East Stroudsburg, PA – Pocono Medical Center (PMC) has joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in promoting DASH, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, a healthy lifestyle plan aimed at lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels across the country. The hospital’s community program, A Little DASH Will Do You Good, focuses on reducing risk of cardiovascular disease by incorporating regular exercise, coupled with smoking cessation and moderation of alcohol and sodium, into everyday life.
According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 81 million people are affected by at least one form of cardiovascular disease. “Heart disease is a national epidemic,” says Paulette Nish, Vice President of Patient Care/CNO at Pocono Health System/Pocono Medical Center, “but we are taking steps everyday to lower the risk here in Monroe County.”
While high blood pressure, which can lead to cardiovascular disease, cannot be cured, it can be prevented. A common but often overlooked culprit of high blood pressure is sodium intake. The National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (NHLBI) advises less than 2.4 grams (2,400 mg), or one teaspoon, per day. PMC’s Spirit of Women program is dedicated to presenting the community with the most useful and up-to-date information regarding health, wellness, and prevention.
For more information on A Little Dash Will Do You Good or on the February 18 Day of Dance event, please visit PoconoHealthSystem.org.
A Little Dash Will Do You Good is powered by Spirit of Women and presented locally by PMC. Spirit of Women is a national network of leading hospitals dedicated to improving women’s lives with innovative health and community programs. Spirit of Women Hospitals touch the lives of millions of women each year through the presentation of educational events, consumer membership programs, annual conferences, marketing communications and grassroots efforts to improve the health and well-being of women everywhere. Spirit of Women enables participating hospitals to focus on community needs while providing the strength of national support. Visit spiritofwomen.com.
