Heart Disease encompasses conditions that cause problems for the heart that can lead to death: Coronary Artery Disease, Heart Attack, Heart Failure, and Congenital Heart Disease. The CDC reports Coronary Artery Disease as the most common type of heart disease. I’m here to prevent that for you.

My goal is absolutely preventative, and if you’re my age or younger; you need this information. For years we’ve talked about the diets of different ethnic groups and their contribution to poor health. We’ve directed the public’s attention to the facts that fats narrow your chances to live a quality life. The economically challenged was once a major concern for the decreased longevity population, but over the years; society has offered opportunity that has changed the scheme of the health game. Far more who were once considered a liability in healthcare, have been offered good fortune that has made them prime candidates to change disparity into prosperous health. So what’s happening that we find ourselves in the same position: dying too early?

As a registered nurse, it’s my responsibility to educate consumers on maintaining health. There’s often been one problem; I met you after the damage had been done. And working the 11-7 shift, upon discharge, you only wanted to never see me again. Discharge instructions were signed, but your return to the hospital clearly informed me that you’d not listen to a word I said. So consider this as my apology for keeping you up all night by checking your blood pressure, changing your dressing, talking you into taking your medication that time in the morning, and yes; I did understand you when you said, “I don’t take medications this time in the morning when I’m home.” And after all the debates we’ve survived, I now want to enter the comfort of your home and give you the information you had no interest in the last time. If we’ve never met; let’s keep it like that. All I’m asking you to do is cozy up under your favorite blanket, relax your mind, and listen as I write from my heart to yours.

We’ve got to change these learned behaviors. We can afford to do so now. There are too many struggling because we’ve neglected ourselves. Did I confuse you? With your fare shake came a great education and the good life. No longer wondering how we’re going to have our next meal, and eating too much of what we were eating while struggling; a vicious cycle that must be broken. So when you should be leading the way, and providing change for others; you are still amongst the problem in healthcare. I started this news letter for you.

Change starts with us. I said good-bye to three friends all age fifty or close to; too soon simply because they didn’t read this news letter. That’s not to say they did not receive the information. Timing is everything. Let’s talk matters of the heart.

When God created us, He gave us this tremendous muscle that necessitates us to care for if we in fact have an interest in longevity. So my reader should be parents, college age, and if I’m successful at my job; we’ll be doing this as the mature reader and writer. The heart is approximately 7 ounces. It is expected by the medical community to beat more than 3.5 billion times before taking its final thump. It’s the gift that keeps on giving in a small package. Often we unwrap the gift, and add more to what was created to only be a simple delicacy. In that case, large heart is not synonymous for good; that’s another story. Today let’s understand how we find ourselves in the leading cause of death category.

Lifestyle changes are key to combating heart disease. I was a student in nursing school about twenty years ago, and my instructor told us then what remains true today; Coronary Artery Disease is the most common heart disorder. The cause is an accumulation of fatty substances and somewhere during our life span, the deposits lead to an abnormal arterial structure. Okay, there is no sense of discussing coronary arteries if you don’t know how they function or the relationship to your heart. The coronary arteries are the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle. Without that function, the heart cannot survive. This is how we contribute to interfering with the survival of the heart. I’ll discuss three, but the risk factors are, “cigarette smoking, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and elevated fats.” Look for you.

Cigarette Smoking: The triple threat. Smoking causes the blood vessels to narrow (constrict), and that effect alone prevents a natural flow of blood which is always a compromise to the heart. When we think platelets, we think prevention of bleeding; I often say, “In health the very thing that helps you, can many times harm as well.” Platelets also have an adhesion capability (clumping together) which can cause occlusion and prevent the escape of blood. Another interruption of blood flow. But it all starts with the inhalation of smoke which increases carbon monoxide and compromises the oxygen received by the heart. The short of it all, the heart is working too hard to sustain life for 3.5 billion beats. Yours undoubtedly will be less.

Elevated Blood Pressure: The sneaky and silent culprit. Many times there are no symptoms until you’ve advanced in the disease process. The elevated pressure interferes with the heart’s pumping ability. This is the start of a never ending cycle. Early detection is critical. The American Heart Association recommendation for a normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. I’ll definitely be doing an article on Hypertension in weeks to come.

Elevated Fats: Although it’s commonly a hereditary disease, our diet is killing us too. We are forever on the go, and our eating habits reflect just that. The best advice I can give there is to cook healthy, but we’ll talk more about this too.

Exercise is your friend. Sedentary life styles add insult to injury. Consult your doctor to learn the best physical activity recommended for you. We are all different and what is recommended for one person could be drastically differ for another. The purpose of this article is to get your attention and remind you of how important it is to do something by taking control of you and your family’s health. My goal is to inform you that there are some circumstances we are capable of preventing and changing ourselves. Writing from my heart to yours: Donna.

Reference: Brunner and Suddath’s Textbook of Medical Surgical Nursing

My name is Donna M. Watford, and I’ve learned the meaning of my name: A lady who is like God; gracious gift of Jehovah. Wow, that’s a pretty huge expectation to try to live up to. My best attempts have been known to fail, but it’s a goal that is worth trying to meet. The Only truth; I absolutely love Him. Then, now, and forevermore…

I’ve lived a carefree life; literally casting all my cares to God. The carefree part has caused me problems in the past, but I lived long enough to understand that the problems were truly casted to God. When I speak of God; I’m talking God in three persons. God: the Father. Enough said! Then there is His only begotten Son; to me, He’s my everything. An innocent Man died that I might live. Those things that should’ve happened were blocked simply because I had made Him my All and All. Before He ascended to be with the Father; He dare not leave me without the Comforter. And so He is: “The Comforter”. For in the times of trouble, and on those days that my very existence appears to rest in despair; somehow they become the most precious times of my life. I gotta testimony. I’m always hidden in His loving arms. The one thing we have in common: love. I for Him; He for me and we for others. There is only one thing that I wished I could do more than God. If I could, I’d love Him more than He loves me. He knows that too.

So we are all here for a purpose, and as I journeyed oblivious to mine; Jesus showed up at midnight and twinkled. HE cracks me up; such a God move. Go figure, I’m here for matters of the heart. I’m a registered nurse who loved patient care; the politics of it all dimmed my light and in many cases robbed me of opportunities to change lives in a huge way. My biggest regrets are the patients who lack change because my best efforts were prohibited; not good enough. You name it, I’ve tried it in nursing. To date my favorite job is staff nurse. Patient care, baby! There is no greater satisfaction in my opinion. I understand now that it was just as important to perform my other jobs as well. So I’ve done managed care (insurance), research, and disease management (patient teaching). It was performing research that I learned about a population dying too soon: Heart Failure (HF). HF patients are losing a winning battle which is how I found my cause. I’m here to save the heart.

The CDC reports, “Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. People of all ages and backgrounds can get the condition. There are major disparities in health and health care by socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and insurance status. Although there has been improvement for some; other income, racial and ethnic groups has improved less than others and for some groups, the gap has widened.” It is this report, and others that are similar, which motivates a progressive move on behalf of the nonprofit dropped in my spirit that will target communities who are most affected and vulnerable in heart disease. Be looking for more to come on Talking Matters of the Heart. I do it all for Jesus.

As healthcare is a love of mine; writing is my passion. I debuted with my memoir after losing my mother to a failed surgery for HF. It was at my darkest hour that God shined the spotlight on my purpose. I am writing my second book, and I only plan to write three. My writings accent social and health issues and love while offering the reader provocative subject matters that inspires. And as I write to prolong life and offer everlasting: Romans 10:9; I am simply honored for the opportunity to: Encourage. Educate. Empower. I’m Donna writing from my heart to yours.

Sophisticated in all your ways; educated, motivated, and dedicated. Accomplished in all that you do, this heart beat is for you. From my heart to yours….

We the ladies of our generation are frequently discussing matters of the heart. Pick up any publication medium, and there is a story that celebrates us coaching through a heart break, mending a heart, or surviving a broken heart. We marvel at winning and we are rejuvenated at sharing the story of victory.

Defeat, not my generation. We stand on the backs of great women before us who survived the “You’ve come a long way, baby” era, so that women as we would have some where to go. And go we did; college which led to great careers that thrust us into entrepreneurship. We dare not miss the opportunity to soar; we are now the CEO, Executive, and Owner. We’ve made our mark in the world, and we now pave the way for the next generation. Women on the move, but where are we going? In far too many cases: Heart Failure (HF). I pose this question to you. Why survive the dagger to the heart, only to fall victim of yourself to the sword? Let’s talk the true matters of the heart.

The heart weighs approximately 7-15 ounces; small, but far from fragile. A critical organ, for it is the heart that sustains life, and as frequently as we discuss our feelings for it, we are damaging the very muscle that keeps it together for us. How many times have we thought, please don’t fail me now? This time, the finger is pointed at you. Success comes at a price, but you’ve certainly put your whole heart in it. As well as you are with crunching numbers; today, I need you to see yourself in the equation.

Approximately fifty percent of all Americans diagnosed with heart failure are women, and I’m not exactly finished with you. As an African-American, you represent three (3.3) percent. I hope you are listening because just when it sounds grim; oh, it gets worst. Reports indicate that African-American women tend to die from HF more frequently than men. You do the math, with each word you read, your odds have greatly increased and your concerns are warranted. Have you succumbed to HF?

Now that I have your attention, how did we get here? Well, we may have done too well in everything except caring for ourselves. As women on the go; we eat carry out, plan and attend social and family events, push to meet deadlines, and attend business meetings in extravagant restaurants that load us down with salt. We are phenomenal at doing it all; unfortunately in doing everything, we’ve deprived ourselves from living long lives. You, know. Doing more equates to sleeping less and really, with our lives, who has time to cook, exercise, or even learn the facts to healthy living?

I challenge you to add loving yourself to your many accolades. I hope I’m meeting you at prevention, which only consists of lifestyle changes. The Virginia Slims weren’t glamorous then, and they look just about the same forty-two years later. Let the cigarettes go. Reduce the stressors in your life, eat healthy, exercise, and work hard to maintain not the diva figure, as much as the diva’s healthy weight. Very important; know your numbers: blood pressure and cholesterol. Did I mention salt?

Writing to save lives: Donna. A registered nurse, writing from her heart to yours for the Kingdom. She is the author of Amazing Grace: A Tribute to You, The Story of Us. A freelance writer and speaker created to educate, encourage, and empower.

Your OWN Show Audition
June 2010

“Now that the United States of America has crossed the threshold of a shift in our nation’s culture with the legislation of healthcare reform, this is an incredible time to continue to the journey of restoring the hope and promise that there is a brighter tomorrow.” ~C. Pullins
It’s time to address the heart…