I hear ya, ‘Wow, nice intro Candace’. Well if you recall, I
mentioned last Monday, that February is American Heart Month. I also told you
that one single nagging session wasn’t going to be nearly enough for me to feel
as though I’d made some kind of a dent here. America, we have some serious
health problems. In all fairness though, then again… who doesn’t? As far as I’m
concerned, we’re still the Greatest Country on God’s Green Earth however, we do
have our share of health issues we could be ‘OH SO BETTER’ at dealing with now
don’t we? Topping the list, our ability to ignore the warning signs of serious illness
- right into the ground (literally speaking - unfortunately). The real confusion here is that slowly but surely,
we’re choosing to kill ourselves, even though we have more ‘opportunities’ to
live for in this - the U.S of A - than most could ever dream of. Even more dumbfounding, are the statistics
about our denial quotient. Once a health issue is brought to our attention, I
mean down right front and center (like the intro scenario I so boldly started
with), it’s usually met with an attitude of complacency that blows me away. Want
a real example? Unfortunately, I’ve got a few - this one should do ya.
About three years ago, I sat a client down for a heart to
heart. I do this quite often. They hate it! I don’t mind because while these
precious ones are on my watch, I refuse not to. Hate me or love me, I’m gonna
fight for you and that just might mean going where others fear to tread. I told
this gentle giant that if he didn’t listen up and change his diet and begin to
adopt the ‘Healthy Lifestyle Changes’ we’d been working on for months, he’d surely
and could soon widow his wonderful wife, leave his kids and grieve the throngs
of grandchildren that just adored him.
“That’s hitting below the belt Candace”, were his exact
words and me…”Friend, I love ya and I’ll hit you anywhere I have to if it’ll
get your attention”!
Did he listen? Nope and 5 months later I was called and told
he had a stroke! My stomach turns as I write about it even now. He just wouldn’t
HEAR ME! Here’s the real kicker … HE’S OK! He made it. He literally ( THANKS BE
TO GOD a thousand times over) lucked out. But that’s not the crazy part. After
his narrow brush with death, one would think he’d pay attention. Surely now
he’s take heed and make the healthy lifestyle changes necessary to ensure a
long and productive life. After all, he’d been warned, thumbed his nose at and
outright cheated death and was actually here (rather unscathed at that) to talk
about it.
Did he change his poor health habits? NOPE - NADDA…NOT A BIT!!!
AMAZING isn’t it? Not really. Actually in this country, it’s
quite average. Hard to imagine I know, but it’s true.
According to Ulene, a
board-certified specialist in preventive medicine in Los Angeles;
“The fact is, people
who have already suffered heart trouble, diabetes or other lifestyle – related
illnesses – people who intimately know the consequences of their behaviors –
often have an especially hard time turning things around. It seems it takes
more than a wake- up call, even a life- threatening one, to get people to give
up their unhealthful ways. At least 40% of smokers who survive a heart attack
for example, are still puffing away a year later” (Los Angeles Times, Health).
The same holds true for the effects of exercise and many
types of cancer. Many studies have shown that women with breast cancer for
example, who are willing to participate in regular physical activity, can
reduce their risk of breast cancer death by 50% when compared to
their counterparts who remain sedentary. Staggering! But that information fails to ensure they’ll
get up and get moving.
So where’s the magic bullet here? I mean really, if a heart
attack won’t get someone’s attention - nor Stroke or Cancer even? What then
…what will finally light a fire under someone and get them ‘MOVING’ in the
right direction. Well, it comes through education. Self induced education and then
a “once in a life time”, life changing decision (based on that evidence), to
change. It takes a radical rearranging of one’s basic belief system. One must
truly believe that they’ll actually be making a dramatic change in their health
by participating in the work it takes to make these healthy lifestyle changes (either
in a pre or post-diseased state). Let’s
face it, change is hard. They and they alone must be convinced that by doing
the work, suffering the angst that these changes will surely bring and putting
in the time that participating in New Healthy Habits will take, will ultimately
be more than worth it. This friends,
takes time. So right now, we’re addressing “Health Heart Month”. Here’s some
education for you to digest and consider, from the Mayo Clinic. It’s a link to
their “Heart disease prevention page”; offering 5 strategies to help keep your
heart healthy…before trouble strikes. It’s a bit of education that you and your
loved ones can and should consider studying and then implementing very, VERY
SOON! I’ve called it before, don’t make me right again. Unless it’s about the
fact that you’re all enlightened enough to change NOW! That’s one I’d like to
take to the bank!!!
Until next time,
“Why not choose to
live life with the energy of your full potential”.
Candace
Your link;
Heart disease prevention: 5 Strategies keep your heart
healthy – MayoClinic.com
For more articles go to www.CandaceGrasso.BlogSpot.com
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