Cardiologist’s Tips for Staying Heart-Healthy

Small changes in your daily life can make a big difference in your long-term health. Ochsner Baton Rouge cardiologist Desiree’ Dawson, MD, outlines a few steps you can take to stay heart-healthy. 

She says, "You wanna just make sure you're living a healthy lifestyle, and there are different ways you can do that. You can always exercise, meaning at least 30 minutes daily, if not daily, then at least 50 minutes, three times a week. And that's with cardio or any kind of weight training, or both. Think they both work perfectly. I know I get a lot of women in my clinic saying, "Oh, my knee hurts. Oh, my hip hurts." Those with hip pain or knee pain, or just unable to bear weight on their lower extremities can do aquatic exercises or even ride bikes. That should help."

"Diet is another thing that's something you can do on a day to day. You have to watch your carb intake. You have to watch your fried food intake and absolutely watch your cholesterol and sweets included, especially those who are diabetic. So if you have questions on what diet works best for you, we can get you in touch with someone, as far as a nutritionist, versus you can talk with your doctor regarding what would be the best healthy diet for you."

Every 60 seconds, someone in the United States dies from a heart-disease related event. In fact, more people in this country are diagnosed with heart disease than from all forms of cancer combined. The statistics are staggering but they don’t tell the whole story.

There is hope and it’s closer than you think. It’s right here at Ochsner. With treatment options so revolutionary they aren't available anywhere else in the region, the award-winning team at Ochsner is dedicated to changing and saving lives, and helping our patients fight back.

Connecting to care online has never been easier. You can now schedule virtual visits through your MyOchsner portal to meet with your cardiologist for various issues that do not require an in-person visit. Review frequently asked questions for cardiovascular virtual visits.

Why Cardiovascular Care at Ochsner?

Ochsner’s team of cardiologists and surgeons work closely with each patient to develop a customized healthcare plan that is both targeted and effective. From routine diagnostics to specialized procedures, Ochsner heart specialists are equipped to provide optimum care in cardiovascular medicine.

Offering new and innovative ways to manage chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and congestive heart failure, Ochsner’s Digital Medicine program allows real-time patient data to be shared with a care team via smart technology, enabling immediate medical and lifestyle adjustments.

With the only dual-provider, fellowship-trained vascular medicine program in the Gulf South, Ochsner is truly on the leading edge. The Ochsner vascular surgery team is comprised of dedicated individuals with a passion for preventing vascular disease in all parts of the body. Patients here receive one-on-one consultation and treatment plans tailored to their unique needs.