a balanced diet including low sodium intake. Eventually, I became a vegetarian. I also learned the importance of exercising and made this a part of my daily routine.
Your mom’s death came as a shock to your family, which prompted you to start digging into your family history. What type of things did you learn?
There is a significant family history of hypertension and cardiovascular disease for women and men in my mother’s family history. The major trigger for the women in my family is pregnancy and childbirth.
Can you speak about the importance of learning your family history, especially in the Black community?
Knowing your family history is pivotal in being a survivor of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Also, knowing your family history helps identify risk factors and allows for early detection and preventive measures. This provides a snapshot of potential risks, but we can’t escape our genetics. However, we can live a lifestyle conducive to beating and surviving these conditions.
Tall and slender people are automatically assumed to be healthy, however, your family has been impacted by this disease. What do you want people to know about cardiovascular disease and letting go of any prejudgments they may have about it?
Stereotypes are deadly, that’s why knowing your family history is very important. Such stereotypes can lead to misconceptions and hinder awareness and support. Cardiovascular disease can affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. It is a medical condition that requires empathy, understanding, and appropriate medical care. Go to the doctor, get your checkups, and ask questions about your heart health. Anyone can be affected.
You believe high blood pressure, which impacts many Black women (especially during pregnancy), may have been the culprit for you. What advice can you give to women about protecting their heart health and staying healthy during pregnancy?
It is very important to “know your numbers”. The American Heart Association stresses the importance of this. Sadly, many women in our community do not understand what this means. Also, as I mentioned before, ask questions about your heart health. Schedule and attend regular prenatal check-ups and communicate openly about any concerns or symptoms you may experience. Most importantly, “Listen to your body”. This is the most important aspect of self-care and overall well-being.
In addition to monitoring your blood pressure, what other treatments and lifestyle changes are you currently doing to keep your health in check?
I am very aware of what I put in my body, I understand when my body is stressed and what I need to do to manage that stress.
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What has your experience taught you about taking charge of your health?
In my experience, taking charge of your health is contagious. This has been evident since becoming a part of the Go Red For Women 2023 Class of Survivors.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I am the author of my story. I didn’t like where my chapter was going, so I started a new one. Life is not over when one has a diagnosis such as mine. One can live a full life with proper diet, exercise, and stress management. Go Red For Women offers valuable literature to help you on your journey.
I leave you with this, “Your body is your home, take care of it; it’s the only place you have to live.”