tag:heartmyheart.org,2008-03-13:/blog/1521View2008-03-13T18:36:51-05:00tag:heartmyheart.org,2008-03-13:/blog/1521The 'Stealth' Disease2008-03-13T18:36:51-05:002008-03-13T18:36:51-05:00erinpeifferhttp://heartmyheart.org/profile/p/137http://heartmyheart.org/user_pic/blog/<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><font face="Times New Roman">In February 2008, I had the opportunity to share my story at the Baltimore Sister to Sister Heart Health Fair at the VIP Luncheon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realize how blessed and fortunate I am to be here to stress to women to take charge of their heart health because <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">everyday women are losing their lives to heart disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some have battled the disease for years but others die with no warning. </span></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was saddened to learn of yet another young women who quite suddenly lost her life to heart disease while at her workplace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was to be seen by her doctor that very morning but she never made it out of her office building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scary thing about heart disease is that you can have no symptoms prior to suffering a fatal heart attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that I would not have participated in water aerobics if I had felt bad the night I went into congestive heart failure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea that I was a walking time bomb!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heart disease is like a stealth killer to women because it frequently has no warnings!</strong></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Times New Roman;">It is because of its ability to slowly and insidiously rob us of our health that heart disease must be taken seriously by women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news is that it is largely preventable but we must take an active role in keeping our heart in good health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must know our family history, eat sensibly, exercise regularly, get regular check ups and know our numbers!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must help each other and educate women about their risks and empower them to take control of their heart health.</span></p>