Love Yourself By Caring For Your Heart Health

By: Liz Simon, Staff Writer

February is known for being the month of love and giving heart-shaped Valentines. It is also known as the month to put an emphasis on Heart Health Awareness. The first Friday in February is always “Wear Red Day” to promote having healthy hearts.

Do you have any health concerns you are avoiding? Most of us ignore warning signs because there is too much going on in our lives to take stock of our problems. Some of the warning signs to look for with your heart are shortness of breath, discomfort, back pain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, obesity, physical inactivity, fatigue, swelling in the ankles, nausea, and indigestion. There could be other symptoms your body is trying to alert you to consider.

Hopefully this article will grab your attention, and you will focus on your own health and your family’s. We only have one life to live. We all know with the responsibilities we face; we need to make healthy life choices for ourselves and our family and not fall short.

My parents shared a February 21st birthday, and both developed heart problems. My father died unexpectedly at the age of 41 of a sudden heart attack. According to national statistics, 356,000 people, or one in four Americans die from an unexpected heart attack. Every 40 seconds in the US someone will have a heart attack. Most heart attacks occur in the early morning hours around 6:30 AM. At that time there is a surge in hormones throughout our bodies. With that fact in mind, I try a few minutes of stretching exercises before putting my feet on the floor.

The main cause of heart disease is high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Sometimes as doctors point out, “It is in your family’s genes! You cannot avoid the reality of your family’s medical history.”

Twenty-two years ago, my husband learned on Mother's Day weekend that he had to face open heart surgery. His three sisters also had heart surgery after his, and both of his parents died from heart disease. When my husband faced heart surgery again this past summer, I knew what we were facing, and I knew what was ahead of us. Ironically, his first cousin Russell who had visited with Billy several times in the hospital had the same heart surgery weeks after my husband had his.

After his rehab, we met with his cardiologist from MUSC, Doctor Todd Alderson. He laid down the guidelines in no uncertain terms. “Do not eat red meat and no fried foods!”

My husband has not broken his promise to himself or Doctor Alderson this time. After his first heart issues, he still ate what he wanted to eat. Since July, I have encouraged him to follow a healthier diet plan. Also, I have had to encourage myself, and do a reality check about our daily eating habits because I have had several strokes in my life from my blood pressure becoming too high.

We now have a comprehensive health check every six months with our primary doctors for blood work and wellness. All of us need to remember that heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women. Over 120 million Americans today have cardiovascular heart disease.

I try to walk 30 minutes on a treadmill three times a week at The Fitness Zone. I take a full adult aspirin before bedtime, and no fast foods especially those French fries that I love so much. Doctor Kearse told me to watch my sodium intake and drink 8 glasses of water a day. I think people must have a strict mindset not to neglect their own personal health.

Having health issues with our hearts makes every day an Awareness Day. It is a struggle keeping the reality of health concerns in check and dealing with the stresses in life. I can tell when my stress level is high because I grind my teeth. That is my warning sign or trigger point that I need to take deep breaths, shrug my shoulders, and shut off news overload from the TV and our cell phones. Don’t neglect yourself! Be aware! This is when we need “our me time!”