Take Your Heart Health into Your Own Hands

Apr 11, 2026

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Submitted by Sarah Johnson, Director of Marketing, Strategy, & Communications, William Newton Hospital

Spring in Kansas often serves as a natural invitation to get moving again. Recently, our Downtown Doc Walk participants enjoyed the beautiful weather while learning a vital lesson in cardiovascular health from Dr. Ryan Beard, provider at William Newton Cardiology and medical director of William Newton Hospital’s cardiovascular catheterization lab and HeartMenders cardiac rehabilitation program.

Before our one-mile walk through Baden Square and past the hospital campus, Dr. Beard shared that while clinical visits are essential, the most important work in managing blood pressure happens in the small, daily choices we make at home.

The Pillars of Blood Pressure Management

Whether you are managing hypertension (high blood pressure) or monitoring for hypotension (low blood pressure), Dr. Beard highlighted four lifestyle "anchors" that keep your cardiovascular system in balance:

• Move Regularly: Even a brisk walk through your neighborhood—like our Doc Walk—strengthens the heart, allowing it to pump blood with less effort.
• Prioritize Sleep: Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to increased heart rate and blood pressure. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality rest.
• Fuel Wisely: Maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet reduces the strain on your arteries.
• Monitor at Home: Many patients experience "white coat syndrome," where blood pressure spikes simply due to the stress of being in a medical office. Dr. Beard recommends regular at-home monitoring to provide a more accurate, long-term picture of your health and to catch potential issues before they become emergencies.

Local Resources to Help You Start

Knowing your numbers shouldn’t be a hurdle. Through the “Libraries with Heart” initiative, the Winfield Public Library offers free support to patrons. You can use their on-site kiosk for a quick reading or check out a take-home blood pressure kit just as you would a book.

We also invite you to see the library’s beautiful progress firsthand at the grand opening of its newly renovated back patio on April 24.

If you’re looking for a low-pressure way to stay active and informed, join our next Downtown Doc Walk. We’ll meet at our regular starting location, the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce, on May 7 at 4:00 p.m. for a health talk by Dr. Bryan Dennett, sponsored by Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.

Downtown Doc Walks is hosted by William Newton Hospital with support from William Newton Healthcare Foundation’s Beats Go On Community Wellness Initiative, Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce, RISE Cowley, and Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Winfield.

Editorial Notes: This article was submitted for the "Weekend Check-Up," a regular health column in the Cowley CourierTraveler penned by employees and friends of William Newton Hospital.