2024 Heart Walk
Join our Cardiovascular team as we promote heart health at the American Heart Association's 2024 Heart Walk.
Heart Walk 2024: Let's Walk Together
Register for the 2024 Dallas Heart Walk
Join UT Southwestern for the Heart Walk.
Walkers will have 1- and 3-mile options, as well as a virtual option for anyone who can’t join us in person.
When: Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
Opening ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m. Walk begins at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Join the team at the base of Reunion Tower, 692 Sports Street, Dallas, TX 75207.
How to register: Just click the registration button on this page.
The AHA Dallas Heart Walk is the largest and first Heart Walk in the country and raises more than $6 million annually to support heart disease and stroke research. Historically, UT Southwestern has participated with a team of about 5,000 walkers (in pre-COVID times) and our UTSW Cardiology team has consistently been among the top teams in walkers and fundraising at UT Southwestern. It's a fun, family-friendly event that supports a great cause!
Heart Healthy Tips for Everyday Life
After several months of preparation, our team will soon be applying to receive The Joint Commission’s Comprehensive Cardiac Center Certification. Learn more about this project and about our team by visiting our Sharepoint site.
Current employee log-in credentials required.
UT Southwestern's most valuable assets are its dedicated employees. So please consider these suggestions from our experts to help safeguard your health and well-being.
- Make exercise a priority. It’s good for the heart and clears the mind. Take a brisk walk on campus or in the hospital corridors during breaks or lunch, ideally getting at least 150 minutes of exercise a week.
- Don’t let your diet take a nosedive. There are plenty of heart healthy options that are easy to prepare and can be taken on the go (see Smoothie Savvy tips and recipe cards).
- Tackle stress head-on. Take a few moments for deep breathing or participate in a virtual mindfulness seminar. Chronic stress can be harmful to your heart, and techniques such as mindfulness meditation have been shown to lower blood pressure in some studies.
- Keep up with checkups. See your primary care provider at least yearly to check on your blood pressure and cholesterol, for regular screenings, and to assess your overall health. You can’t do as good a job taking care of others if you aren’t taking care of yourself!
- Know Your Numbers. Download and print this easy-to-follow handout and keep track of some of your risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Then, discuss them with your doctor during your next appointment.
"Join us at the Dallas Heart Walk, the largest Heart Walk in the country. Together, we walk to fight heart disease and to show everyone UT Southwestern has the biggest heart!"
Smoothie Savvy Tips from Our Preventive Cardiology Team
Good nutrition is the backbone of keeping ourselves healthy, but remembering to eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables each day can be difficult. That's why we wanted to make you a smoothie – a filling and refreshing drink that also provides an easy way to help you get your daily fruit and vegetable intake. The smoothies for frontline workers at Clements University Hospital will incorporate nutritious foods, such as kiwi, kale, spinach, celery, and blueberries.
It's important to note, however, that not all smoothies are created equal. So here are some smoothie savvy tips from our Preventive Cardiology Team to ensure a smoothie not only tastes good but it's good for your health, too:
- Limit added sugar (e.g., syrups) but pile on the whole fruit when ordering/making a smoothie. Whole fruits provide energy, fiber, and an array of vitamins and minerals. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar to 25 grams and 38 grams per day for women and men, respectively, while noting that consumption of whole fruits is an important part of a heart healthful eating pattern.
- Add low-fat dairy (cow or plant), nut butters, and/or seeds to boost protein and unsaturated fats. Good examples are fat-free/low-fat plain yogurt, almond or hemp milk, peanut or almond butter, and chia or flax seeds. For those managing their cholesterol levels, keep in mind that coconut milk is very high in saturated fat.
- To balance the carbohydrate content of the average smoothie, add a scoop or two of protein powder. Whey, pea, or hemp protein each have unique nutritional qualities. Whey is high in leucine, the most potent amino acid for building muscle; pea protein is free of lactose and oligosaccharides, which are potential stomach irritants in some individuals; and hemp contains fiber and omega 3 fats.
- Lastly, if your smoothie exceeds 300 calories, it’s a small meal, not a snack!
4 No-Fuss Recipes That Will Make You Go 'Mmmm!'
