Amy's Blog

Be Open

   I love the dance class I participate in at the Y.  It's a very rigorous Zumba class. If you've never tried it, you may want to, even if you feel like you can't dance! No one is judging you or watching if you miss a step. We're all in it together, hoping to either lose a few pounds, or just start the day with great music and getting that heart rate up.  Today I left a few minutes early and jumped on the tread mill to wrap up my work out when a young woman next to me started talking. We'd met before but at first I didn't recognize her. Anyway, she asked if I was still working at Newschannel 5. I told her not regularly, but I am a spokesperson for St. Thomas Heart.  One thing led to another and she ended up sharing with me that her dad had experienced a heart attack at the age of 53. He ended up having a stent put in but she still worries about him because he's a smoker. She had no idea that by having a parent with early heart disease that she could also be at risk. Family history is definitely a risk factor. I know because my father died at age 50 of a heart attack. I suggested that when she sees her doctor the next time, to share that information with him or her, even if she isn't experiencing any problems.  She's only in her early thirties, but it's never too early to get your cholesterol checked and know your numbers.  Don't be afraid to ask your health care provider for a test.  By being open and sharing information with your doctor, you may get some new insight into how to modify your lifestyle to stay on the right track.

    I also wanted to share with readers that Donna Marmen, one of our "go red" spokeswomen continues to do very well after her gastric bypass surgery at Middle Tennessee Medical Center. She hit her one month mark on Friday, May 21st and has lost almost 34 pounds! She also told me she took her kids to an indoor pool in Murfreesboro and water walked for forty minutes. She loved that exercise too. I'll continue to keep writing about Donna's progress.  If you have a story to share about heart disease in your family or among your friends that you feel can inspire other women to stay heart healthy, please make comments on this web site.   

Comments

Most Recent Blog Entries: