Healthy living

Prevention

The Brandenburg Heart Center forms part of the German Network of Health Promoting Hospitals. As such, the hospital's focus is not just restricted to the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart disease, but also encompasses the prevention of cardiovascular disease. 
The fact that we set great store by the management of cardiovascular risk factors stems from the fact that these risk factors not only facilitate the development of cardiovascular disease, but are also responsible for cardiovascular disease developing at an increasingly early stage.



The most important modifiable risk factors traditionally associated with cardiovascular disease are:

• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Arterial hypertension
• Abnormalities in lipid metabolism
• Obesity

10 Healthy Heart Rules

Just follow these 10 rules and you will be helping your heart.

1. Aim for a healthy weight

The number of people considered overweight or obese is steadily increasing, both within Brandenburg and in the rest of Germany. Excess weight is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, abnormalities in lipid metabolism, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and cancer. A body mass index (BMI) of between 18.5 and 25 indicates ideal weight if it is combined with a waist circumference of less than 80 cm in women and less than 94 cm in men. 
A healthy diet should be combined with a sufficient amount of physical exercise, with the aim of making permanent changes that can gradually become part of the patient's daily routine. Short-term dietary changes such as those made as part of an unbalanced diet will prove a lot less beneficial than permanent changes to your lifestyle.

It is part of our role as a Health Promoting Hospital to support patients who are obese in managing their weight. There is only one effective way to achieve weight reduction: permanent changes have to be made in the patient's levels of activity. The target of these changes is to achieve an active and balanced lifestyle, which will need to go hand in hand with improvements to the patient's diet. In short, become more active and eat more healthily.



This is the approach offered by MOBILIS, an interdisciplinary training program that is on offer at the Brandenburg Heart Center. The Heart Center is an official MOBILIS training center and has run several successful courses already. Sessions are organized in cooperation with the Brandenburg Heart Center, which is also where some of the classes are based.
For further information and to register, visit:  www.mobilis-programm.de

In spite of this, smokers constitute a total of 30% of men and 21% of women over the age of 15 in Germany (please refer to the "micro census" 2009).
Giving up smoking halves your risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. It is usually a good idea to set a date on which to quit smoking. Should you find it impossible to stop smoking on your own, there is a lot of support available to help you quit. This may include nicotine patches or special courses. It is also a good idea to set clear targets.

The Brandenburg Heart Center is a Health Promoting Hospital and as such is smoke-free. Smoking is not permitted in the hospital or within its grounds. In the interest of patient health we would therefore kindly request that you refrain from smoking while on hospital grounds.



Many smokers are unhappy with the effect that their addiction has on their lives and wish to quit smoking, and we are happy to provide the support you need to help you quit smoking. The Brandenburg Heart Center supports smoking cessation by offering group therapy courses that are run by clinical psychologists. Inpatients can of course speak to a member of our Nursing and Care Team at any time. 

5. Don't use less seasoning - just use less salt

Try not to exceed five to six grams of salt per day. Replacing salt with other types of seasoning will not make food less flavorsome, especially if replaced with aromatic herbs such as rosemary, oregano, bay leaves, thyme and parsley, or spices such as saffron, nutmeg and chili, as well as garlic, onions, capers and lemons. 

It is also important to be aware of hidden salt in products such as ham, cured meats and ready meals. A low-sodium diet has been proven to lower blood pressure and is known to be beneficial for heart health.

6. Take care - of yourself

In many cases, heart disease develops over many years without any discernible symptoms. This is why you should visit your general practitioner on a regular basis and have your blood pressure checked. Since 1989, statutory health insurance providers in Germany have been funding health checks for adults aged over the age of 35, known as the "Gesundheits-Check-up 35+". 

This program means that adults over the age of 35 who are insured with a statutory health insurance provider can have a free health check every two years. This health check consists of a screening test for cardiovascular disease, as well as including an in-depth discussion about your medical history and a thorough physical examination. As part of this examination, you will have your blood pressure taken, as well as having your cholesterol and blood sugar levels tested.