Be heart healthy all year long/New program helps Airmen get on solid foundation Published Feb. 25, 2016 By Kimberly Woodruff Staff Writer TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- February is Healthy Heart Month, but heart health is something to strive for year round. According to the Center for Disease Control, the number of adults with diagnosed heart disease is 26.6 million, or 11.3 percent. Did you know that about 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States each year, and is the leading cause of death for both men and women? Though the numbers are daunting, there are steps to take to reduce the risks of heart disease, heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure, high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. LDL is the "bad" cholesterol that could buildup in your arteries and result in heart disease and stroke if the levels are too high. Lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol and not smoking will reduce your chances for heart disease. More than 67 million Americans have high blood pressure, and are four times more likely to die from a stroke and three times more likely to die from heart disease. High blood pressure often shows no signs or symptoms, so it is very important to have it checked regularly at your doctor's office, the drugstore or yourself with a home blood pressure monitor. Some conditions and lifestyle choices increase a person's chance for heart disease, including diabetes, being overweight, having a poor diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use. There are steps you can take to lower the chance of heart disease and a heart attack. Eat a healthy diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products. Choose foods low in saturated fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars. Exercise regularly. Adults needs 2 hours and 30 minutes (or 150 minutes total) of exercise each week. Spread activity out during the week and break it up into smaller chunks of time during the day. Be smoke free. If you are ready to quit, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for free resources, including free coaching, a free quit plan, free educational materials, and referrals to other resources where you live. Limit alcohol use, which can lead to long-term health problems, including heart disease and cancer. If you do choose to drink, do so in moderation and not at all if you are pregnant. Know your family history. There may be factors that could increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. (Information from the Center for Disease Control) New program helps Airmen get on solid foundation Airmen seeking self-improvement and wanting more impactful bullets on their enlisted performance review need look no further than a new program, the Foundations of Enlisted Leadership, or FEL, to put them on the path to success. This program launch will be the first of its kind in the AFMC. FEL is based on the four pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness and illustrates ways to build resiliency through participating in various activities and classes offered across the installation. The activities promote self-growth and personal wellness leading to a more successful home and work balance. "Airmen will not only build a bullet for their package, but more importantly will gain knowledge that will help them to be successful in their military career and to be better enlisted leaders," said Andrea Perkins, with the Airman and Family Readiness Center. "This program is proactive -- we see them before they have a budget crisis and the Health Promotion sees them before they fail a PT test." Ms. Perkins said the Airmen will be more knowledgeable on what base helping agencies have to offer and how they can support Team Tinker. Successful completion of FEL gives first line supervisors a tangible way of supporting CAF and their troops' resiliency. Activities cover a wide range of interests and needs focused more on preventive measures to ensure an Airman is mission ready. To participate, an Airman just needs to attend four qualifying activities, have the instructor give them credit for attending and complete a survey to provide program feedback. Programs that qualify can be found in the FEL pamphlet, are advertised with the CAF logo or are highlighted on the Tinker homepage calendar. Contact information for the seven participating base organizations: Airman and Family Readiness Center: 739-2747 Education Services Center: 739-7408 Gerrity Fitness Center: 739-5607 Outdoor Recreation: 734-5875 Chapel & Religious Education: 734-2111 Family Advocacy: 582-6604 Health Promotion (HAWC): 734-6575