Vaughn Hart by hartcindy
Last week marked the 14th anniversary of my father’s sudden death from heart disease. I wrote about it here on WellCommons last year when I made the connection between American Heart Month and how heart disease has affected me personally. It’s interesting that every year when January 24th would roll around, I would mark the anniversary remembering my dad and allowing myself the day to miss him however I saw fit. Sometimes with laughter and telling stories, other times it was quiet moments alone in the car letting the tears flow and saying out loud “I sure do miss you.”
This year is a bit different. This year the anniversary of dad’s death has served as somewhat of a gut (er, heart) check about my own health. When I read back on what I wrote and really reflected on my life and health, I realized I’m not making as concerted of an effort to be as healthy as I really want to be. (Notice that’s not ‘should’ but ‘want’.)
Handily enough, I found this tool the American Heart Association put together – “My Life Check.”
My Life Check - mylifecheck.heart.org by hartcindy
It’s an easy assessment tool that only took about five minutes to complete. The first time I took the assessment a little over a week ago I scored a 5.8 on a scale of 1-10. (Note to self, don’t assess your health while eating a plate of nachos and feeling in the dumps.) However, that score was a good kick in the caboose last week to get myself in gear and really take to heart everything I can do to prevent heart disease - even with my genetics stacked against me. Over the last week, I’ve increased my exercise, started tracking what I eat and made a conscious effort to increase my fruits and vegetables. I’m also signing up for the blood profile at the LMH Heart Healthy Fair so I can find out what my cholesterol levels are.
This morning I retook the assessment and feel better about the end results.
Assessment Score by hartcindy
There are definitely still things to work on (there’s always something to work on), but I’ll focus on those things and continue my quest to be healthy, protect my heart and be a good example for my kids. “The best thing you can do for your children is take care of yourself.” (From a great story of hope on the American Heart Association web site.)
Cucumber bandits by hartcindy
It’s a beautiful thing that my father is still teaching me these lessons (note to my teenage self: you can learn a lot from your parents if you just listen) and now each year when the anniversary of his death comes around I can think about my health, smile and look at my little cucumber bandits and know that he is proud of us all.
Comments
kbritt (Karrey Britt) says…
Thanks so much for sharing your story... Cindy! So, glad you are taking your dad's life lessons to heart!
aliedwards (Ali Edwards) says…
Awesome, Cindy. Thanks for sharing! I love that top picture of your dad!
hartcindy (Cindy Hart) says…
Thanks ladies. Now, did either of you take the quick assessment? It's really easy and pretty enlightening - you should do it if you haven't.
(But if you score a 10 keep it to yourself! Only kidding. Sort of. :) )
aliedwards (Ali Edwards) replies…
I scored a 9.2, but my exercise and diet habits are needing improvement. Fortunately, I have pretty good health genes so my blood pressure and blood sugar are in fine form. Just need to work on the things that I can actively control!
hartcindy (Cindy Hart) replies…
Awesome Ali!
It's such a good reminder that those things ARE things we "can control". I tend to forget that and need to be hit upside the head with it once in awhile. No matter how busy, how tired, how stressed, how {fill in the blank} I feel, there are things I can control that will make such a different to my health!
(Like the amount of gummy bears I consume this afternoon. I might try to tell myself I'm powerless over their sugary goodness, but seriously, I'm in control. I'm in control. I'm in control. I'm in control.....)
charliebryan (Charlie Bryan) replies…
Great job, Ali! I came in at 9.2, too. I thought, for sure, it'd be a bit lower. Making more time for physical activity has been a challenge these last couple years as daddy duties drain my energy. I read somewhere that increasing physical activity results in getting even more energy. Somehow that seems paradoxical, just 10 minutes before 9 p.m. while I'm feeling wiped out from little Bella's night time routine. :)
kansasplains1 (Lawrence Morgan) says…
A very nice article. But men, in many ways, are the real problems. Many of them WON'T go to see a doctor under any circumstances. I myself was in exactly that situation. I wouldn't go to see a doctor, even though I felt very ill. But my friends took me to the hospital, and when I got there, I was having a heart attack.
And... we need national health insurance!!!
Marilyn_Hull (Marilyn Hull) says…
LOVE the cucumber bandits photo! If a kid steals a cucumber to eat it, you must be doing something right. At that age, my son would have turned it into a weapon.
My husband is one of those who won't go to a doctor. His dad and uncles all died of heart attacks. I've talked with him about getting a check-up til I'm blue in the face, but he won't budge. Fortunately, he does eat well and rides his bike every day. So I think he is doing most of the things doctors would suggest.
ldchealth (Lisa Horn) says…
Cindy, you know I love this story.
I would be very interested in some psychological insight into why so many men are resistant to taking care of themselves and how to address it. My husband is a classic example, although he did have his first checkup in more than a decade last month, which was a small victory. The hard part is getting him to follow through on exercise, eating right, etc.