National Heart Health Month!
February is the month with the shortest number of days, but it is irrefutably a month filled with so much to do and learn, thanks to Valentines & Presidents Day and Black History, National Soup & American Heart Month, to name a few.
This post will focus on National Heart Month. We want to bring awareness to the fact that heart disease is severe and is a leading cause of death in the United States for adults of all age groups and races. Coronary heart disease is a form of heart disease that develops when the heart's arteries no longer deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart passageways and eventually causes adults to die. This means that the heart valves were clogged and having a hard time pumping and receiving blood. Now is the time to be mindful of just how hard the heart works to take care of us every day that we are breathing and begin to take better care of it now, if you are not doing so already.
Heart Disease
Heart disease refers to conditions affecting the heart (cardio) and blood vessels (vascular system). It is also widely known among the medical community as Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). The most common type of heart disease is coronary heart disease. This form of heart disease can lead to atherosclerosis, which is the hardening of the arteries due to an extremely unhealthy diet filled with fats that causes plaque to develop within the artery walls. Atherosclerosis can lead to a heart attack or stroke if not caught in time or addressed with lifestyle changes or prescription meds.
Symptoms of Heart Disease
Even though Covid-19 is around, sometimes shortness of breath is not from that; it is from heart disease. Other heart disease symptoms are pain, weakness, and numbness throughout the body, specifically in the chest area.
Manage/Prevent Heart Disease
Managing or preventing heart disease can occur by exercising, controlling stress levels, monitoring blood pressure. Eating healthy foods beneficial to the body will help keep blood pressure at optimal levels and not smoking. Following a doctor's nutritional living protocol thoroughly to monitor and address your heart concerns or issues is imperative for good heart health.
National Red Day
The first Friday in February is known as, “National Wear Red Day”. This day is recognized and deemed necessary because it brings awareness of the impact heart disease has on American Women. The American Heart Association started this movement to bring recognition from the research that this is a severe disease that needs massive exposure to help slow and eventually stop heart disease, especially amongst women where the stats show 1 and 3 women in this country fall victim to it. The startling fact is one woman every minute dies from heart disease in the United States. Visit Go Red for Women here and see how you can take part in the movement.
Conclusion
No matter where you may be this month, take a moment to thank your heart for working hard to keep you around. Heart disease is not a respecter of race, religion, age, or sex; it can take you out with little notice. Monitor and be mindful of what you put in your mouth and body. Avoid a diet filled with high fats, cigarettes, or one that continually fills the mind with stressful thoughts because it is not helpful for the heart that works so hard to love us by keeping us alive with every heartbeat. Love Your Heart! Read Loving Your Heart.
Reference
MedicineNet: Heart Disease
https://www.medicinenet.com/heart_disease_pictures_slideshow_visual_guide/article.htm
Go Red for Women