Heart Disease and Your Health

Heart Disease and Your Health

Yesterday I went and placed flowers on my parent’s graves; a hard thing to do no matter how many years it’s been. Like millions of others I lost one parent to cancer and one to heart disease and I lost them both way too soon.

One day my dad was there, and the next he wasn’t. You can read more about my dad here.  A massive heart attack took him during the night. He died 5 years after my mother passed. Both my grandfather’s also had heart attacks so it’s no wonder that when the American Heart Association talks….I listen.

I received the following letter in my email yesterday, right after I had been to visit my parent’s graves. The letter is a good reminder to me and for you. Give it just a few seconds and think about what it says friends. It might just save your life!

Dear Friend,

Everywhere you turn are signs that spring has finally sprung. It’s a great time to grab your favorite walking shoes and head out into the sunshine!

Maybe you’ve promised yourself in the past that you were going to exercise more, but life has a way of intruding on our plans. Staying active is still the most important thing you can do to help curb obesity, lower your risk of heart disease and live healthy. And we can help.

Get back on track toward your fitness goals:

** Tap into your motivation. Make a list and post it in a prominent place to remind yourself of the health benefits of being active.

** Set realistic goals. Start with walking 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week and gradually build up. You’ll have better overall success if you start with small efforts.

** Share your plans with others. Find much-needed support with a workout buddy. Share the pain and multiply the gains together.

We all get sidetracked. The important thing to remember is that stops and starts are as natural as the annual burst of spring tulips. Don’t give up. Just recommit to your own goals and encourage your love ones to do the same.

And if you need more motivation to get active, walk for a good cause. Find a HeartWalk near you, or try a Virtual Heart Walk. Happy walking!

Sincerely,

Nancy Brown
Chief Executive Officer
American Heart Association – American Stroke Association

Thanks, Nancy, for the reminder. I’m going to put my tennis shoes on right now!

#AmericanHeartAssociation #AmericanStrokeAssociation