{"id":460,"date":"2013-02-04T06:46:06","date_gmt":"2013-02-04T06:46:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=460"},"modified":"2013-02-04T16:46:45","modified_gmt":"2013-02-04T16:46:45","slug":"heart-health-who-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2013\/02\/heart-health-who-us.html","title":{"rendered":"Heart Health: Who, Us?!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Image courtesy of cooldesign\/FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I was diagnosed with\u00a0cardio-vascular problems in my 30s. A friend of mine had her first heart attack in her 50s. Another person I know had one in his 40s. Truly, heart disease is not something only “old” people get. Even children are developing problems that can lead to serious heart health issues due to obesity and lack of exercise.<\/p>\n

When we say we need to take care of heart heatlh, we’re really saying that to ourselves.<\/p>\n

I was very surprised when I found out that I had heart disease. I wasn’t obese. I exercised. I ate a good diet. I did not smoke. But, other factors can come into play, no matter someone’s age. Lupus, it turns out, greatly raises a patient’s risk for several kinds of heart\/vascular conditions. This wasn’t completely known when I was diagnosed with lupus, but\u00a0now, it is better understood. And because of that, I am able to take steps to try to give my heart as much of a chance as possible.<\/p>\n

Other health conditions can raise heart disease risk, too, as can habits such as smoking and eating unhealthfully. These don’t necessarily only affect older people, and also don’t necessarily bring about sudden cardiac symptoms (high blood pressure, for example, can be ‘silent,’ but still present and dangerous).<\/p>\n

Whether young or\u00a0old, a regular check-up with some focus on heart health is a great step to take to find out where your particular cardiac situation is.\u00a0 And, especially during this month of Heart Health Awareness and Education, finding out as much as you can about heart\u00a0disease prevention can help you strengthen good habits and perhaps change others.<\/p>\n

Even if we are young (relatively speaking), the steps we take to care for our hearts are worthwhile. Because heart health isn’t just about someone else. It’s about you and me – now and into those “golden years!”<\/p>\n

Blessings for the day,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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