Hayley Benton

Move over, Valentine’s Day. September is here with its very own (more anatomically correct) heart holiday. This Saturday, Sept. 29, is World Heart Day — and Mercy Urgent Care wants to remind you to keep heart health in mind both this weekend and all year long.

Created by the World Heart Federation, World Heart Day serves to educate the public on ways to prevent and control cardiovascular disease. The world’s No. 1 killer, cardiovascular disease claims 17.5 million lives each year. But, by controlling risk factors like tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, about 80 percent of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke can be avoided.

So what can you do — both for your heart and the hearts of your loved ones?

Eat Well and Drink Wisely

• Cut out sugar-filled beverages like sodas. Instead, try water with a slice of cucumber or a sprig of mint.
• Cut down on processed, prepackaged foods. Whole foods like fruits, veggies, cheese or nuts contain just what your body needs (and less of what makes it ill).
• Try to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. If that sounds like a lot, blend fruits and vegetables into smoothies — or get creative with your salads.
• Meal plan by making large batches of healthy foods — grains and vegetables — and take it to work for lunch all week.
• Limit your alcohol consumption to the recommended amounts for your age and gender.

Get Up and Move

• Try to fit in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity five times a week.
• To keep you on your toes, mix up your exercise. Walking, dancing and intense housework all count as exercise.
• If you spend much of your day sitting — whether it’s at a computer, hard at work, or binging the latest hot television series — remember to stand up and move around at least once an hour. Get up, walk around, climb stairs, do squats — whatever it takes to get a mini-workout in before getting back to work (or play).
• Take advantage of Asheville’s wonderful hiking and biking opportunities. We live in one of the most gorgeous regions in the country, so don’t forget to take full advantage of our wonderful scenic exercise opportunities.
• Let technology help! It’s a great time to be fit, with technology like Fitbits, Apple watches and smartphone apps that allow you to track your exercise progress, whether it’s miles walked, steps climbed or calories burned.

Stop Smoking

• This is the single most important thing you can do for your heart and your overall health — and it’s one of the easiest to do, if you set your mind to it. By quitting use of tobacco products, your heart is already automatically healthier than those who continue to smoke. This one act can reduce or even reverse heart disease in patients.
• Those around you stand to benefit from you quitting too. If no longer exposed to second-hand smoke, your loved ones will also benefit and have stronger overall health.

September is Healthy Aging Month, and with an active older population, Western North Carolina has become a vibrant retirement mecca. To keep you at your peak both mentally and physically, Mercy Urgent Care Medical Director, Dr. Elizabeth McCarty, offers up advice to remember as you age.

Remember the acronym SEES.

S: Stay Social

• Volunteer – From animal rescue to cleaning up the French Broad to working with children in need, WNC is full of people making a difference. Get out there, meet new and interesting people and give back to your community.
• Learn ­– An active brain is a healthy brain. Check out Blue Ridge Community College’s catalog of Personal Enrichment classes or a college near you. Learn new languages, computer skills or to paint, sculpt, even blow glass. In addition to learning in the classroom, The River Arts District is home to dozens of working artists in multiple mediums and many of them teach classes.
• Play – You know what they say about all work and no play! With more than 600 games to choose from, try out a board game at Well Played Board Game Café — or, if pinball is more your speed, check out the vintage (and not-so-vintage) games at the Asheville Pinball Museum.

E: Eat Fresh

• Farmers Markets – In WNC, we’re lucky to have abundant places to get local, organic produce — breads, meats, vegetables, cheeses — you name it. Tomato season may be fading away, but pumpkins and apples will show up soon, along with tons of yummy greens. Try shopping at the North Asheville Tailgate Market or the downtown Asheville City Market for local produce and groceries.
• Herbs and Spices – Spice up your life! There are so many great herbs, spices and teas that taste great and address health conditions. The Herbiary or Spice & Tea Merchants of Asheville can help you pick from a wide selection. Stores like EarthFare and Food Matters Market have specialists available to answer any medicinal questions you may have.

E: Exercise

• Hike, Walk, Bike – There’s not enough space to list all the options for exercise here in WNC! From biking in Pisgah to waterfalls in DuPont to the gorgeous views of Max Patch, there are ample ways to stay healthy while experiencing the outdoors. Your body will thank you!
• Yoga and Tai Chi – Again, the options are endless in our region. Whatever your needs may be, you’re sure to find a teacher to help you succeed. Asheville Community Yoga even has a pay-as-you-can model. Yoga and tai chi have both been shown to increase overall strength and balance, decrease falls as we age and even provide our bodies with more energy throughout the day.

S: Sleep 

• Never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. It is a vital component of healthy aging. Personally, Dr. McCarty recommends the Calm App paired with SleepPhones, a brand of comfortable headphones in a fleece headband that are perfect to sleep in. She notes they work for her every time!

Though Healthy Aging Month is coming to a close, it’s important to remember the SEES method year-round — keeping you at the height of your game from October to August.

September 24 is the anniversary of the opening of the first House of Mercy on Baggot Street, Dublin, Ireland in 1827. There, Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, an international religious institute of Roman Catholic women, opened a school for impoverished girls and a residence for homeless girls and women. She devoted her life to the poor, sick and uneducated, addressing especially the needs of women and children.

The Sisters of Mercy have been touching lives and evolving to meet community needs across the world ever since those early days on Baggot Street. Still a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Urgent Care is the only dedicated not-for-profit urgent care network in Western North Carolina, providing an alternative to hospital emergency rooms for the treatment of non-life-threatening illness and injury.

Today we continue Catherine McAuley’s legacy of caring and compassion in the name of Mercy, celebrating Mercy Day, today September 24.

Beginning Sunday, September 30, 2018, Mercy Urgent Care CEO Tim Johnston and others will cycle 500 miles across North Carolina in the seventh Bike for Life starting in Black Mountain. From the start, 100% of the proceeds raised by Mercy Urgent Care’s Catherine McAuley MERCY Foundation have enabled care, medicines, training, supplies, clothing, equipment and food internationally.

Donations have enabled 24 teams to serve (23 in Haiti and one in the Philippines) and have helped equip a new Alpha Omega Ministry Clinic (ALOM) in Haiti. Please support the critical work being done by Mercy Urgent Care staff and the many volunteers who both travel as well as prepare supplies for basic living and medical care for the poor. More than $500,000 has been raised for direct care, equipment, supplies, and in-kind donations benefitting close to a quarter of a million Haitians served by this effort since the earthquake in 2010. Please make your online gift of support today at Donate Now to the Mercy Foundation or mail your tax deductible donation to payable to CMMF | P.O. Box 16367 | Asheville, NC 28816.

September is National Cholesterol Education Month. The healthcare providers at Mercy Urgent Care encourage you to stay healthy by having your cholesterol checked and taking steps to lower high cholesterol levels. By being conscious of your cholesterol levels, you can avoid being at risk of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Mercy Urgent Care hopes that everyone will make lifestyle changes to improve their overall heart health. 

The Center for Disease Control provides the following information:

How many Americans have high cholesterol?
More than 102 million American Adults (20 years or older) have total cholesterol levels at or above 200 mg/dL, which is above healthy levels. More than 35 million of these people have levels of 240 mg/dL or higher, which puts them at high risk for heart disease.

What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your body and many foods. Your body needs cholesterol to function normally and makes all that you need. Too much cholesterol can build up in your arteries. After a while, these deposits narrow your arteries, putting you at risk for heart disease and stroke.

How do you know if your cholesterol is high?
High cholesterol usually doesn’t have any symptoms. As a result, many people do not know that their cholesterol levels are too high. However, doctors can do a simple blood test to check your cholesterol. High cholesterol can be controlled through lifestyle changes or if it is not enough, through medications.

It’s important to check your cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

How often should you have your cholesterol checked?
The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommends that adults aged 20 years or older have their cholesterol checked every 5 years.

A simple blood test called a lipoprotein profile can measure your total cholesterol levels, including LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or “bad” cholesterol), HDL (high-density lipoprotein, or “good” cholesterol), and triglycerides.

The following chart shows optimal lipid levels for adults:

Desirable Cholesterol Levels
Total cholesterol	Less than 170 mg/dL
Low LDL (“bad”) cholesterol	Less than 110 mg/dL
High HDL (“good”) cholesterol	35 mg/dL or higher
Triglycerides	Less than 150 mg/dL

The National Cholesterol Education Program has developed specific recommendations about cholesterol treatment for people at increased risk, such as those with a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease.

If you have high cholesterol, what can you do to lower it?
Your doctor may prescribe medications to treat your high cholesterol.⁵ In addition, you can lower your cholesterol levels through lifestyle changes:

• Low-fat and high-fiber food (Eat more fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains).
• For adults, getting at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate or 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity a week. For those aged 6-17, getting 1 hour or more of physical activity each day.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Don’t smoke or quit if you smoke.

Cholesterol Resources:

• CDC’s Cholesterol Web Site
• Cholesterol Fact Sheet
• State Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Programs Address High Blood Cholesterol
• Cholesterol Education Month Web Site of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• National Cholesterol Education Program
• The American Heart Association

 

Mercy Urgent Care is the only dedicated not-for-profit urgent care network in Western North Carolina, providing an alternative to hospital emergency rooms for the treatment of non-life-threatening illness and injury.

Yancey County Is Home to 6^th Mercy Urgent Care Location in WNC

 

 

Mercy Urgent Care is pleased to announce we’ve opened a new location in Burnsville. For residents of Yancey County, the surrounding area, and visitors to this region, Mercy Urgent Care in Burnsville means that high-quality, affordable and convenient medical care for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries will be just minutes (instead of an hour) away. Patients in Yancey County will now have access to walk-in care at a fraction of the cost of an ER visit.

Mercy Urgent Care is excited to bring healthcare and support to the community by partnering with Yancey County who received a $50,000 economic development grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce Rural Infrastructure Authority. To officially mark the opening of Mercy’s new Burnsville location, the Burnsville/Yancey County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, September 11, from 4 to 6 pm.

In addition to services for individuals and families, Mercy Urgent Care Burnsville offers workplace-related healthcare services through its Mercy Occupational Medicine division. Employers in or near Yancey County can take advantage of a wide array services from workplace screening and testing to workplace incident management. Mercy Occupational Medicine offers board-certified physicians and licensed, highly-trained personnel work to meet the needs of businesses and their employees.

At 41 Charlie Brown Road, this is the sixth Western North Carolina location for the not-for-profit organization headquartered in Asheville. Known for its compassionate and affordable care, Mercy helps your family, friends and neighbors recover from injury and illness, and get back to life. A committed community partner in the areas it serves, Mercy is a certified North Carolina Best Employer and proud to be a living-wage employer.