Your heart may belong to a certain someone this Valentine’s Day, but it is up to you to keep that loving heart in good shape. February is American Heart Month and Valentine’s Day is a great time for a heart-healthy gift.
Patient First suggests treating your special someone to a gift that is heartfelt and good for the heart. Express yourself with one of these gift ideas:
- Get cooking – Many restaurants offer heart-healthy menus but you have more control over what goes into your meal by cooking it yourself. Give your loved one the gift of healthy cooking classes. It is a great way to taste new food, learn something that will last a lifetime, and give you an excuse for a romantic candlelight dinner at home.
- A heart-healthy workout – Exercise helps maintain a healthy weight and provides countless heart-health benefits, but it is not limited to a gym. Does your Valentine like to go dancing? How about a long, romantic walk? Get out, get active, and get healthy.
- Massage – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that relaxation and stress relief are important for good heart health. Massages are not only relaxing, they also stimulate circulation through the use of heat and pressure, thus helping rid the body of toxins.
- Sweet stuff – Does your loved one crave something sweet? Try a beautiful fresh fruit basket instead of a box of candied sweets with added sugars.
- Kick the habit – Give up smoking for your loved one or help them kick the habit themselves.
Affairs of the heart are not limited to Valentine’s Day. These steps will help you be a healthy valentine every day of the year:
- Know your blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke.
- Keep your weight under control. Obesity raises the risk of heart attacks, heart failure, and diabetes.
- Know your cholesterol levels. High cholesterol raises the risk of heart disease.
- Reduce your salt intake.
- Reduce stress to help lower your risk of heart disease.
Recent Stories
ARTfactory and Birmingham Green made headlines in Manassas this week. ARTfactory’s Rooftop Productions, now Actors Theatre, won seven awards at the 2024 DC Broadway World Awards, including Best Musical for Kinky Boots and Best Choreography for The Rocky Horror Show. ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre also earned recognition, winning Best Theatre for Young Audiences for its production of The Wizard of Oz.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Green, ranked as Northern Virginia’s top nursing home by Newsweek Magazine, announced Duane Smith as its new Nursing Home Administrator, effective December 30, 2024. Smith brings extensive experience from senior living leadership roles across multiple states and holds several professional qualifications. Birmingham Green continues its 90-year mission of providing quality long-term care to Northern Virginians in need.
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Should Virginia ditch the longstanding practice of electing the General Assembly and the governor in odd year elections?
The first odd year election in Virginia was in 1851, after a new state Constitution was approved and members of the House were elected to a two-year term. Before that, members of the House had one-year terms, and voters selected members every single year.
Now, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell says modern day voters are sick and tired of voting every year.
A Manassas man was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for providing drugs and alcohol to a child in exchange for sex acts and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the same victim as well as other children.
According to court documents, Olajide Benjamin Ayilaran, 24, met a 14-year-old girl during the summer of 2023 and began communicating with the victim via iMessage. In the messages, Ayilaran offered to provide the victim drugs, alcohol, and nicotine products in exchange for sex acts. Between at least Nov. 21, 2023, and Feb. 29, 2024, Ayilaran met the victim nine times, usually in the morning before the victim went to school, to exchange the products for sexual acts. Ayilaran would wait for the victim in his car in a nearby park. When the victim arrived, he gave her the drugs and alcohol and then had the victim perform sex acts on him in the car.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
