Minding Matters of the Heart
A statistic from the CDC reports that over 60 million, about 44%, of women in the U.S. are living with some form of heart disease. It is the leading cause of death among women in the country. The advancements in technology and medicine are not focused on prevention, most women don’t know that they have a problem until it’s too late. When broken down by demographics, the numbers are staggering. According to the organization, Go Red for Women, 59% of Black women over the age of 20 in the United States suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease. Black women continuously raise the standard for excellence in any industry - athletics, education, fashion, media, business, and politics. Why are our future leaders, mothers, and innovators being impacted so heavily by a condition that is often preventable?
One in five women will die of heart disease in the United States ((Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). Minding your health and heart can be a matter of life or death. Women deserve to live long and healthy lives. This Women’s History Month, we want to bring attention to the issue of heart disease facing women and share ways to manage a healthier heart. Online sources suggest 'reducing stress' as a solution without information on how or what it looks like in practice. Read more for some ways to manage stress and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attack.
1. Self-Advocacy
Bias exists in any profession, and the doctor’s office is no different. Though we cannot control the beliefs of our physicians, we can control what we know about our health. Request testing, keep track of your blood pressure levels, and know what to look for when something is off physically. Communicate if you have a family history of cardiovascular disease and get ahead of any life events or changing habits that bring new stress. If you are denied, seek another physician or outpatient testing at your local clinic.
2. Self-Care
Self-care is more than a buzzword. In matters of the heart can save your life. As matriarchs, mothers, CEOs, and all-around Superwomen - Black women should be at the center of the conversation around self-care. We carry the burden with grace, yet it is no less detrimental to our overall health. Daily actions and mindset shifts can ease stress and lower blood pressure. Taking more time to breathe intentionally, getting quality sleep, and walking to decompress can mitigate the risk of heart failure and improve your quality of life.
3. Talk to Someone
Behavioral Health contributes to your overall health. Seeing a therapist regularly for emotional support will help uncover the root cause of your stressors. There are endless benefits to your overall health. You will walk away with tools to cope and handle daily situations better. The journey is long but worth it. Visit therapyforblackgirls.com for resources to get started today.
4. Find Strength in Numbers
Share this information with your friends, women in your family, coworkers, neighbors - anyone. Let your concern for your well-being be a conversation and lean on others for support. If you are overwhelmed ask for help, delegate tasks and, if possible, outsource. Not only because you deserve the support, but community is good for your health. Social interaction and companionship can lighten your mood, ease stress and promote safety, belonging, and security.
This is just the beginning of what should be a long, ongoing conversation about the overwhelming number of women suffering from heart disease. Taking care of your mental, emotional, and physical health is most important in mitigating risk. We hope you feel a little more empowered and educated. If you found it helpful, please share this article, utilize any resources mentioned, and start taking steps to take control of your health.