From a personal journey to...

Today is National Wear Red Day, which raises awareness of heart health for women.  Now don't get me wrong, Men's heart health is just as important, along with men's heart health usually being the most talked about, but most women are unaware that they could also be in danger and that is what www.goredforwomen.org brings focus to.

Heart Disease is preventable if we keep up on checkups and not "write-off" every little twinge or ache.  Okay sure, a lot of times it might be nothing, but wouldn't it be better to know what that little pain is? Wouldn't it be better to know that it's carpal tunnel making your arm numb and not a heart attack?  Sure, it seems extreme, but it's not.  My dad, for example, felt a horrible pain while visiting family in Nevada, because of this pain, he could no longer finish the game of bowling.  He then waited several days before going to the doctor, not smart, but he did go and after the test results were done, they found out he had four heart attacks.  Fortunately, he did not have a major one. I also don't suggest that one waits several days before going to the doctor, but as my dad says, he knows his body and he knows when it is time. I am grateful he is intuned with his self, but not everyone is, so don't delay and don't hesitate.

According to the American Heart Association, Did you know that:

1. More women die of heart disease than all cancers combined?
   
2. Of all Americans, including women, 39% think they are in perfect health when in reality it is less than 1%.
   

Now please, let's not take away the importance of cancer awareness, because I have a hanai sister battling stage 4 Her2+ breast cancer and two cousins battling colon cancer. (hanai = hawaiian style adoption, i.e. "you are now my sister". haha!). The fact is, No one chooses to get cancer, cancer chooses its person and as random as it is, heart disease isn't. Okay, so some of us born with a heart ailment can be considered random, BUT and it's a big but, heart disease can be prevented and it can be prevented to the point that it is no longer the #1 killer of women.  Heart Health and Cancer awareness also go hand in hand.  Although I have not studied this, I know from speaking with JoAnn that cancer treatments can affect the heart and it's functions.  For instance, JoAnn (my hanai sister) has a left ventricle nerve that is living on the edge because of the herceptin treatment she receives to treat her HER2+, because of this, not only are her cancer cells monitored, but also her heart.  So PLEASE, let's pay attention to both.
No human is safe from disease and no human is immune to disease either, but we can hold of heart disease if we keep it in our minds to take care of our hearts and get checked up. 

Remember, we only have one heart and what we do with it and how we treat it is extremely important. Take it from me, I haven't been good to my heart, but she's sticking by me so far and it's time I start treating her right.  Do it for yourself and for peace of mind.

Thank you for wearing red today and if you didn't, no worries, but thank you for reading this...!

**I would like to thank JoAnn Fox for helping me put together today's blog. She promotes cancer awareness and early detection.  JoAnn has been proactive in her battle against the Her2+, which she was diagnosed with in 2008, but this is not her first battle. In 2005 she was diagnosed for the first time with breast cancer.  Since then she has always taken preventative measures, but ladies, it is important to do the check of your tata's, because Her2+ is typically found in the stage 4 phase when it is already in the brain, bones and blood.  JoAnn is in partial remission now, still doing her treatments and still (and always) an inspiration to many, because of her go get'em attitude in her battle and her strong will. 

Until Tomorrow....