11 Ways To Take Care Of Your Heart

Can I be completely honest? I have wrestled with how COVID has completely taken over our lives, and how we have allowed it to diminish all of the other diseases in life. I think of those who have cancer and those who have lost loved ones. Those who are battling it on a daily basis, who are going in for treatments, and I sure hope they aren’t forgotten! My grandma passed away this summer not from COVID, but from cancer, and I’ve had people ask if it was from COVID because it’s just assumed. How easily the media shapes our frame of minds when it comes to issues in life!

And one thing I am admittedly biased about is heart disease. Just for reference sake, and I think it is fair to share, that heart disease takes 655,000 each YEAR, where even though we are lead to believe that COVID is worse, the death rate in the United States, is still 200,000 less. Now, I’m not advocating that they should be equal, but that is the total number of deaths for a virus, and every YEAR, 200,000 AT LEAST, die more from heart disease.

In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women and every year, 1 in 4 people die of heart disease.

Think of 4 people. Just 4. Well, one of those 4 will die from it. Crazy to think about, huh?

This is where I feel again, we are losing perspective because we are allowing the media and those around us, to scare us into the thought that this is the WORST thing that could ever happen to us. Is it a terrible virus? Absolutely. Has it taken lives? Sadly, it has. It is a deadly virus. BUT SO ARE SO MANY OTHER DISEASES THAT HAVE FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE. I personally feel we are spending so much of our lives trying to prevent ONE disease, while neglecting the fact that there are so many other diseases out there, that God can allow in our lives. I just think of all those who struggle with mental health issues due to COVID. I firmly believe that God is screaming at us, trying to get our attention, and yet we have allowed fear to overcome us, and we have lost perspective in so many ways. Another blog post for another day…

So all that to say, February is Heart Disease Awareness Month. I’m not trying to elevate one sickness over another, but we have to realize that on this side of heaven, there will always be sickness and disease. We should always do what we can to prevent what we can, but at times, our strivings come up empty and disease takes over. I’ve heard countless stories of marathon runners coming down with heart issues. Personally, that’d be the last person I would label with heart disease, right? The same with COVID. Disease will always be with us, but before we swing so far one way to prevent one thing, I think we have to remember who we are as a whole and that in our desire to prevent one, we may be causing another. Are people more sedentary than they used to be? Are our minds as healthy as they used to be? Have anxiety levels risen due to what is being reported by the media about COVID? These are all things that greatly effect the heart.

With that said, some heart diseases can be prevented, simply by making healthier choices. I’ll be the first to admit that I never thought about my heart health until I had to. Can I really do damage to it by what I do? I always thought heart disease was for those who lived extremely unhealthy lifestyles and that only the older generation dealt with heart disease. But let me be the first to tell you, it can happen to anyone and I never thought that “anyone” would be me.

When I was in cardiac rehab, I became a little more educated on what it takes to have a healthier heart. Am I perfect in what I do? Absolutely not, but I’m also a girl who believes in all things in moderation. Have I completely cut out saturated fat? No. Do I floss every single day? Nope. Should I? Yep! Do I always eat nutritious foods? Nopers. I like the occasional side of fries. I like cake. Do I eat them everyday? No and all things in moderation.

Lasting changes don’t happen over night. And even someone WITH heart disease, hasn’t been able to make lasting changes overnight either. It’s just becoming aware of how you live your life and how you can make better choices here and there, that can make a difference – a lasting difference. So here are…

11 Ways To Take Care Of The Heart:

1. Be physically active
2. Be smoke free
3. Watch cholesterol
4. Watch blood pressure
5. Maintain a healthy weight
6. Eat nutritious foods
7. Take care of your mind
8. Have good dental hygiene
9. Get enough sleep
10. Take it one step at a time
11. Faith.

I feel number 11 is the most important because In taking care of my mind, my body, my heart, etc., I am valuing who I am in Christ. A daughter of the King. I am someone He values and therefore I should value myself too. So, do we desire to live and care for me in a way that honors him? That always challenges me.

This month, even if you typically don’t think much about your heart, take a little time to reflect on how you care for it. Even though our world is so focused on one disease, we can’t forget about the others and how they may effect our lives too. God created our bodies to function as a whole, so when one part isn’t working correctly, it effects the others. We’ve been given one heart, one chance, and so let’s make the most of it!