Heart Disease is the leading killer in America, yet less than 48% of Americans can identify telltale signs. 1 in 16 women of European-American, African-American, Mainland Native American, and Alaskan Native descent develop heart disease by age 20 and over, and 1 in 30 women of Asian-American heritage.
Heart Disease-also identified as Coronary Heart Disease(CHD) or Atherosclerosis-is when over time, the arteries responsible for carrying oxygen to your heart become too swollen and even hardened. Making it difficult for them to do their job. If the medium and large arterial walls become chronically inflamed with fats, cholesterol, and other substances, lipids form on the lining. The lipids lead to plaque, which closes and hardens the arteries. Your heart becomes stressed and strained, trying to pump blood through the artery walls when they do not expand. It tires of pumping harder over time, resulting in what we identify as a heart attack.
According to the CDC, every 36 seconds, someone dies of heart disease in America. It accounts for 1 in 4 deaths nationwide. This statistic hits close to home because I have lost a number of dear relatives and friends to such a preventable disease. In most cases, they didn’t know how to execute a proper prevention plan. Doctors typically suggested some medications and told them to lose weight. They didn’t have a support system to help them emotionally and physically tackle this issue with authority.
My sole purpose is to help you cross the bridge from ancestral sickness to generational wellness. Don’t suffer alone and in silence. I am not exaggerating one bit when I tell you what I am about to share is the bridge between life and death for so many. You need to know what heart disease looks like and what to do about it.
Signs of impending or existing heart disease include:
- Diabetes
- Pregnancy Complications
- High Blood Pressure
- Menopause(Low Estrogen)
- Emotional Stress
- Lack of Sleep
- Toxic Chemicals
- Environmental Pollutants (Water, Air, etc.)
- Poor Diet
- Little-to-No Exercise
- Elevated Alcohol Intake
- Obesity
- Inflammatory Conditions
Other symptoms include:
- Pain in Jaws, Neck, Back, Arms, Chest, Stomach, and Shoulders
- Weakness/Fatigue
- Gray Toned Skin
- Cold Sweats
- Hot Flashes
- Shortened Breath/Lack of Oxygen
- Dizzy Spells
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
I hear the common fear repeated among my clients and friends: “All these illnesses run in the family, so I’ll have to deal with those issues too.”
Hear me, my friend: You don’t HAVE to carry ancestral burdens! You are where those curses that “run in the family” run out. Your genes being the deciding factor of your health is the hopeless disposition that most traditional medical practices will provide-because it’s what’s in their textbooks. You have more control over your health journey than you realize.
Eating healthy meals is not about being “Healthy Karen,” who wakes up to a protein shake, goes for a 10-mile run by 6 AM on a Saturday, then eats salads all the time to be perfect. If that mythical woman exists in your life, know that she’s probably hiding in a closet hiding from her family, shoveling large amounts of chocolate and cheese danishes more often than you’d believe. I’m-I mean SHE is human.
Healthy living is not about choking down leaves and seeds you’ve never heard of for bragging rights or to “get skinny.”
Healthy living is about controlling the state of your body before your body begins shutting down, revolting, and controlling you. It’s deciding to prevent illness with options before you react to daunting conditions with fewer opportunities and time. Choosing to implement healthy habits is to improve the quality and quantity of your days.
With that said, genetics play a small role in your overall health. Other factors include:
- Environmental Chemicals/Toxins
- Lifestyle
- Diet
- Level of Stress Management
Doctors commonly prescribe pharmaceutical medications like blood thinners and LDL cholesterol treatments as a prevention plan. Unless you have pre-existing conditions, I CAUTION you big time in doing this! These medications are doing the exact things a healthy diet and supplements will do for you, but medicine surprises you with more symptoms and side effects you’ll need to heal from, putting you at greater risk for other health issues.
The average biotech medication commercial gives you a soothing voice to assure you regulated blood pressure with their new product-along with weight gain, sleeplessness, new allergies, and the inability to release any toxins via the porcelain throne! It’s a small price to pay, and the people in the commercial seemed to be having fun, so it’s okay, right? NO! You would need more prescriptions to save you from the first, and your body would burn out quickly.
How can you prevent heart disease without medication?
Get plugged in! Before making the physical changes, your mindset determines your ultimate success and longevity through an endeavor. Plug into Facebook groups, follow healthy lifestyle Instagram accounts, discover new holistic health blogs, and get into the groove. Find your community to make your education through your health journey fun. Ask questions, make friends and surround yourself with like-minded friends. Friend-power will carry you where willpower fails you.
Next, let food be your medicine. As you begin to implement more whole foods, your tastebuds will adjust and reject more of the processed foods you’re used to right now. All you have to do is start.
When eating to target heart health, you should:
- Eat High Fiber Foods (fruits and veggies with skin, beans, etc.)
- Replace Hydrogen Fats Like Butters and Margarine with Healthy Oils (Olive, Avocado, Coconut, Ghee)
- Cut Processed/Pre-Packaged Food
- Decrease Alcohol Intake
- Eat Foods That Lower Blood Pressure (Blueberries, Beets, Bananas, Oats, Dark Chocolate)
Even if you need medications, depending on your circumstances, you may be able to eat your way back to good heart health. Medicine can be helpful as a last resort, but the risks outweigh the costs when implemented too early into the process.
Additional preventative measures include creative stress management and 15-30 minutes of daily exercise to strengthen your heart. With age, these two are very important as your body undergoes completely new phenomena.
Quality supplements are an added boost of support your body will appreciate.
Look for:
- Multi-Vitamins made from whole foods
- Fiber
- Fish Oil
- Curcumin
- Garlic
- Coenzyme Q10
- Glucosamine
Archives of Internal Medicine published the Epic Study, which experimented with 23,000 people. They didn’t smoke; they exercised three and a half hours a week, ate a healthy diet, and maintained a healthy weight. The study concluded that they lowered their risks for heart attacks by 81%, strokes by 50%, diabetes by 93%, and cancers by 36%.
Your health is not entirely dependant on your genetics. When you choose to take control of your health, you quit gambling with your life. You’re playing to win. Show up to this game like you own the place- because you do!
Bringing the family back to the table,
