Polish of the Month
February is American Heart Month. Did you know that heart disease is the number one cause of death among Americans to date? No matter our race, career status, education level, or where we live, our hearts are what make us most alike (which in itself could be a double entendre). For me, this is a statistic I’ve known for as long as I can remember. Heart disease took two of my closest loved ones, and the pain cuts deep every single day.
While it’s well known that I am a Public Health Professional by day, it’s not as well known that I once aspired to work in cardiac rehabilitation. In my final semester of undergrad in January 2010, I interned at a cardiac rehab facility at what was then Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, PA. This was such a full circle moment as this is the hospital where I was born :). As an intern, I took on small but important responsibilities such as triaging new patients. During my one-on-one interviews, I began to notice a consistent pattern where many patients had what some might consider poor diets and often expressed a lack of knowledge, interest, or access to heart healthy foods. After completing my B.S. in Exercise Science in May 2010, I returned to school just three months later to pursue my Master of Public Health, with public health nutrition being one of my main areas of interest.
But back to matters of the heart.
According to the American Heart Association, every 34 seconds, heart disease claims another life. While nutrition, physical activity and stress play major roles in heart disease risk, as a public health professional, I know that ending heart disease isn’t simply a matter of pulling yourself up by the bootstraps. There are factors that exist far beyond individual control; systems and structures that could easily make it appear that people don’t care for their hearts, when in reality, they’re doing the best that they can. How can you blame someone for not eating heart healthy foods when they can’t afford, let alone access them? How can you judge someone for buying a 4 for $4 when a salad costs nearly $20? And don’t even get me started on how some salads are unhealthier than your favorite value meal!
I’ve been lovingly nicknamed a “Popular Loner.” While I know many people, if you catch me in the wild, I’ll probably be solo. With my two loved ones no longer here, I often struggle to find my place in the world. What house could I show up to and walk right in the door if not theirs? Who would I watch a movie on a rainy Saturday with if not with them? Who would genuinely help me without expecting something in return besides them? We place so much value on material things. If you can answer these three questions with people who are still living, consider yourself RICH. I am intentional about how I respond to life, but at the end of the day, I am still human functioning with a healthy yet broken heart.
If nothing else, I’d like to use my platform to highlight one specific thing. There is a correlation between heart disease and asthma. An asthma attack can very well lead to a heart attack, and studies have found that those with asthma may also be at risk for heart disease. I've probably played in my mind a million times how it must have been to be alone and have an asthma attack until your heart gave out too. It really messes with your mind as well as your heart. This past year was my first time learning of another person who's loved one faced this same cause of passing. This fact has paralyzed me for too long. I now want to learn more as well as do more!
Prevention saves lives. I cannot stress this enough. With every purchase of our Forever 41 nail polish, you directly support heart disease education, awareness and prevention for those who need it most. If you’re unable to purchase, please consider sharing this blog.
In health,
Keia <3