September is Healthy Aging Month, a reminder that aging well is about more than adding years to life—it’s about adding life to years. It encourages us to take a more proactive approach to ensure that we have vitality, independence and well-being as we get older.

Tips for Healthy Aging

Aging well means making simple, consistent choices that help you take care of your body, as well as your mind. Here are some evidence-based tips and resources at UCR to help you implement them:

• Stay active: Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity most days. UCR provides access to employee fitness and wellness options through recreation and health programs on campus.
• Eat for wellness: Eating a balanced, healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins promotes heart and brain health. Visit UCR Dining Services for healthy eating tips and resources.
• Challenge your mind: Reading, doing puzzles, or learning new things keeps your brain sharp. UCR also offers professional development and enrichment programs that nurture thinking.
• Stay connected: Social ties improve mood and protect against cognitive decline. Take advantage of UCR community events and wellness initiatives to strengthen those connections.
• Prioritize sleep: Sleep can restore energy, and improve mood and memory. Ask about sleep strategies from wellness coaching at UCR.
• Schedule check-ups: Routine health screenings or primary care services from UCR Health can often catch issues early, which supports lifelong health and wellness.

A Doctor's Perspective

Dr. Ramy Sadek, a board-certified physician in Cardiovascular Medicine and Internal Medicine at UCR Health – Riverside Downtown (Primary Care), emphasizes that healthy aging begins with prevention.

“Maintaining heart health through a balanced diet, regular exercise, and routine checkups can significantly improve quality of life and decrease the risk of cardiovascular events,” says Dr. Sadek. “Preventive care allows us to detect and manage conditions early, helping older adults stay active, independent, and engaged in their communities.”

Stay Connected with UCR Wellness Resources

In addition to both clinical care and community programs, UCR also offers resources to support the faculty and staff on their own wellness journey. One simple way to stay engaged is to subscribe to the UCR Faculty and Staff Wellness Newsletter: Faculty and Staff Well-being Bites. Faculty and Staff Well-being Bites is a newsletter with wellness tips, highlights of upcoming wellness events, and resources to help support wellness year-round.

UCR Health’s Commitment to Healthy Aging

At UCR Health, our mission is to help individuals embrace aging with strength and dignity:

• Primary Care & Preventive Screenings: Proactive visits to manage ongoing health and prevent illness.
• Geriatric Medicine: Focused care tailored to the unique needs of the older adult population.
• Community Engagement: Workshops, DocTalks, and outreach events that equip the community with tools for long-term wellness.

Looking Ahead with Confidence

Aging is a natural and beautiful journey, and when it is supported with intentional habits and care, it can be one of life's most fulfilling chapters. This Healthy Aging Month, let UCR Health be your partner in building a stronger, happier tomorrow.

The post Celebrate Healthy Aging Month with UCR Health appeared first on UCR Health.

High blood pressure (also called Hypertension) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Having high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. In 2022, high blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of 685,875 deaths in the United States. The CDC reported that in the U.S., high blood pressure affects approximately 32% of adults and costs between $131 and $198 billion annually, including costs of medications, health care services, and loss of productivity from premature death. A primary care physician plays a critical role in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating hypertension.

What is high blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the pressure that occurs when blood pushes against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body. High blood pressure happens when your blood moves through your arteries at a higher pressure than normal.

• Normal blood pressure is less than 120 on top and less than 80 on the bottom.
• Prehypertension levels are 120-139 on top and 80-89 on the bottom.
• High blood pressure, stage 1 is 140-159 on top and 90-99 on the bottom.
• High blood pressure, stage 2 is 160 or higher on top and 100 and over on the bottom.

There are 2 types of high blood pressure:

Primary hypertension. This is also called essential hypertension. It has no known cause, and it is the most common type of hypertension. This type of blood pressure usually takes many years to develop. It probably is a result of your lifestyle, environment, and how your body changes as you age.

Secondary hypertension. This occurs when a health problem or medication is causing the high blood pressure. The following can cause secondary hypertension:

• Kidney problems
• Sleep apnea
• Thyroid or adrenal gland problems
• Some medications

What causes high blood pressure?

There are different factors that may increase the risk of developing high blood pressure such as:

• A diet high in salt, fat, and/or cholesterol
• Chronic conditions such as kidney and hormone problems, diabetes, and high cholesterol
• Family history or genetics (especially if your parents or other close relatives have high blood pressure)
• Lack of physical activity
• Older age (the older you are, the more likely you are to have hypertension)
• Being overweight or having obesity
• Race (non-Hispanic black people are more likely to have hypertension than people of other races)
• Some birth control medicines and other medicines
• Stress
• Tobacco use or drinking too much alcohol

What are the symptoms?

It is important to know that most people who have high blood pressure do not have symptoms. This is why high blood pressure is sometimes called “the silent killer.” It is very important to have your blood pressure checked regularly.  Some people experience headaches, nosebleeds, or shortness of breath with hypertension; however, those symptoms can mimic many other things (serious or non-serious). Usually, these symptoms occur once blood pressure has reached a dangerously high level over a period of time.

HealthDay (6/12, Thompson) reported that "more than a third of Americans (37%) erroneously think high blood pressure always has noticeable symptoms like dizziness or shortness of breath,” according to a new survey by the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center.  In actuality high blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms to indicate its presence, according to the CDC.  In addition, 39% of respondents mistakenly believe that feeling calm and relaxed is an indication that blood pressure is normal, the poll shows.  And few people – only 13%-- know the correct reading that reflects high blood pressure, 130/80, poll results show.”

How do we treat?

The best way to lower blood pressure begins with making lifestyle changes to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease. If changes to your lifestyle aren’t enough to reduce your blood pressure to a normal level, your doctor will prescribe antihypertensive medications.

The goal of treatment is to reduce your blood pressure to normal levels. Medications for treatment are often highly successful. If your blood pressure can only be controlled with medication, you’ll likely need to take it for the rest of your life. It is common to need more than one medication to help control your blood pressure. Don’t stop taking the medication without talking with your doctor. Otherwise, you may increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.

Living with hypertension

It is important to know that controlling your high blood pressure is a lifelong commitment. You will always need to monitor your weight, make healthy food choices, exercise, learn to cope with stress, avoid smoking, and limit your alcohol intake.

Additionally, you will need to get used to regular blood pressure checks. Your doctor may want you to come to the office regularly, or your doctor may ask you to check your blood pressure at home and keep track of your numbers. Some pharmacies and retail clinics have blood pressure machines on site. You can buy your own, automated arm blood pressure cuff for use at home. Your doctor may want you to check your blood pressure several times a day. Another option is to use an ambulatory (wear as you are moving about) blood pressure monitor.

When is it best to consult advice of medical professionals?

It is important to have regular medical checkups, but you should talk with your health care team right away if:

• You think you have high blood pressure.
• If you've been told you have high blood pressure but do not have it under control.

By taking action to lower your blood pressure, you can help protect yourself against heart disease and stroke, also called cardiovascular disease (CVD).

What to do to prevent?

Taking these measures can help lower High blood pressure.

• Maintaining a healthy weight

Talk with your health care team about ways to reach a healthy weight, including choosing healthy foods and getting regular physical activity.

• Regularly exercising

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking or bicycling, every week. That's about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Children and adolescents should get 1 hour of physical activity every day.

• Eating a healthy diet

The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan is a healthy diet plan with a proven record of helping people lower their blood pressure.

• Reducing salt intake
• Do not smoke

Smoking raises your blood pressure and puts you at higher risk for heart attack and stroke. If you do not smoke, do not start. If you do smoke, quitting will lower your risk for heart disease. Your doctor can suggest ways to help you quit.

• Limit how much alcohol you drink

Do not drink too much alcohol, which can raise your blood pressure. Men should have no more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day, and women should have no more than 1 alcoholic drink per day.

• Get enough sleep
• Manage stress

Resources:

• https://familydoctor.org/condition/high-blood-pressure/
• https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/index.html
• https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure
• https://www.healthday.com/health-news/cardiovascular-diseases/misconceptions-abound-regarding-high-blood-pressure-poll-finds
• https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/dash-eating-plan
• https://odphp.health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/physical-activity-guidelines/current-guidelines

The post High Blood Pressure Awareness appeared first on UCR Health.

February is American Heart Month. Protecting our hearts is a lifelong commitment, and cardiovascular health remains a top priority in public health. While heart disease remains the leading cause of death in America, it can be prevented by living a healthy lifestyle! Internal Medicine Physician, Dr. Paul Salama, MD, MPH, steps in with insight on some ways to prevent heart disease.

"Most patients don't realize that reducing hypertension, or high blood pressure, can also prevent heart disease. Simple lifestyle changes like eating healthy, exercising regularly, and losing weight can improve not just your heart, but your overall quality of life," says Dr. Salama from an internal medicine standpoint.

Take this month as an opportunity to focus on your cardiovascular health. Learn more about potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease, maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, and educate yourself on different heart diseases.

Here are a few ways you can participate in Heart Month: 

• Stay up-to-date on heart screenings, such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and Body Mass Index (BMI) 

• Encourage your local representatives to be transparent about coronary heart disease statistics in your state 

• Join the #OurHearts movement on your social media platforms 

The post Heart Health Awareness appeared first on UCR Health.

Listening to the beat of your heart

Your heart beats approximately 100,000 times a day and 35 million times in a year. During an average lifetime, the human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times. It does more physical work than any other muscle, pumping 2,000 gallons of blood through your body every day.

It beats faster when we exercise, when we’re scared, and when we’re in love. Is that how the heart came to be associated with love? 

The heart and love

The ancient Greeks wrote poetry identifying the heart with love and Greek philosophers linked the heart with our strongest emotions including love but also fear, anger, and even pain. Venus, the Goddess of love, was known to set hearts on fire with the help of Cupid, her son, who aimed his darts at the human heart. The Romans even believed there was a vein extending from the fourth finger of the left hand directly to the heart. That finger is, of course, the finger upon which we wear our wedding rings. 

In fact, your heart may beat faster when you’re in love because of hormones: 

• Adrenaline
• Epinephrine
• Norepinephrine

These hormones flow through the blood, causing your heart to beat faster and stronger. That wonderful feeling of being in love is reason enough to keep your heart healthy. 

Keep your heart healthy

The American Heart Association has designated February as National Heart Month.

At UCR Health, we dedicate every month to taking care of your heart, with preventive care as well as advanced treatments should you develop heart disease. Preventing heart disease starts with these five steps to dramatically reduce your risks. 

1. Maintain a healthy weight and a healthy body-mass index of under 25

2. Eat a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and chicken while avoiding added sugars and sodium

3. Exercise with a 30-minute brisk walk five days a week

4. Get better sleep by reducing screen time before bed

5. Don’t smoke

If you’re at risk for developing heart disease, you can follow the steps above as well as visit a doctor on a regular basis to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels. Should you be diagnosed with heart disease, your UCR Health doctor can prescribe medications to lower your numbers. 

Embrace the beat of your heart at UCR Health

Staying healthy and taking care of your heart is important 365 days a year and perhaps more so during heart awareness month. Do it for the ones you love. Do it for yourself. And listen to the beat of your heart. If you keep it healthy, it can continue playing the music you love to hear for a long time. 

To speak with a UCR Health physician, please visit https://www.ucrhealth.org/make-an-appointment/ or give us a call at 1-844-827-8000.

About UCR Health

UCR Health is comprised of a team of physicians, specialists, and healthcare professionals dedicated to improving people’s health. With five medical offices located throughout the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley, UCR Health is growing to meet the healthcare needs of the region, bringing innovative, culturally sensitive medical care to the community. Established alongside the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, UCR Health’s patient-centered primary care and specialty services deliver university-based healthcare excellence and innovation to all communities.

The post American Heart Month appeared first on UCR Health.

Heart Disease in Women

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Echocardiography, and Adult Congenital Heart Diseases and Cardiac Computed Tomography, Dr. Padmini Varadarajan has seen the ins and outs of heart disease in patients of all ages, genders, and ethnicities. However, Dr. Varadarajan shares that “cardiovascular disease is especially prevalent amongst women, causing 1 in every 3 female deaths per year.” 

Women have smaller arteries than men making them more susceptible to heart conditions. Additionally, despite being more susceptible, the symptoms of heart disease seem to differ amongst women and men. Dr. Varadarajan notes that “women present with atypical symptoms. For example, they may not have chest pain like pressure in the chest but instead only have a shortness of breath.” Other symptoms of heart disease  women may experience include indigestion, anxiety-like symptoms, back pain, or unusual fatigue.

As many of these symptoms trickle away from the obvious signs of heart disease, it becomes difficult for women to catch the problem early on. With this, Dr. Varadarajan emphasizes that “[it] is important for both patients and physicians to recognize these atypical symptoms of coronary artery disease, so that early diagnosis is made, and appropriate management is given.” 

Heart Health and Prevention

Specializing in Electrophysiology, Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Dr. Anna Sarcon adds on to the spirit of American Heart Month with some preventative tips that all people at risk for heart disease should consider: 

1. Try to cut out caffeine and alcohol - “One glass of wine here and there is ok but try to avoid alcohol, caffeine and energy drinks as much as possible.” 
2. Exercise is Key - “It has been shown that people who exercise, do yoga or even own pets that they have to walk and take care of have a lower blood pressure and are at lower risk for heart disease.” 
3. Take time to relax and destress - “Both physical and mental stress can have an effect on heart disease” 

“Ultimately, it is up to a person’s willingness to change and improve their life,” Dr. Sarcon says. The biggest risk factors for heart disease include diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking and excessive alcohol intake. Approximately 40% of the risk for heart diseases is due to genetic factors, leaving the other 60% due to environmental and lifestyle choices. 

Take the time this month to think about your heart health and how you can make better choices to prevent heart disease. The quickest way to see if your heart is working properly is to check your blood pressure. If you are experiencing consistent high blood pressure, constituted by a systolic pressure >120 and diastolic pressure >80, you may want to contact your primary care physician for further testing. To schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with a UCR Health physician, click here or give us a call at 1-844-827-8000.

About UCR Health

UCR Health is comprised of a team of physicians, specialists and healthcare professionals dedicated to improving people’s health. With five medical offices located throughout Inland Empire and Coachella Valley, UCR Health is growing to meet the healthcare needs of the region, bringing innovative, culturally sensitive medical care to the community. Established alongside the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, UCR Health’s patient-centered primary care and specialty services deliver university-based healthcare excellence and innovation to all communities.

The post American Heart Month appeared first on UCR Health.

Dr. Sarcon is board-certified in Internal Medicine and a member of Heart Rhythm Society and American College of Cardiology. She brings unique life experiences and passion for advancing science and inspiring the future generation in medicine. She is also excited to bring much needed services in Cardiology, particularly in Electrophysiology to Riverside County and its community. In addition, she is fluent in English and Spanish.

“Imagine yourself in the patient’s shoes,” Dr. Sarcon said when she was asked what her patient philosophy is. She added, "I have worked and lived in many places, internationally and within the United States. I appreciate diverse cultures and backgrounds. My education has allowed me to relocate and learn not only about medicine, but people in places I have lived in." Outside of medicine, she enjoys traveling and horseback riding.

Contact us at 1-844-827-8000 or click here to schedule an appointment today!

About UCR Health

UCR Health is comprised of a team of physicians, specialists and healthcare professionals dedicated to improving people’s health. With five medical offices located throughout Inland Empire and Coachella Valley, UCR Health is growing to meet the healthcare needs of the region, bringing innovative, culturally sensitive medical care to the community. Established alongside the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, UCR Health’s patient-centered primary care and specialty services deliver university-based healthcare excellence and innovation to all communities.

The post [Staff Highlight] Anna Sarcon, MD, FACC appeared first on UCR Health.

Take this month as an opportunity to focus on your cardiovascular health. Learn more about potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease, maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, and educate yourself on the difference between different cardiovascular and heart diseases. Here are a few ways you can participate in Heart Month:

• Wear red on the first Friday of February
• Stay up-to-date on heart screenings, such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Encourage your local representatives to be transparent about coronary heart disease statistics in your state
• Join the #OurHearts movement on your social media platforms

The post American Heart Month appeared first on UCR Health.

What can you do to improve your health this month? 

Be physically active.  

Eat healthier. 

Track your heart health stats.  

Manage stress, sleep better, and quit smoking.  

Make a difference during this month for your loved ones and your community by spreading the word about heart disease risk factors and by modeling a heart-healthy lifestyle. Encourage those around you to know their family history and have their hearts checked by a health professional. Together we can save lives not just in February, but all the time.  

For more information on Heart Health Month and what you can do to raise awareness, check out the American Heart Association’s website at https://www.heart.org/  
 
To make an appointment with Dr. Padmini Varadarjan, click here! 

The post It’s Heart Health Month! appeared first on UCR Health.

• Coronary artery disease 

• Cardiomyopathies 
• Valvular heart disease 
• Infiltrative disorders (amyloid, sarcoid) 
• Cardio-oncology 
• Cardio-rheumatology 

• Cardio-obstetrics 
• Arrhythmias 
• Aortopathies (Marfan, Ehler’s Danlos, Loey’s Dietz, Bicuspid aortic valve, etc.) 
• Adult Congenital heart diseases 
• Preoperative evaluation 

• HTN 
• Lipid disorders 

Cardiological testing services offered by the CT clinic include ECG, ziopatch (14-day Holter), treadmill stress test, and an exercise stress echo - performed and interpreted by Dr. Varadarajan. The clinic has also set up a very sophisticated Echocardiogram with the implementation of cutting-edge technology including strain, a 3D heart model ejection fraction, and 3D evaluation of valves. There is a plan to expand to a second clinic day on Monday afternoons from July 2021 in hopes to accommodate even more patients.  

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