such as apples or pears, to nosh on when hunger strikes. For more heart-healthy tips or to find a cardiologist at Claxton-Hepburn, visit www.claxtonhepburn.org.

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