Flavonols Protect Against Heart Disease

Want to protect your heart? Eat more berries and drink more tea. That will help you consume more flavonols, which are antioxidant compounds that protect you against heart disease.

Incorporate More Fruits and Vegetables in Your Diet

Fruits and vegetables provide key vitamins, minerals and nutrients to keep you healthy. But many people struggle to get enough in their diets.

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July 8, 2010

Chantix Is One Option to Quit Smoking

There are many aids to help smokers quit, and lately many patients who want to quit have asked about Chantix, a new tobacco-cessation medication.

Help Create Smoke-Free Environments

Avera health care providers don't just recommend a smoke-free environment - they also work in one. Avera hospitals and clinics are smoke-free.

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May 20, 2010

Avera Offers Vascular Screenings

Avera offers you screenings that detect the amount of buildup in your arteries, which can indicate your potential for stroke, heart disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

What Is Peripheral-Artery Disease?

Did you know peripheral-artery disease is much more common than cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis and Lou Gehrig's disease?

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February 11, 2010

Know the Warning Signs as You Shovel Snow

Shoveling snow can be taxing on the heart. Avera is encouraging men and women to pay special attention to symptoms of a heart attack in February, which is a time of heavy snowfall.

Avera Encourages Women to Be Aware of Symptoms

Heart disease is the number-one killer of women over 20 years of age in the United States.

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January 14, 2010

Diet, Fitness Goals Help Maintain Heart Health

Have you made a resolution to stick to a healthy diet and exercise plan this year? A fitness routine and a well-balanced diet are key to maintaining cardiac wellness.

Protect Your Heart This Winter

As the temperatures drop, the physical dangers for a cardiac patient rise. If you have had or are at-risk for heart disease, be especially cautious when you are outdoors this winter.

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November 19, 2009

Make a Specific Plan to Quit Smoking

If you smoke, one of the best ways to improve your cardiovascular health is to quit smoking. But any former smoker can tell you that quitting a tobacco habit is not easy. Learn more >>

Avoid Smoking Triggers to Achieve Success

Sometimes a former smoker's daily routine can offer many temptations to start smoking again. Understanding what triggers you to smoke can help you resist the urge. Learn more >>

Accept the Great American Smokeout Challenge

If you smoke, make a commitment today during the Great American Smokeout to take steps toward quitting.  Learn more >>

August 20, 2009

Healthy Exercises for Heart Patients

Exercise is important for heart patients to heal and stay healthy. While your cardiologist can say what is right for you, there are general guidelines most heart patients can follow to work out while keeping their heart conditions in check.  Learn more >>

Avera Helps Diabetics Plan Heart-Healthy Diets

If you are a diabetic heart patient, Avera can give you dietary guidelines and help you develop a meal plan that works for you.  Learn more >>

July 2, 2009

Calcium Scoring: What It Means for Your Heart's Health

Monitoring the buildup of plaque in a person's arteries can help diagnose heart disease before a heart attack occurs. Avera offers an important test, called calcium scoring, which can detect how much calcium plaque has built up in your arteries.  Learn more >>

Women at Risk: Heart Disease Is the No. 1 Cause of Death

Many people think heart disease is only a concern for men. But did you know that heart disease kills twice as many women as all types of cancer? It is the No. 1 cause of death for American women older than 25, according to the American Heart Association.  Learn more >>

Vitamin D Important for Your Bones, Muscles and Heart

The body needs vitamin D to help absorb calcium, which makes bones and muscles stronger. Recent studies show that enough vitamin D may also decrease a person's risk for heart disease. Learn more >>