LiveWell Jefferson

LiveWell Jefferson

Roadway to a Healthier Jefferson

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During another successful Tour de Jefferson, it was exciting and encouraging to see hundreds of bike riders take to the streets and safely engage in family-friendly, physical activity. Every opportunity for people to exercise helps them to meet their fitness goals and improve their overall health and wellness. It is now more important than ever that people focus on their health. At the American Heart Association, we are committed to our mission of being a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. One of our priority areas is working with local communities to adopt a comprehensive Complete Streets policy.

This policy ensures that street infrastructure projects are designed and developed with safety, equity, and accessibility at its core. Complete Streets benefit everyone whether you are walking, biking, driving, or using transit. These streets built to share ™ will promote physical activity and healthier communities. Sidewalks that connect to parks, protected bike lanes, and streets that accommodate all people will allow people to safely be active and improve our quality of life.

At the onset of the COVID pandemic, the Jefferson Parish Complete Streets Coalition was preparing to host the first annual Walk to Lunch Day in the Metairie area. This program was to highlight the benefits of safe and accessible transportation options that provide walkable communities, promote health, and stimulate economic development. Creating a pedestrian-friendly design with connected walkways as well as business locator maps and mileage trackers would encourage people to walk to area restaurants and establishments and provide greater exposure for local businesses. We are working toward rescheduling this event as we resume our work in this area.

We realize that the road to healthier neighborhoods literally begins with a better road. We are not getting the recommended amount of daily physical activity and our health results are reflective of this reality. The development of a comprehensive Complete Streets policy will eliminate barriers and increase opportunities to be active. If you want to support our work in this area, please reach out to me at Rica.Trigs@heart.org. Let’s work together to adopt and implement a policy that fully addresses the infrastructure and processes that will contribute to a Healthier Jefferson.

Written by Rica Trigs
Community Advocacy Director, American Heart Association

Calming the Mind

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With all the unrest in the world currently, most of us are carrying mental baggage. How often are we carrying the events of the day, week, or month with us by worrying or constantly thinking?

Meditation is a practice to calm the mind and believe it or not, anyone can do it. Ok, I know what you are thinking… “My mind doesn’t stop long enough for meditation.” This is completely normal. Initially, you may only be able to calm the mind for a minute or two. But, with practice, the mind calms for longer periods of time.

Meditation has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, promotes emotional and physical health, enhances our awareness to ourselves, and improves sleep.

I know what you are wondering, “How do I meditate?”. Below are simple and easy to follow instructions.

  1. Choose an area that is quiet, and you will not be disturbed for a few minutes.
  2. Set a timer for the length of time you’d like to set aside.
  3. Sit or lay in a comfortable position, where you can allow your body to completely rest.
  4. Take a few deep breaths in, filling your lungs completely. When you exhale, set your intention to release any stress and tension, as if you are pushing it off you.
  5. Breathe normally now and begin to notice the feeling of your breath. Feel the coolness of the inhale and warmth of the exhale. Feel how your body rises and falls with each breath.
  6. If your mind starts to wander, simply recognize it, and notice the feeling of your breath again.
  7. When you are ready, bring gentle movement in your body and open your eyes.

I hope you enjoyed this exercise and will continue your mind calming journey!  

Written by Jennifer Guillot
Owner, Heal from Within, LLC
Jennifer Guillot is a Meditation Guide, Holistic Energy Healer, and Well-being facilitator. She is the owner of Heal from Within, LLC and works at Ochsner West Bank facilitating their staff well-being program. Her passion is working with others on their own healing journey.

World Heart Day: September 29

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As the world continues to live with the pandemic, economic crisis and the racial/social justice reckoning, we will have to work through a few major things personally and collectively. During difficult times like this, it is even more important to reflect on how exactly your health and well-being are faring. World Heart Day is an excellent opportunity to take charge of your health.

World Heart Day, founded by the World Heart Federation, takes place every year on September 29 and aims to increase awareness of heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association is a founding member of the World Heart Federation and is helping to amplify this year’s #UseHeart to Beat Cardiovascular Disease campaign. 

WHD is about what you can do to get and keep your heart healthy. The American Heart Association prides itself on the extensive work we do to provide the information to get you to optimal heart health. #UseHeart to get involved.

Here are just a few ways the American Heart Association is using heart to do that:

  • The AHA is working to make sure heart and stroke patients understand how COVID-19 could uniquely affect them and are armed with the research and knowledge on how to best protect themselves.
  • We are taking care of our own employees and leading with swift action and innovative collaborations to solve for and ease the pandemic while recognizing heroes on the front lines.
  • The AHA is carrying out its crucial role of convener by working with organizations, volunteers and a vast network of medical professionals around the globe to make sure that we swiftly and accurately share the latest evidence regarding care for people who contract COVID-19 – for the public, patients, caregivers and health care professionals.
  • COVID-19 will also show us the functionality of the U.S. health care system and help us identify what is needed to achieve health equity – accurate health information, access to health care, and optimal public health response regardless of gender, race or ethnicity.

#UseHeart to engage your employees. Employee wellbeing has never been so important and is a key factor in recruitment and retention. #UseHeart to deliver responsibly. Help your corporation deliver against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.” – SDG (Source: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/health/) #UseHeart to create reach and impact. Be part of a worldwide initiative and a global campaign that is easy to activate.

#UseHeart to take part. We are living in unprecedented times. We don’t know what course the COVID-19 pandemic will take in the future, but we do know that taking care of our hearts is more important than ever. So, this year on 29 September, help spread the word by visiting the content hub https://www.world-heart-federation.org/world-heart-day/whd-resources/.

The call to action is to inspire and ask our community, friends, family, to #UseHeart. You can #UseHeart to eat well, drink wisely, get more active and say no to tobacco. We challenge everyone #UseHeart, and share it on social media using #NOLAWHD2020.

Additionally, we are always looking for volunteers, sponsors, advocates, social media ambassadors, and more to help the American Heart Association do the work we do on the local level. We don’t just raise funds to provide for lifesaving research, we are on the ground taking part in so many opportunities to affect change in our community. We’d love anyone who is interested in learning more to contact the local AHA at AHANewOrleans@heart.org or to visit www.heart.org/neworleans. Additionally, you can call our office at (504) 872-3500.

About the New Orleans American Heart Association: The New Orleans American Heart Association fosters collective action through our local programs and partnerships that aim to improve quality of life, increase opportunity, and ensure care for all our neighbors. Every member of our community should be able to achieve well-being supported by the places they live, learn, work, play, pray, and heal.

Written by Coretta Lagarde, Senior Community Impact Director/
American Heart Association

Prioritize Your Mental Health, Now More Than Ever

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Written by Roselle M. Ungar, CFRE, Executive Director
Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans

As we face this time of great upheaval, it is essential to prioritize our mental health. Many health experts are concerned that, without our normal schedules and access to mental health professionals compounding unprecedented events, many people are not seeking out the care they need or are accustomed to receiving. They warn us that, alongside the health crisis of coronavirus, a mental health crisis is playing out in our homes. 

According to MentalHealth.gov, our mental health “includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.” As our country grapples with the stultifying challenges of a global pandemic and nationwide protests, feelings of fear, anger, depression, anxiety, paranoia, sadness, and panic are not unexpected consequences. While our personal reactions to current events may vary, we all need to check in with ourselves and, perhaps, check out a form of counseling. 

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans is accepting new clients, and we’re currently offering telemental health counseling. In addition to checking in with a mental health professional, our therapists offer some tips to prioritize your mental health.

  • Limit news & media intake.
  • Spend time outside, and be sure to exercise.
  • Maintain good sleep hygiene.
  • Maintain a routine as best you can.
  • Eat a balanced diet.
  • Take time to relax, whether that be sitting quietly or enjoying a hobby like playing music or meditating.
  • Call family and friends. If you’re not yet able to see family and friends in person, call them. Hearing their voice will provide more feelings of connection than a simple text.

If you’re interested in speaking with a JFS therapist, get in touch with us: (504) 831-8475 or jfs@jfsneworleans.org. Follow our social media channels for more tips: @jfsnola on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

COVID-19 Employer Information for Office Buildings

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Workers in office buildings may be at risk for exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. Office building employers, building owners and managers, and building operations specialists can take steps to create a safe and healthy workplace and protect workers and clients.

Last week, the CDC issued new recommendations for office spaces:

  • Inspect ventilation systems to ensure they operate properly
  • Increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible
  • Check for hazards associated with prolonged facility shutdown
  • Conduct a thorough hazard assessment of the workplace to identify potential workplace hazards that could increase risks for COVID-19 transmission.
  • Develop hazard controls using the hierarchy of controls to reduce transmission among workers. 

Click Here For The CDC’S COVID-19 Employer Information for Office Buildings as well as resources, such as:

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3421 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 203
Metairie, LA 70002
Phone: (504) 835-3880
Email: info@jeffersonchamber.org

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