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Occupational Therapists Encourage Better Heart Health

posted: Thursday, February 03, 2011

February is heart health month and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) encourages all Canadians to care for their hearts by ensuring balance in all activities of daily living.

In an era where people are stressed by the pressures of work and family, occupational therapists specialize in providing Canadians with the skills to reduce stress levels and lower the risk for heart attacks.

CAOT supports the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s call for a comprehensive and coordinated action plan to lower the risk for heart attacks for all Canadians by offering the following solutions and tips to help Canadians take steps towards healthier hearts.

Occupational Therapy Solutions to a Healthier Heart:

• Don’t over stress your heart: Forcing a poor conditioned heart to work hard for too long without sufficient rest may lead to problems. Often, it is not just what we do, but how we do it.
• Condition your heart: Just as athletes prepare to compete through graduated training, we need to take the time to condition our heart to allow us to live our life to the fullest.
• Pace your activity: When you exercise remember to break it up with periods of relaxation.  This better prepares our hearts for strenuous work.
• Have some down time: Our hearts are always working. Getting enough sleep, relaxing, engaging in pleasurable activities and laughing are good for your heart.