Amy's Blog

“Just a Little Heart Attack”

  It is short and to the point. A two minute film directed by Emmy nominated actress Elizabeth Banks (30 Rock). She stars in this funny but frightening video that is designed to educate women about the reality of heart disease. Visit Facebook.com/GoRed or find it on the American Heart Association's web site; Goredforwomen.org.  The message is clear. Women need to put their health first. 

   An example of how stress can have devestating consequences was featured in yesterday's Tennessean (Feb.1st).  Karen Broussard's story was featured on the Opinion page. I hope you have a copy of it but in case you don't, let me summarize what she shared with readers.  

   It was the week before Christmas in 2007. Karen writes that she was a happy, healthy woman who was active and eating right. But she was very stressed out at the time because of  a transition in her job.  She writes that she didn't slow down and ended up having two heart attacks within one month!!!  I don't know how old Karen was at the time, but she looks young in her Tennessean photo.  She also said she had near perfect blood work and "enviable" cholesterol, plus she wasn't overweight.  Now this is someone you would never expect to have a heart attack. Stress, she says, was the major factor in her heart attack, so she warns women to be aware of that and take care of themselves.  She also credits her cardiologist at Saint Thomas, Dr. Evans Kemp and the hospital's cardiac rehab team for keeping her accountable and consistent about living a healthy lifestyle.  

    Dr. Catherine Stallworth, a physical rehabilitation and integrative medicine specialist with Nashville Medical Group and Baptist Hospital also wrote a column on the Op-ed page yesterday about how women are doubly challenged by stress.  She says far too often, women handle stress in the wrong ways by overeating, smoking, drinking alcohol or sleeping too little, too much, or both.  Her tips; practice positive self talk, like "I can handle this" or "I'm going to make it."  Engage in regular physical activity. Get organized, talk it out with a friend or family member if you're having a tough time, and take time for yourself, whether it's a bath, journaling, going to lunch with friends or taking an art class.

   Dr. Stallworth will be dishing out health information at tonight's Revive; Winter Refresh event sponsored by Baptist Hospital at the Hutton tonight. She'll be joined by five other experts in their fields of medicine.

     I'll be there, too and look forward to this fabulous event. Also, don't forget to show your spirit and wear red for tomorrow's National Wear Red Day!!!      

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