I run to stay healthy and despite spending numerous hours pounding the pavement, I still face the same struggles with heart disease as most women. The women in my family battle with strokes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Therefore, I run, exercise regularly, eat right and rest to combat those health horrors as best as I can.
I eat egg whites and fish. I drink red wine. I limit my fried food and saturated foods intake and focus on a diet rich in greens and high fiber, but I’m still at risk for what has been labeled at the #1 killer of women: heart disease.
With each blood draw and screening, I’ve had my share cholesterol scares and forced to watch my cholesterol and diet even more. Even for someone active and mostly healthy as myself, I can’t stress enough how important it is for all women to visit their primary care physician for regular screenings.
To improve your chances of combating heart disease, I challenge you step up your exercise game and improve your diet. Make better choices about how you fuel your body. Visit your doctor for your heart check up and ask about a lipo-protein blood screening.
Because as this video demonstrates, a heart attack is no joke.
I encourage you to visit goredforwomen.org to learn more about heart disease statistics for women and the risk factors women face. Then, pledge to Go Red and help spread the word and educate other women about the risks of heart disease.
I haven’t had a blood draw and screening in so long. Do they do those at annual visits with the dr? I havent done one of those in forever either…
Yes, when I go for my annual physical, my doctor orders a blood draw to screen my cholesterol and liver enzymes. Because my cholesterol is high, I typically have to visit again in three months, It sucks but at least I know my levels and watch my diet. I fear I may need to take medication eventually to regulate it.
Knowing your risks is key! Thanks for sharing.
Comments are closed.