St. Helena Hospital Napa Valley | LIVE | Winter 2013 - page 11

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It might sound like a
cliché, but eating better
and moving more does
decrease your risk for
cardiovascular disease,
among other conditions.
If you have metabolic
syndrome, reducing your
risk for cardiovascular
disease isn’t a quick fix.
It’s about changing your
lifestyle.
Jon Portnoff, MD
What Can You Do?
If you think you might have metabolic
syndrome, what steps should you
take so you can avoid becoming a
cardiology patient?
“While we welcome any patient and strive
to help improve their cardiovascular health,
we’re eager to spread the word about
prevention and help people stay heart-
healthy,” says Dr. Portnoff.
His recommendation
is to eat a heart-
healthy diet and
exercise most days
of the week.
Don’t Let a Silent Condition
Get the Best of You
Dr. Portnoff recommends talking to your
primary care provider if you think you may
have metabolic syndrome and he or she
hasn’t mentioned it to you.
“Awareness of metabolic syndrome as a
diagnosis varies among physicians, and
awareness in the general public is low,”
says Dr. Portnoff. “However, it’s estimated
that 35 percent of American adults have
metabolic syndrome, and most of them
don’t know it. Don’t let a silent condition
get the best of you. Just because you feel
normal doesn’t mean you are in good health.
If your numbers – waist circumference,
blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and
triglycerides – meet the criteria for metabolic
syndrome, take aggressive action now to
avoid becoming a future cardiology patient.”
“Any single risk factor for metabolic
syndrome by itself is problematic. A
combination of the risk factors is at least
twice as bad,” says Dr. Portnoff. “If you
don’t know your numbers, schedule an
appointment with your doctor for an exam
and blood work to find out. If the numbers
show you have metabolic syndrome, learn
how you can change
the numbers. They’re
not carved in stone. Changing them and
reducing your future risk for heart
disease is in your hands.”
To learn more or schedule an
appointment, call 888.529.9018.
“It might sound like a
cliché, but eating better and moving more
does decrease your risk for cardiovascular
disease, among other conditions,” says Dr.
Portnoff. “If you have metabolic syndrome,
reducing your risk for cardiovascular disease
isn’t a quick fix. It’s about changing
your lifestyle.”
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