Happy Heart, Happy Life
Hi tribe members!
I always say "It's hard to be happy if you aren't healthy"! It's not impossible, but it's hard. In my quest to set 2023 ablaze, my #1 goal is Health. Years ago, I was diagnosed with Atrial Tachycardia; my heart would flutter and scare me half to death. I was placed on a "beta blocker," told to stop drinking alcohol, and that was about it. After researching, digging, and having a strong desire to lead a life independent of pharmaceutical drugs as much as possible I can happily report haven't taken anything from my heart since 2010. By understanding what was happening physically, taking responsibility for what I was putting in and on my body, being still (meditating), breathing, adding light exercises, happily I can say, I am "flutter free".
February was American Heart Month! Did you know that people who have close relationships at home, work, or in their community tend to be healthier and live longer? One reason, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), is that we’re more successful in meeting our health goals when we join forces with others. Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in the United States, and African Americans are at particularly at higher risk. Health problems that increase the risk of heart disease are common in African American communities, including being overweight and having high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes. But there’s a lot we can do to change that—and connecting with others is a start.
Why Reaching Out Is Good
Having positive, close relationships and feeling connected with others benefits our overall health, including our blood pressure and weight. Having people in our lives who will motivate and care for us helps, but having feelings of closeness and companionship helps our health too. Making heart-healthy lifestyle changes will be easier and more successful if you work with other motivated people. Get physically active. Achieve a healthy weight and maintain it. Eat heart-healthy foods. Quit smoking. Remember, you don’t have to make significant changes all at once. Small steps will get you where you want to go. For starters, get a physical along with a blood panel.
FYI A service I provide is a confidential review and in-depth analysis of your blood work to understand your starting point, any trends, and suggested talking points for you to discuss with your doctor.
Feel free to book a free consult if you are interested and would like more information.
Move More
Invite family, friends, colleagues, or members of your community to join you in your efforts to be more physically active.
* Ask a colleague to walk with you regularly put the dates on both your calendars, text or call to make sure you both show up.
* Join an exercise class at your local community center and bring a neighbor along. Carpool to make it a regular date. Grab your kids, put on some music, and do jumping jacks, skip rope, or just dance.
* Make your social time active and encourage everyone—family and friends alike—to think of fun things that get you off the couch and get moving.
*If you have a health condition, including heart disease or high blood pressure, talk with your doctor before increasing your activity.
How much is enough?
Get at least 2½ hours of physical activity each week—that’s just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. In addition, do muscle strengthening exercises 2 days a week. Can’t carve out a lot of time in your day? Try 10 to 15 minutes a few times a day. A national organization I am a part of is Girl Trek. Here is a handbook with a lot of great ideas to get and keep you moving.
Also, the NHLBI’s Move More fact sheet provides ideas to as well. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
**A lot of this information is from the National Heart Lung Blood Institute**
Let's GO!