The topic of cardiovascular health has never been as personal to me as it was on December 12, 2017. I lost my father to a sudden heart attack. Not only had he just recovered from successful coronary stent surgery, but he had a pacemaker that tried and failed to shock his heart several times. Our family was left heartbroken and confused over why nothing saved him. It was simply too late.
The Truth About Heart Disease
We have all heard how serious cardiovascular disease is in the U.S., but most women still believe they are at a greater risk for breast cancer than heart disease. However, while 1 and 31 American women die from breast cancer, 1 and 3 American women die from heart disease. Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. How can we become part of the solution?
Know Your Numbers
Every woman should know their total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and BMI. Ideal numbers for most adults can be found here. Schedule a visit with your doctor to learn your numbers.
Lifestyle Changes
There are many preventative changes we can make to combat heart disease. Here are a few:
- Eat healthy
- Stay active and lose weight
- Manage your blood sugar and blood pressure
- Lower your cholesterol
- Learn about your family medical history
- Don’t smoke
Go Red for Women
We can all come together on February 2, 2018, and wear red for National Wear Red Day. We can also support cardiovascular disease prevention by donating. The American Heart Association uses all funds to support awareness, research, and legislation. Please visit goredforwomen.org for more information and for ways you can get involved.
I lost my father in a moment. It was too late for preventative measures because his heart was beyond saving. However, it has reminded everyone in my family that we have to take care of ourselves, because he would have wanted us to all live healthy and happy lives.
Reference: www.goredforwomen.org
Mary first off I wanted to say Im so sorry for the loss of your father, nothing is quite as bad as losing a parent.
Its a type of pain that is immeasurable, so again Im sorry .
Secondly, thank you for sharing this post with the community. These are things people dont tend to think of while they are preventable, so Im happy that everyone that had a chance to read this is prbly thinking about how to live a healthier life.
sending you love and light <3
#wearred
Thank you so much Faiza! It has been more difficult than I ever imagined, but the support from everyone has really helped!
You’re so right that we forget about these issues until symptoms appear. We think about the health of our kids on a daily basis, but sometimes we forget about ourselves. Wear Red Day is a great reminder that our health is just as important!