A few years ago, my husband went through one of the most difficult experiences of his life, and I went right along with him. A combination of uncooperative genes and being raised on not-so-healthy foods led to a near heart attack -- close enough to make little difference, given the outcome -- followed by arterial bypass surgery. His doctors called him the "poster child" for his determined recovery from the surgical procedure, acknowledging his dedication to becoming healthier than he'd ever been, before.
Today, even though we both know that stressful situations naturally raise your heart rate, and indigestion feels a lot like the chest pressure and pain you would experience if you were having a heart attack, we face each day as a challenge, striving together for a healthier life. There's a lingering fear that we may, someday, go though this again, and we believe that whatever we can do to prevent it and share our experience with others can only help. On October 2, 2010, as we do every year, we'll be participating in the American Heart Association's local Heart Walk, which raises funds for research, education and prevention of heart disease and stroke, which are two of the top three causes of death in America.
The chances that you or someone you know has heart disease or has suffered from stroke or a heart attack are higher than ever, and while healthy eating, regular exercise and other smart lifestyle choices go a long way toward reducing your chances of experiencing these difficult challenges, a healthy lifestyle is only part of the issue.
Some facts you might not know:
- Someone dies from cardiovascular disease every 38 seconds.
- Heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined.
- Congenital cardiovascular defects are the most common cause of infant death from birth defects.[1]
[1] From: Start! Heart Walk: Why We Walk
©2010 American Heart Association, Inc.
