CHP: How to Love Your Heart, for Heart Month

Submitted by Jonna Gaberman, MD Print Story | Email Story
Dr. Jonna Gaberman is CHP Berkshires Director of Adult Medicine and primary care physician at CHP Neighborhood Health Center in Pittsfield.
It's National Heart Month, so now is a good time to give some TLC to your body's most important muscle. Prevention is always the first step in keeping your heart healthy, but you can also make changes to address any existing heart conditions. 
 
Key risk factors impacting the heart include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking, including second-hand smoke exposure. 
 
What are some meaningful changes you can make to care for your heart? First, have a basic heart health screening with your primary care provider or with CHP Mobile Health. This will include a blood pressure check and screening for high cholesterol and diabetes.  
 
If your blood pressure is elevated, set a goal to lower your salt intake to under 2,000 mg per day, and take care to read labels of soups and other foods for sodium content. Eating more fruits and vegetables, and getting more physical activity will help, too. You can also help your heart by eliminating or reducing alcohol use, as alcohol can contribute to elevated blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythm.  
 
Diabetes screening is typically done with an A1C blood test, which indicates your blood sugar level over the past three months. If the result suggests a risk of diabetes, it's time to make some changes in your diet and exercise routine. Focus on whole grains, veggies, fruits, beans, nuts, lean proteins like fish and chicken, and healthy fats. 
 
If you don't have regular time to exercise, try parking further away from your destination and walking more, or take the stairs more often at work. Any amount of physical activity is good, so, when possible, take a walk, a bike ride, go on a hike, or take a yoga class. Find a friend, family member, or colleague to join you and choose an activity that you enjoy. If you are a CHP patient and need a hand getting started, ask for a referral to our CHP Nutrition team. 
 
If you are a smoker, talk to your PCP about different medications and strategies to help you to kick the habit, because smoking – and second-hand smoke – can also raise the risk of heart problems. There are many tools to help you quit, and the more often you try to stop, the more likely you will succeed.  
 
Taking care of your heart health will impact your overall wellness and your mood. As always, check in with your CHP primary care provider. We are here to help. 
 
 

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Guest Column: An Honor to Serve

By Smitty PignatelliGuest Column
As I reflect on the past 22 years serving as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, I do so with immense pride and gratitude. Together with my colleagues, I have had the privilege of contributing to landmark legislation that has defined our commonwealth, from marriage equality to health care for all — both of which became national models. 
 
I've worked on major environmental, economic development, and housing bond bills that continue to benefit the Berkshires and will for years to come.
 
Of course, none of this was accomplished single-handedly. The legislative process is a team effort, and I have been fortunate to serve alongside dedicated colleagues who have always put the interests of Massachusetts first. When I first entered the House, I thought I knew a lot, having spent years in local and county government. But I quickly realized I had much more to learn. I was lucky to have the guidance and support of Reps. Peter Larkin, Dan Bosley and the entire Berkshire delegation, who took me under their wing and set me on the right path. I was proud to team up with them 20 years ago to create the first in the nation Cultural Facilities Fund that has delivered hundreds of millions of dollars to our local economy. 
 
Throughout my tenure, we've faced the ups and downs of local, state, and global economies. Yet I've always believed that when we work together, no challenge is insurmountable. The 22 communities I have represented over the years have demonstrated time and again the power of collaboration to make the Berkshires — and what I like to call "BesternMass" — a thriving, vibrant region.
 
The State House is steeped in tradition, with its formal titles and protocols: "Representative this" or "Chairperson that." But I've always reminded my team that while my job may be important, I never felt important. I entered the House as Smitty, and I'm proud to leave it the same way — simply Smitty.
 
Growing up, politics in my household was never a dirty word, and politicians were not seen as bad people. Those early lessons grounded me in the belief that public service is about representing the needs of others, not yourself. I've carried that belief with me every day in the House, never forgetting where I came from or the people I was there to serve. Representing the 4th (now 3rd) Berkshire District — my home — has been the greatest honor of my life. I wasn't always successful, but I gave my best every single day. After nearly 50 years in public service, I retire as a public servant, not a politician.
 
One of my greatest concerns is that public office today risks becoming more about "self-service" than "public service." We need people at all levels to stay engaged, hold public officials accountable, and demand better. I've always set a high bar for myself and those around me. I've never been afraid to admit failure or celebrate shared success, and I've tried each day to lead with the same passion, vision, and integrity my family instilled in me.
 
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