February is heart month, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be raising awareness all the time about heart health. Did you know?

Heart disease is responsible for 1 in every 4 deaths in the United States each year.

Heart disease is more deadly than all cancers combined.

45% of heart attack victims are under the age of 45.

1 in 5 Americans will develop heart failure.

Each year, an estimated 785,000 Americans will have their first heart attack.

DFD is committed to stopping heart disease before it starts. By emphasizing preventative care, we’re here every step of the way to get your heart happy and healthy. Below are steps you can take every day to lower your risk for heart disease:

• Know and control your numbers: blood pressure (BP), cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI).
• Quit smoking: quitting is the best thing you can do for your health. DFD offers a smoking cessation program to provide support and resources to help you kick the habit for good.
• Get active: just 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day can lower your risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
• Manage stress: take 15-30 minutes of personal time each day. Understand stress triggers, and learn how to respond at home and at work.
• Choose good nutrition: a healthy diet is one of the best weapons you have to fight heart disease. Your diet should emphasize fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and should limit sugar and salt.

By taking these steps each day, we can change the stats of heart disease.

Join us in learning new ways to save money and eat healthy!

Starting Wednesday, March 8, we’ll be hosting educational classes where you can try and prepare new tasty recipes, take home prizes, and learn useful new information. 

The class is open to all DFD Russell Medical Center patients and families and will be held on the second Wednesday of each month from 4 pm – 5 pm. Classes will be located in the conference room in the basement of the Leeds DFD Russell Medical Center at 180 Church Hill Road, Leeds, ME. 

To learn more about SNAP-ED click here: https://www.mainesnap-ed.org/

Due to inclement weather, DFD will be closing at noon at all three locations.

Follow the tips below to get and stay on the track to good health.

Manage Stress: Balance work, home, and play. Get support from family and friends and try to keep a relaxed and positive outlook. Engaging in healthy activities and getting the right care can put problems in perspective and ease stress.

Get Regular Check-Ups: Schedule regular check-ups to help find problems before they start or early enough for treatment and cure.

Stay Active: Find fun ways to stay active–like dancing–for at least 2 1/2 hours each week. It is one of the most important things you can do for your health.

The deadline for January 1 healthcare coverage through the marketplace has been extended to December 19 due to the website being down.

This holiday season, put safety at the top of your list when it comes to gift giving. Did you know that there are more than 250,000 toy-related injuries in hospital emergency rooms each year? When purchasing toys look for the letters “ASTM” (American Society for Testing and Materials). This designation means the product meets the national safety standards set by ASTM International.

Follow these toy safety tips to ensure your children’s and family’s safety.

• Read all warnings and instructions on packaging.
• Always supervise children, and demonstrate how to use their toys safely.
• Make sure your child’s toys are safe. The Consumer Products Safety Commission provides a list of recalled toys with photos and descriptions on their website: cpsc.gov/

New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate, and we’re here to help you celebrate safely!

Follow our guide to a safe New Year’s celebration:

• Drink in moderation.
• Have a designated driver.
• Celebrate with friends – don’t go out alone.
• Alternate alcoholic drinks with water.
• Eat before you drink, and snack while you drink.

Thank you all for a wonderful year. We wish you the happiest of holidays and all the best for a happy, healthy 2017.

Due to hazardous driving conditions DFD Russell Medical Centers will be closed Monday, December 12. We will reopen Tuesday, December 13, at 8 am.

Dr. John P. Meserve

DFD Russell is extremely saddened by the untimely loss of Dr. John P. Meserve, a practitioner at our Monmouth location. Dr. Meserve died unexpectedly in an early-morning car accident on his way to work Thursday, Nov. 17.

More than anything, Dr. Meserve loved his family, friends, and his profession. Over his 30-year career, he cared for thousands of patients from Kennebunk to Millinocket, Portland and Monmouth. He was the type of doctor who truly listened to his patients and even made house calls.

Dr. Meserve practiced family medicine as a board-certified physician and was known in his community as a caring and knowledgeable medical provider. He touched many lives and will be truly missed by his DFD Russell Medical Center colleagues and patients.

Dr. Meserve was born in 1955 in Gardiner to William M. Meserve and Kathleen Kiley Meserve. He grew up with his two brothers, Michael and David, and many loving friends. John is survived by his wife; his brothers; his four children; his two grandchildren, Johan and Charlie; his daughter-in-law, Annette; and his sons-in-law, Joseph and Nicholas