This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Heart Truth®. All opinions are 100% mine.
National Women’s Heart Week is May 8
National Women’s Health Week begins on Mother’s Day, May 8, and is celebrated through May 14, 2016. This program is organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH). This is the 17th annual celebration of health for women and there is information that allows women to make better decisions and make their Hearts a number one priority! Heart health is about good health and allows women to stay healthy longer!
During this week of valuable information for women a great resource is The Heart Truth® a program initiated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). This National Women’s Health Week, The Heart Truth will be sharing Small Steps For the Heart, #FromTheHeart on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Social media of all kinds will feature short and sweet videos to assist women in “taking care of their Hearts” so that women can act to stay healthy!
I take my blood pressure at home
My father was so much fun, but he would let things build up and really get to him. Like many men of his generation, he ate meat and potatoes at every meal, and did not exercise ever. He was usually sitting in front of the television watching sports, except for getting out onto the links to play golf on an occasional Sunday.
Equation? He had diabetes, high blood pressure and triple bypass surgery at the age of 40 and eventually passed from a heart attack. So knowing that heart disease is the number one killer of women today there are things that I do to prevent having the same fate.
Time to see the doctor
One of the most important things I do is to make preventative appointments that my doctor recommends – colonoscopies, mammograms, check my blood regularly, bone scans, etc. I have high cholesterol, so my risk factor is high and along with medication, my goal is to modify my diet. My new mottos: walk more and eat healthier. I take my blood pressure at home every other day and check my blood sugar levels when I see the doctor. With preventative care, I monitor my health daily rather than ignore the signs like my Dad did. I try and watch my stress levels and keep positive people in my life and have a support system of friends.
My goal
To try and eat well. I’m determined to eat heart healthy foods like vegetables and fruits (more than meat and potatoes) and I already LOVE whole grains like spelt and quinoa. Cutting down on eating saturated fat, sugar and salt are all part of the plan. I exercise usually by walking Clem the bull-terrier. But, I am not in good shape, and I am definitely overweight.
DID YOU KNOW?
- In the United States last year, (2016), out of every four women one woman died of heart disease.
- If your age is between 40 and 60 years old, you are probably showing one risk factor for heart disease. Talk to your doctor. Know the signs. They are different than the signs in men.
DO YOU KNOW THE SIGNS OF HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN?
The symptoms of a heart attack in women are different than those of men. Here they are … pay attention.
- In men, chest pain is the usual first symptom, yet in women it may not appear at all or be so slight that it is not noticed.
- Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Right arm pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Unusual fatigue
- Depression can be a factor in heart disease in women.
- Low levels of hormones like estrogen can cause cardiovascular disease in the smaller blood vessels (microvascular disease).
- AND PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don’t smoke!
- Learn the signs of Heart Disease
- Visit The Heart Truth
- Find your RISK FACTORS for heart disease
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Heart Truth®. All opinions are 100% mine.
