The Deadly Holidays....

• The Holiday Season can be deadly.
  
  Cardiovascular Disease, including heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death in America....causing one out of every 2.5 deaths.
  
  Behavior risks include:
  
  
  
  

1. physical inactivity
2. cigarette smoking
3. poor diet and nutrition.

Risk Factors incude:

1. overweight and obesity
2. high blood pressure
3. high blood cholesterol
4. diabetes.
   
   

A new study indicates heart attack and strokes occur more frequently in the
Month of December. Stress plays a big role...so does all of that extra work
brought on by snow and ice.
Learn the symptoms of stroke and heart attack.

Symptoms of stroke:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Symptoms of heart attack:

According to the American Heart Association, some heart attacks are sudden and intense -- the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

If they occur call 911. The life you save could be your own.

The Good News is...

Preventative Medicine can dramatically reduce the threat of fatal heart disease. But your Doctor can't do it all alone. It is up to you to take action. Please consider adopting a plan like Body For Life that will help you make lifestyle changes. Many who do see positive changes in their physical, mental and spiritual health.

And...this note.

The Holidays also put a lot of stress on families and relationships. In the news
business we frequently follow stories at this time of year involving standoffs,
murder
suicides and family violence.

If you find yourself in an abusive relationship...waste no time getting out.
Most cities now have shelters for families torn apart by violent behavior. Talk with a teacher, a social worker, a pastor...or friend. The first step in helping yourself is the willingness to ask for help.

Listen my children and you shall hear....

In fifth grade my class had to learn the poem, "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere."

After 42 years I still remember it.
A lesson learned well is never forgotten.

For months I have been hanging on to about ten pounds of fat. They are the last of my symptoms of my long time habit of using food as medication. Each day when I look in the mirror I see each of those pounds and know in my heart they are holding me back from reaching my full potential as a healthy and happy adult.

Not all foods will work to comfort me...but certain ones will take the edge off of stress, feelings of self-doubt, anger.
Unfortunately--the "medication" wears off quicky and the problems come back with a vengence.

As a child of alcholics I learned at an early age that food would always be there for me...when childhood family and friends couldn't or wouldn't. One of my earliest memories was a wish to have enough money to buy a cake mix to bake my own cake and eat every piece!

As a young adult on my own--I never deprived myself of the foods I craved. I heard once that a person is allergic to the things they crave...these cravings feed an addiction to the very things that make you sick. It's a deadly cycle.

Today I am working hard to replace my addiction with a much healthier one. An addiction to health...via exercise, good nutrition and the power of positive thinking.
I am also working to accept the love and support of my adult family. But old habits die hard.

Limiting my comfort foods to BODY FOR LIFE free days has helped enormously over the past year. However---I am still holding on to those last ten pounds of fat.
It's time to drop the addiction and the last little layer of protection held over from my childhood.

So far, I have turned my back on Ice cream. I still have to put cookies and chocolate in their rightful place. (Anywhere but near my mouth!)
I used to think that my addiction to comfort foods wasn't as bad as alcohol or drugs...food is everywhere and its legal.
But now realize that certain foods are as destructive as any street drug or three day drunk.

"On the 18th of April in '75..hardly a man is now alive who remembers that day or year...."

Learning is a lifetime process. Learning isn't easy. But once a lesson is learned we never forget. But the best part---we can learn new lessons to replace the outdated and obsolete ones of our childhood.