“In Case of Emergency!”

February is celebrated as the month of love. Many of us have celebrated with gifts and have shown love in different ways. This is wonderful, but why do we find it easier to love someone else rather than take care of ourselves? It  should not be considered selfish as this would allow us to love others even better. I find myself often thinking of the airlines example in case of emergency we are to put the “oxygen mask” on ourselves FIRST so we can better care for others. While it may not be an emergency now, we can better help our self by protecting against one of the number killers of both men AND women, HEART DISEASE. What was once considered a man’s disease is now an equal opportunity killer. Sadly, heart disease is taking lives at a much younger age than in years past. Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn of the Cleveland Clinic has done considerable research in the prevention of cardiac conditions. He has radiographic evidence that shows this prevalent disease can be prevented and even reversed. As we focus on prevention this month, do not let “genetics” be your excuse. Review these startlingly statistics on heart disease from the Heart Foundation to better motivate you:

• Heart disease claims 1 million lives annually.
• Every 33 seconds someone dies of cardiovascular disease, which is like a 9/11 like tragedy repeating itself every 24 hours, 365 days a year.
• Coronary heart disease alone costs the United States $108.9 billion each year.
• More people die of heart disease than that of AIDS and all cancers combined.

There are many things you can do to protect yourself from the deadly effects of this disease; namely, consistent weight control, regular weekly exercise, healthy eating habits, quit smoking and reduce cholesterol. Get started today by helping yourself first so you can better help others!

Angel King, Certified Health Coach