…heart attacks to stroke to congenital heart defects … [but] I’m excited to use this opportunity to help other women.”
According to Allen, there are factors you can and cannot change. Some of those you can’t change are, obviously, your age, race and family history.
Even though she is relatively young, Allen’s family history tells a shocking story. Her two parents had heart disease; one of them also had diabetes, which increased the risk even further. In addition, three of her four grandparents suffered from heart disease.
And what’s even more disturbing is that tests on her children after her heart attack showed that her eldest son, then only 12, had high cholesterol—at age 12! The same child who competed in track and field and football, among other sports and who was one who was considered healthy. With that new information, the family is now managing through healthy eating.
“Having high cholesterol at this young age, you’re going to start getting some buildup in those arteries. My son could have had a heart attack at 20. Who knows? Gone unwatched, who knows what might have happened to him?” she asks.
Don’t let that question go unnoticed. Find out more information about Heart Health here.