February – Heart Health Month

Here we are in February already. Does that even seem possible? Someone posted on FB on the 25^th of January that Christmas is only eleven months away. Just not ready to hear that.

For me, February and Heart Health Month go hand in hand. I’ve posted in the past about how important it is to get those regular tests to ensure your heart is functioning properly.

That wasn’t the case for me in 2004. Yes, twenty years ago.

Hubby and I had gone to northern Virginia to await the birth of our first grandchild, Piper. During that entire time, I was popping Rolaids like they were candy. It was very cold and snow lay on the ground. These Tampa folks were totally out of our element.

I had trouble breathing. Just a small ramp at the hospital in which Piper was born issued a huge challenge to me. I thought it was the cold weather.

Once we returned home, I began having pains as I’d remove clothes from the dryer. And walking from one side of our home to the other was difficult, too. I was so winded, I thought I was in worse shape than I thought. I had pain in my left jaw I’d been told was TMJ. I had what I thought were migraines. All of these were heart warnings.

IT WASN’T THE COLD

Little did I know it was my heart.

One Sunday afternoon, I could barely breathe. Hubby lay beside me on the bed and kept watch over me as I struggled. He was begging me to let him call an ambulance. Stubborn me refused.

Finally, realizing if I didn’t do something I would likely die, I agreed to let him drive me to the Lakeland Medical Center, forty-five minutes from our home.

Upon arrival, I was blue and could barely breathe. They took me back immediately and brought out four baby aspirin and a Plavix. They put in an IV and this began my heart journey.

The next afternoon, they placed a stent in the LAD, the widow maker.

When the doctor who did the procedure showed me before and after photos, you could see the blocked artery, and the unblocked one. You could also see the tiny, almost-not-there vessel that started above the blockage and attached below the blockage. The doctor said he’d never seen anything like it and that little vessel is what had kept me alive all those months or years.

Thanks be to God! But here I am, twenty years later, and I’m doing fine. I’ve not had any more incidents, thank God. Not everyone is as blessed as I was/am.

February - Heart Health Month @DDuPreeWilliams #HeartHealthMonth #heartattacks #writing Share on X

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY – KNOW THE SYMPTOMS

Bottom line—listen to your body. Know the symptoms of a heart attack. They can be very different in women than in men. This was my case. Don’t ignore those warnings.  Click here to see symptoms of a heart attack in women: https://bit.ly/49lQHl0

For me, I waited almost too long—because I was terrified of the idea of anything to do with my heart. Terrified of needles. Terrified of the thought of a heart cath.

Don’t do that!

If you are of a certain age and you’ve never had any kind of heart tests, insist on getting them. I think doctors are so busy these days, we have to remind them that we may need such a test. That is what my husband has done.  Click here for symptoms of a heart attack in men:  https://wb.md/4bnLwmB

He’s never had an issue, but his mother died from a massive heart attack. He needs to be tested for sure. An echo is easy, non-invasive, and shows your doctor the health of your heart.

Friends, all this happened to me when I was only 54. I had a 13-year-old at home, and his big brothers, and my husband, all who needed me. I had a new grandbaby I wanted to see grow up.

I’m so glad I consented to going to the hospital that day.

Go make sure your heart is as healthy as possible this month. Pick up that phone and make an appointment. You’ll be so glad you did.

Blessings, y’all!

 

It isn’t just our physical hearts we must guard. Our spiritual hearts must be prepared to meet our Savior one day. I’ve known this song most of my life. It asks a most important question. How about your heart? Do you know its spiritual health? Get into God’s Word and learn of Him. He loves you so much!