At 46 years old I was on a path I didn’t want to be on. I weighed 320 pounds, had high blood pressure as well as sleep apnea and couldn’t walk down the block without getting shin splints. I asked my doctor about gastric bypass surgery and he refused. He said that I am an…

National Employee Health and Fitness Day is May 16. Celebrated the third Wednesday in May, National Employee Health and Fitness Day promotes the health benefits of staying active throughout the work day. Chad Stanton, exercise specialist from the Weight Loss & Wellness Center at Oklahoma Heart Institute, is sharing some ways you can be active and get…

For most of my life, my weight had never been a problem. Growing up I was very tall and active in school sports. With the onset of my sixties, things changed very quickly. My wife and I joined a weight-loss program and stuck it out for four years until we were forced to admit defeat.…

National Senior Health and Fitness Day is an annual health and fitness event promoting the importance of consistent physical activity in seniors. Staying active is very important as you age in order to stay healthy and sustain your independence. Exercise Specialist Chad Stanton with the Weight Loss & Wellness Center at Oklahoma Heart Institute, shares why seniors…

March is National Nutrition Month. Leading a nutritious lifestyle is a great way to take care of your body and make changes for the better. The Weight Loss & Wellness Center at Oklahoma Heart Institute offers a nationally recognized weight-loss program developed by Health Management Resources (HMR), the nation’s leading provider of weight-loss programs in the medical…

A healthy lifestyle is something we should all strive to maintain, especially those living with diabetes. Staying on track with a good diet and exercise regimen and keeping blood sugar levels regulated is vital for diabetics. As we continue to celebrate National Nutrition Month, we spoke with Chelsea Reed, Registered Dietitian with the Center for Diabetes…

While living a healthy lifestyle is a major component in keeping a strong, healthy heart, it isn’t the only one. Did you know that a good night’s rest is just as beneficial to your heart health? People who don’t sleep enough are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, which is why professionals recommend eight hours…

February 11-17 is Cardiac Rehabilitation Week. This is a week where we recognize the contributions of the staff in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at Oklahoma Heart Institute. These staff members work with patients to help reduce the effects of heart disease. To learn more about the cardiac rehabilitation program, we spoke with Tom Guhr, health…

A few weeks ago, Franklin Wall was at work when he started experiencing chest pains. “I was on my way to a meeting and about half way down the hall, my chest started hurting,” explained Wall. “By the time I got to the meeting, I was still in pain. I sat down and was fidgeting…

For the first time in 14 years, a new set of blood pressure guidelines have been released by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. Previously, high blood pressure was defined with a reading of 140/90 or higher. Now, individuals with readings of 130 over 80 are considered to have high blood…