Wellness & Safety

For the heart’s sake

In February, I had the honor of speaking to the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Luncheon held in Benton/Saline County. In researching and preparing for that speech, I learned some new things and brushed up on some things I already knew about cardiovascular disease (CVD), its causes, and prevention. This information is so important that it needs to be shared. I would be willing to guess that everyone either has a heart issue or knows someone who does. Consequently, we cannot hear this information enough. Writing this article is going to mean that I have to share things about myself that many may not know about me. However, this information is so important to me that I am willing to open up and share some of my story.

In 2011, I was an overweight teacher, a mother of four, and a coach’s wife. I was on the go all the time and never took any time to take care of myself. Through a crazy set of circumstances (and by the grace of God) I found myself on the TV show “The Biggest Loser.” Those involved with the show put contestants through a battery of medical testing before they ever begin. I was confronted will a host of possible negative medical scenarios if I did not make some serious changes in my lifestyle. I began the journey at 238 pounds and out of shape.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, killing one woman about every 80 seconds. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States, killing 347,879 men in 2017 — that’s about 1 in every 4 male deaths. Those statistics are frightening, especially in 2020 when we have more information at our fingertips than we have ever had before. Many of us, including me, know those statistics but choose to take the “I’ll deal with that when I have time” attitude. The time is now. I am going to tell you three things you can do to decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease.

First, know your family health history. You need to know what you have to work with. My family health history includes heart attack, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, and rheumatic fever. I have learned that just because I have a less than stellar family health history does not mean that I am doomed to follow in the footsteps of my family — and neither are you. Lifestyle can override that predisposition in many cases. According to the American Heart Association, 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented through education, and lifestyle changes such as moving more, eating smart, and managing blood pressure. Let me drive this home just a little more. In my immediate family — mom, dad, brother, and me — I am the only one that has not had a heart attack, stroke, or heart surgery. I am the only one that does not have diabetes, is not on cholesterol or blood pressure medication, or any other prescription medication for that matter. If I had not taken a leap of faith nine years ago by auditioning for “The Biggest Loser” and beginning this journey to take control of my health, I am certain I would not be able to say any of that.

Second, it is so important to feed your body good fuel. Remember, the foods we eat are nothing but fuel for our bodies. You would not put kerosene in your car’s gas tank and expect it to run, would you? Well, the fact of the matter is your body runs better and more efficiently when you feed it well. About 45 percent of U.S. deaths caused by heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes are because of poor dietary habits, such as high sodium intake, high sugary drink consumption, and low intake of fruits and vegetables. Healthy eating is critical to preventing cardiovascular disease. Start today. Eat less sugar and sodium. Eat more fruits and vegetables — fresh is best and frozen is next best. If you have to go with canned, check the sugar and sodium content. Try to eat fewer processed foods. Read labels. If something has more than five ingredients, and the ingredients are those long words that nobody can pronounce, do yourself a favor and put it back on the shelf.

Third, it is a proven fact that physical activity is good for the heart because it reduces the risk for heart disease and stroke. The recommended guidelines are 150 minutes a week of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, plus 2 days a week of muscle-strengthening activity. I also know that those guidelines are daunting to many people as they contemplate starting out. For those of you that have seen “The Biggest Loser,” I certainly would not recommend jumping onto a treadmill and turning the speed up to 6 or 7 when you have been relatively sedentary for a long time. But I do recommend that you start where you are. If all you can do is walk to your mailbox right now, then that is where you start. You can gradually increase and build up from whatever your starting point is.

When I started this adventure, my self-esteem was not very good. Through the course of my journey on TV and the nine years since, I have learned that I have to love myself enough to get myself up off the couch and get started. C.S Lewis once said, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Becky Comet AAC Member Benefits Manager