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Navigating Life After a Heart Attack: Tips for Successful Rehabilitation and Recovery

Navigating life after a heart attack can be challenging, but with proper rehabilitation and support, individuals can achieve successful recovery and lead fulfilling lives. Here are some tips for navigating life after a heart attack:

  1. Follow Medical Advice: It’s crucial to follow the recommendations of your healthcare team regarding medication, lifestyle changes, and follow-up appointments. Take prescribed medications as directed and attend cardiac rehabilitation programs to optimize your recovery.
  2. Adopt a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle: Embrace heart-healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, and avoiding tobacco use. These lifestyle changes can help prevent future cardiac events and promote overall heart health.
  3. Gradually Resume Activities: Ease back into your regular activities gradually, following your healthcare provider’s guidance. Start with light activities such as walking and gradually increase intensity as tolerated. Avoid strenuous activities until your healthcare provider gives you the green light.
  4. Attend Cardiac Rehabilitation: Participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program, which typically includes supervised exercise sessions, education on heart-healthy habits, and psychosocial support. These programs can help improve cardiovascular fitness, reduce risk factors, and enhance overall well-being.
  5. Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to your body’s signals and pace yourself accordingly. If you experience symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fatigue, stop what you’re doing and seek medical attention immediately.
  6. Manage Stress: Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as practicing relaxation techniques, mindfulness, or engaging in hobbies and activities you enjoy. Stress management is essential for heart health and overall well-being.
  7. Seek Support: Lean on your support system of family, friends, and healthcare providers for emotional support and encouragement. Joining support groups or connecting with others who have experienced similar challenges can also be helpful.
  8. Stay Positive: Maintain a positive outlook and focus on the progress you’ve made rather than dwelling on setbacks. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small, and remain hopeful for the future.
  9. Stay Informed: Educate yourself about heart health, medications, and lifestyle changes to empower yourself to make informed decisions about your health. Stay up-to-date on follow-up appointments and screenings recommended by your healthcare provider.

By following these tips and actively participating in your recovery, you can navigate life after a heart attack successfully and take proactive steps toward improving your heart health and overall well-being. Remember that each person’s journey is unique, so be patient with yourself and seek help when needed.

To learn more about Steuben Center, visit centershealthcare.com/locations/steuben-center or call 800-305-9151

Understanding and Managing Chronic Pain in the Winter Months

As the winter months set in, individuals experiencing chronic pain may find its impact heightened. At Centers Healthcare, we recognize the challenges associated with managing chronic pain during this season. Cold weather can exacerbate symptoms, making it crucial to prioritize self-care. Keep warm by layering clothing and using heating pads to soothe affected areas. Staying active with gentle exercises and stretching can help maintain flexibility and reduce stiffness. Adequate hydration is essential for joint health, and maintaining a balanced diet contributes to overall well-being. Consulting with our healthcare professionals for personalized strategies can provide effective solutions for managing chronic pain in the winter months. Together, let’s navigate this season with a focus on comfort and well-being.

To learn more about Steuben Center, visit centershealthcare.com/locations/steuben-center or call 800-305-9151

Mindful Movement Advent Calendar

Unwrap the gift of well-being with a Mindful Movement Advent Calendar this holiday season. Each day, discover a new mindful exercise to enhance your mind-body connection. From gentle yoga poses to mindful walks, these daily practices invite you to savor the present moment. Cultivate gratitude, release stress, and nurture your body with intentional movement. This unique advent calendar not only counts down to the holidays but also unfolds a journey of self-care and mindfulness. Join the movement and let each day be a step towards a more centered and joyful you.

With Centers Healthcare, embark on a transformative journey with the Mindful Movement Advent Calendar, where each day unveils a new exercise to deepen your mind-body harmony. From soothing stretches to mindful breathwork, this calendar guides you through a holistic approach to well-being, making the holiday season a time for self-discovery and renewal.

To learn more about Steuben Center, visit centershealthcare.com/locations/steuben-center or call 800-305-9151

Compassion in Action: Cultivating Supportive Rehabilitation

At Centers Healthcare, we highlight the transformative influence of empathy in the rehabilitation process, acknowledging its role in building patient trust and motivation. A compassionate approach positively shapes the patient experience and outcomes. Through real-life stories and empathetic interventions, we understand the profound impact of recognizing and validating the patient’s journey. Together, we create an environment where empathy stands as a foundational element in rehabilitation, building a nurturing and supportive environment for healing.

To learn more about Steuben Center, visit centershealthcare.com/locations/steuben-center or call 800-305-9151

4 Steps to Take to Ensure You Get the Best Car Loan Possible

Unless you’re going to write a check to a dealer for a car, one of the best ways you can save is by lowering your monthly price.

In fact, dealers will use this price as a benchmark for their negotiation instead of the total price of the car, so if you do your homework going in, you can ensure that you get the best deal possible before driving off the lot.

Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has four steps you can take to get the car loan you want.

  1. Know Your Credit Score

Have a report run of your credit score. It can range from 300 to 850, and the higher the number, the better chance you have of getting a low-interest rate on your loan. If your score is below 650 or 700, see what steps you can take to improve it before applying.

  1. Shop for Rates Before Going to the Dealer

A local bank or credit union can preapprove you for a loan, and it can often be at a reasonable rate. You can then take this information to the dealer, where they can use it as a baseline and potentially find a better rate from their list of lenders. If you don’t go in preapproved, the dealer may offer you a higher interest rate than you could’ve had from your bank.

  1. Watch the Annual Percentage Rate

The annual percentage rate (APR) is what you will pay in interest each month in exchange for being offered the loan. The closer to 0% you can get, the more favorable the loan will be to you.

  1. Down Payment vs. Monthly Payments

As we mentioned, the dealer will likely talk to you in terms of your monthly payment. So if they add months to the loan to only slightly lower the monthly payment, you’re likely going to pay more in the end in interest. Offering a certain amount as a down payment (typically around 10%) can also potentially lower your interest rate. Even if more than that doesn’t affect the rate, if you can afford to spend the money upfront, it’s cash that you can pay for the car interest-free. Just be sure to determine what you can afford.

 

To learn more about Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://steuben-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Whether You Can Take Painkillers Before or After the COVID-19 Vaccination

As we learn more about the COVID-19 vaccination and the side effects it brings (especially after the second dose of the vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna), many people are turning to a preventative painkiller in order to not experience the sore arm, body aches, or fever that your body’s immune system response may bring from the vaccine.

Medical experts, however, say you shouldn’t do that unless you already are in order to manage a medical condition. Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at the reasons why you should tough it out if you can.

Understanding How Vaccines Work

Vaccines work by tricking your body into thinking that it’s being attacked by a virus, whether it’s for COVID-19, the flu, shingles, etc. For the COVID-19 vaccine, a piece of the virus’s genetic code is in the vaccine, causing your immune system to attack it and develop the antibodies needed to prevent the virus from wreaking havoc inside you in the future.

Side Effects Mean the Vaccine Is Working

Your body is working hard to fight what it thinks is an invader, and that is what causes the sore arm, muscle aches, fever, chills, and fatigue that so many people who receive the vaccine are experiencing.

While a study hasn’t been conducted on humans, one on mice found that using painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can lower the production of antibodies, which is what you need to prevent COVID-19 from infecting you down the road.

In addition to continuing to take this medicine if you are taking it routinely to manage a health condition, experts say that if the pain is interfering with your daily routine, it’s best to take acetaminophen six hours after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

To learn more about Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://steuben-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.

 

Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Safe and Effective Disinfectant Use

We’ve all probably become keenly aware of cleaning surfaces in recent months since COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has become a part of our lives. There are several steps you need to take, however, to make sure that the cleaning products you’re using are both safe and effective against killing germs, including coronavirus. 

With that in mind, Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has six of those steps for safe and effective disinfectant use, courtesy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

 

 

The EPA has a list of products that they have approved for the use of killing virus germs. You can access that list here. 

 

 

Full directions on how to safely and correctly use the product will be contained on the label. Also check to make sure that the product is approved on the surface that you’re trying to use it on – some disinfectants (like bleach) can damage surfaces.

 

 

If the instructions mention pre-cleaning or if the surface is visibly dirty, you will need to wash it with soap and water before applying the disinfectant.

 

 

This is the step that most people do not do properly. Read the directions to see how long the disinfectant needs to remain on the surface for it to be effective. Most people will wipe down the surface just seconds after spraying, but some products take up to four minutes to fully disinfect.

 

 

If you’re not using disposable gloves, have a pair of gloves that are designated for coronavirus-related cleaning. And be sure to wash your hands when you’re done.

 

 

Keep the lids of these products closed tightly (or switch the nozzle to the “off” position) and store out of the reach of children. 

To learn more about Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://steuben-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.

Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing with 7 Supplies to Have at Home Under Quarantine

We’re all being advised to stay at home as a precaution as concerns over the spread of coronavirus. However, there could come a time when we are being quarantined in our house if we or someone we’ve been in contact with tests positive for the virus. 

If that occurs, there are essential things that you will want to have on hand in your home. Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has seven emergency supplies you want to have.

 

 

This is a no-brainer, but it’s important to have the right foods on hand. FEMA has suggested having two weeks of food in the home, and consume it in this order: perishables, frozen food, non-perishables. 

 

 

Have at least two weeks’ worth of prescription medication in your home, and have a good stock of over-the-counter medicine that you use, including acetaminophen (Tylenol), which is a pain reliever and fever reducer used to treat coronavirus symptoms.

 

 

You’ll want to avoid any unnecessary trips to a doctor’s office or an urgent care facility at this time, so be sure to have a fully stocked first aid kit to treat minor injuries, cuts, scrapes, and burns.

 

 

Having enough food and medication at your disposal also applies to your pets. 

 

 

Be sure to have enough of these products, since you’ll likely be washing your hands more frequently and cleaning items around the home more than you’re probably used to. 

 

 

Many of us are working from home during this period, so make sure you have a decent supply of computer paper, printer ink, power cords and anything else you’ll need to do your job effectively from home.

 

 

You won’t want to be running out to the store if you need to change batteries in your remote control, so take an inventory of your batteries and stock up on the ones you need next time you head to the grocery store. 

To learn more about Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://steuben-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/. 

Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 5 Surprising Factors That Could Hurt Your Heart After 40

It’s no surprise that heart disease is the leading killer of both men and women in the United States; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that just under 650,000 people in this country die from heart disease annually. 

Besides the usual ways to stay heart-healthy – eating right, exercising, keeping your weight under control, etc. – there are some unusual factors that can cause problems. 

Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing is sharing five of these factors that you probably didn’t realize can affect your heart health. 

Sitting All Day

If you find yourself behind a desk and sitting for most of the day, find a way to take regular walking breaks. A 2012 study found that having a sedentary job increased a person’s risk for heart disease by nearly 150 percent.

Having a Difficult Boss

A bad boss dynamic could leave you feeling stressed not only at your work, but when you get home too if you’re unable to decompress. It could also affect your sleep if you’re dreading going into the office the next day. All of that stress is not good for the heart.

Sleeping Too Much

Most of us can’t find ways to get the recommended amount of sleep, but there is such a thing as getting too much sleep. A 2018 study showed that getting nine hours of sleep a night moderately increased the risk of heart disease while getting 11 hours of sleep daily has the risk increase by 44 percent.

Giving Birth

Childbirth is a stressful event for the body. A 2018 study revealed that the more times a woman gives birth, the greater the risk of developing heart disease down the road.

Staying Indoors

Not only is getting fresh air good for your mental health, but it can also be good for your heart health as well. A 2015 study showed that greater exposure to nature had a lower risk of several factors that can contribute to heart disease.

To learn more about Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit https://centershealthcare.com/steuben_center/. 

Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on How Much Water You Should be Drinking

You’ve probably heard that you should be drinking eight glasses of water a day. But exactly how much is that? Should it be an 8-ounce glass? And does it vary upon a person’s size? What if you’re an active person?

These are all valid questions, and Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing is here give you better guidelines to follow.

Activity Level Does Affect Water Requirements

Dietitians say you should hydrate with 2 cups (16 ounces total) of water before a workout and around 12 ounces every 20 minutes while exercising. If you’re exercising for more than an hour, a sports drink with electrolytes is a better option – you should consume 3 to 8 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes for workouts of an extended length.

Don’t Rely on Feeling Thirsty

If you’re thirsty, especially on a hot day, you may already be slightly or moderately dehydrated. Instead, rely on the color of urine. It should be a light yellow; if it’s a darker shade like apple juice, you need to be drinking more water.

Drink Half Your Body Weight in Ounces

Instead of the standard “eight glasses a day,” which equates to 64 ounces if you’re considering an 8-ounce glass, experts say a better guideline is to drink half your body weight in water per day. So if you weigh 180 pounds, you should be ingesting 90 ounces of water per day.

Hydrate Through Other Drinks and Food

If the thought of sucking down water all day isn’t appealing to you, you can also reach the required amount through other drinks and even food. Many people think that caffeine is a cause of dehydration, but one or two cups of coffee or tea can count toward your total, and most fruits, vegetables, and cooked grains are high in the water as well.

To learn more about Steuben Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit https://centershealthcare.com/steuben_center/.