Linda A. Ciotola, M.Ed., C.H.E.S.(ret.), T.E.P., Lifestyle Consultant

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This month’s issue focuses on three seemingly unrelated issues: heart health, eating disorders awareness and prevention, and relationship renewal. However, each of these have something in common ~ self respect, self-care, and respect and care for others.

Beginning with heart health, learn how to prevent heart attacks and to recognize early warning signs. In addition to attending to the more physical contributors to heart disease, it is important to nurture safe and loving relationships that allow appropriate expression of feelings and provide comfort in times of distress. Chronic anger and depression are both associated with heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease is the single greatest cause of death in the United States each year. According to Injury Facts®, it was responsible for more than 2,406 deaths per day—that’s nearly one cardiac death every two minutes!

For over 40 years, Congress has designated February as American Heart Month. Please join the battle this year to recognize and fight heart disease in your work place, home and community. You can make a difference. Learn how to reduce these deaths through prevention, education and emergency response training.

Prevention. Good News: Heart attacks are almost entirely preventable.

75% of American adults already show traces of dangerous fat in their arteries that contribute to cardiac arrest. To protect yourself from heart disease follow these guidelines:

  • Maintain a healthy and balanced diet.
  • Exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes, 6 times a week.
  • Avoid preventable risk factors such as stress, smoking and high blood pressure.

Education. Learn the warning signs – early detection saves lives.

Half of all heart attack victims wait more than two hours before seeking help. If symptoms are recognized and treated sooner, fatality rates drop drastically. If you or someone you know has chest discomfort for more than two minutes, call emergency medical services immediately. The following symptoms are warning signs of cardiac arrest:

• Pain or discomfort centered in the chest area, which may radiate to left arm, neck, back or jaw
• Sweating and shortness of breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or fainting
• Palpitations or rapid heart beats

Emergency Response Training. Every second counts! Immediate response is critical.

95% of people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest die before reaching the hospital. Knowing what to do before help arrives can mean the difference between life and death. Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within 4 minutes greatly reduces the risk of brain damage. Furthermore, automated external defibrillation (AED) within 5 minutes increases changes of survival by 40%. AEDs are accurate, easy to operate and now commonly found in our work places and communities.

Whether you take a First Aid, CPR, and/or AED course, your time will be well spent. You will leave these courses with the knowledge and skills to make a significant difference in someone’s life.

For healing obesity and maintaining a healthy heart, moderate exercise and good nutrition are essential. And practicing moderation (neither too much nor too little food/exercise) is key to recovery from eating disorders. In contrast, crash dieting, excessive exercise, and use of stimulants can all be part of an eating disorder that can lead to heart failure. Healthy relationships built on mutual trust and understanding, and an appreciation of character qualities above physical appearance, can go a long way to insulate against the risk factors for eating disorders. (Click on Eating Disorders to learn more)

All this points to the inter-relatedness of body-mind-heart-spirit and the importance to our well-being of nurturing healthy relationships. So, this Valentine’s Day, be sweet to yourself, kind to others, and take your heart to health.

In the words of Thomas Merton, “We cannot be happy if we expect to live all the time at the highest peak of intensity. Happiness is not a matter of intensity, but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.”