By Sharla Gayle Patterson, MD, MBA
February may be the shortest month but it’s full of love around every corner. Valentine’s Day gives us a dedicated day to shower those we love with attention and gifts. The name Valentine comes from a Latin word meaning “strength.” When we think of valentines we think of hearts. The heart is our strongest muscle in our body. It works around the clock to keep our bodies healthy. But heart disease continues to be the number one cause of death in American women. How can we better take care of our hearts?
Our body is in a constant state of balance. As insults come to our bodies in the form of toxins, chemicals, and sometimes medical therapies that balance is tipped. The body then goes into overtime working hard to restore the balance. This effort can be hard on the body causing stress in the form of inflammation. This inflammation weakens our body and creates opportunity for harm.
Diet is your first defense. While all the chocolate hearts and candies will be prominently displayed this month, that’s not really gonna give you the fuel to power your body. Balance is key so maybe a few here and there but the majority of your food should be healthy. Minimizing fat intake has been shown to decrease your risk of breast cancer. Post menopausal weight gain is the leading cause of breast cancer so making healthy food choices has benefits beyond your waistline.
Exercise is your next line of defense. Daily activity allows your heart to show off. Pumping blood full of oxygen and nutrients around to all your amazing organs – thank you heart! Start slow and increase slowly. Living in beautiful Naples, we have so many places to walk. Pick one and make a date. Put it on your calendar as an appointment. Find an accountability buddy and keep each other accountable.
Finally, it may be hard to swallow but some medical therapies can cause damage to your heart. If you have had certain chemotherapy treatment, radiation therapy, or decreased your physical activity because of medical treatments you may be at higher risk for heart disease. Knowing that these treatments are life saving, it’s important to keep your heart as healthy before and after therapy.
Take time this month to love yourself – your heart will thank you.
Magnolia Breast Cancer
3530 Kraft Rd, Suite 202
Naples, FL 34105
239.758.PINK (7465)
magnoliabc.com