Essay About Eat Smart for a Healthy Heart

A Life-Changing Decision

Did you know that heart disease is the number one cause of death of women? If you and your family have a history of heart disease, it’s never too late to kick heart disease with a head start. This coming February is the national heart disease month, when famous celebrities parade in red for fashion shows. If it’s a real concern in your family, you can change your lifestyle by eating healthy foods and living a healthier lifestyle with exercise to prevent it. You don’t have to change your eating habits and diet.

Let me tell you something about myself. A little over two years ago, during a routine physical from my family doctor, she told me about the hole in my heart. She had concerns about it and referred me to a cardiologist. I knew all my life that I was born with an irregular heart and didn’t know about the hole in my heart that somehow grew bigger as I aged. After a consultation with my cardiologist on the hole size, I met with two heart surgeons about the process. So I knew I needed to have it done anytime in 2012, since it was a life-altering decision. When I was thirty-six years old, I had open heart surgery to fix that hole in my heart…. in which would save my life, years down the road, from having a stroke or a heart attack. Three hours in surgery, one week hospitalization, and two months of recovery time with follow-ups with my cardiologist, my heart healed and mended real well and I never felt better. Since then, I’ve changed my diet a little bit.

During my recovery time, I walked around the parking lots of my former apartment, when the weather was cooperative. During rainy days and winter, I walked down the hallway inside of my apartment. I started out slow and progressed to do more laps, every afternoon. Even after my surgery, I continue to walk outside or inside. (Since I’ve moved, it’s going to be tricky. But I’ll be walking to my local gym, a 10 minute commute, after I join and sign up for classes this weekend, if the weather’s cooperative as well.)

So whether you had any kind of heart surgery or not, this helpful and healthy tips can change your life and save your heart in the long run.

Prevent Heart Disease with Aspirin and Eating Salads

If you use aspirin or ibuprofen for any kind of pain, you can add baby aspirin to your regime to kick that curb to the curb. You can use any brand with the heart on the box at any pharmacy or grocery store. If not on sale, you can use coupons or save money with the generic brands, which would work well, too. And you don’t have to worry about overdoing it, since it’s a low dosage. I average, one to three a day.

When my mother was sick last year, she was on a daily baby aspirin regime, since she had Congestive Heart Failure among other things. She also changed her eating habits, before she died six months ago, after she fought a year-long battle. Baby aspirin helped her live a little longer with her other medicines. She also went on a no-salt/low salt diet for a year, too.

Everyone loves a salad. There’s a variety of them you can make and spice things up. There’s nothing wrong with going green and doubling on your fruits and veggies. You can make them at home with the essentials of lettuce, tomatoes, your favorite vegetables, salad dressings and toppings. Or you can buy the packaged fresh salad mixes that’s available at your local grocery market. A real good deal, if it’s on sale for a buy one get one free, or you can get two for a real low price. All you have to do is add the toppings, other veggies, and you’re good to go! Of course, you can’t go wrong at the salad bar at your local restaurants or grocery stores, if they have it. I love to splurge on a grocery salad bar, every now and then by adding some egg, some meats, and other ingredients for a perfect lunch. You can have a small side salad with your dinner, or have it alone for lunch and supper.

Next week, I’ll have more healthy food suggestions to add to your list. What’s your favorite salad and toppings?