As we finish up a boot camp week focused on Dr. Oz with a lovely 3 day weekend, we had a wake up call Monday morning…literally.  Our neighbor called from the emergency room. Her husband (mid-40’s, healthy, active, smart, and kind elementary teacher and father of two) was having a heart attack and she needed help.  With great doctors and his wife’s persistence to not take no for an answer about going to get checked out, he’s doing fine and undoubtedly processing his own life lessons from the experience.  And while he and his family are having their own “ah-ha” moment, I quickly realized…something like this can really happen to anyone…so, what were my lessons from this?  While I am working on not constantly worrying and carrying that burden (something I have done since 3rd grade as a daughter of a divorced, single mom), there are three simple basics that Dr. Oz has been singing since the very beginning…move more, eat right, and stop stressing.

From www.DoctorOz.com, Dr. Oz and his team have this incredible plan called, “28 Days to Prevent a Heart Attack” and it’s amazingly simple.  It includes a 4 week plan on how to adopt new ideas in baby steps that could very well save your life or the life of someone you love.  It’s as simple as flax seed oil, baby aspirin, stretching and exercise, eating right and reducing stress.  Yes, it’s THAT simple…so, why aren’t we all doing this?

On www.DoctorOz.com, he has a great quiz to take about heart health.  If you have time, definately go and take it!  I was surprised that me, an A student, didn’t know some of this information and knowledge in this case is definatly HEART power!  Until then, here are a few of the answers and information from DoctorOz.com that just could help you stay heart healthy and help you to live your best life.

• Stress makes the heart tough and rigid.  Cardio exercise is important…but also, don’t forget that Yoga and/or meditation for up to 1 hour per day helps increase arterial elasticity, calms spasms and reduces plaque build-up.
• Heart attacks are the #1 killer of women in the US. This could be because symptoms of a heart attack in women differ from those in men. Symptoms that cannot be ignored are: pain in the back, left arm, jaw and/or chest; headache, blurry vision, light headedness and feeling faint; shortness of breath, nausea and heart palpitations. Click here for the facts women need to know about heart attacks.
• Vitamin D can help fight inflammation and therefore reduce heart attack risk…so, it’s the perfect reason for a 20 minute walk each day or some time to warm up and relax.
• Eating a high-fat meal actually increases your risk of a heart attack for 6-12 hours. Studies show that these meals lead to dysfunction in the artery lining that makes vessels spasm, plaque rupture and increases your risk for a heart attack.  Knowing this doesn’t make those french fries and onion rings seem like such a good choice…It’s just not worth it.

There is LOTS more information out there from Dr. Oz on the heart…because he loves the heart.  I think it’s about time that we started feeling the same…and love our OWN heart…  Let your wake up call come from this…and not from a neighbor…or from a loved one.  You have enough love in your heart to love your heart.  Spread the word…change the world…change your world!