A Virginia Woman Never Thought “She’d Developed Heart Disease”

One of the leading causes of death in America is heart disease. Unfortunately, research says that Black Americans are “30% more likely to die from chronic heart failure” than other races. Fortunately, doctors have argued that the chronic disease can be prevented if we take the right steps to ensure our health. One of the best ways we can stop heart disease in its tracks is by making lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier foods, starting a good exercise routine and even drinking more water.

Virginia native Glenda Baul certainly started making changes in her life after receiving her diagnosis nine years ago. The 67-year-old never thought she’d develop heart disease. In fact, she thought the possibility would be inconceivable. However, the unthinkable happened to Baul.

Now she’s telling other women like her to listen to their bodies. After all, we’re only given one body in life. Like any working machine, we have to give our bodies a tune-up every once and a while.

Glenda Baul’s Gym Trainer Urges Her To Seek Help

Our bodies can be amazing but challenging organisms to manage. It can respond to a number of things in several different ways, some we’d never expected. At times, our bodies can heal themselves without consulting a doctor.

For Glenda Baul, she noticed a change in her breathing pattern during a workout at the gym back in 2014. Though, she ignored it, hoping that eventually, the problem would go away on its own.

At the time, Baul figured that she was just tired from a good workout. However, her trainer advised her to get in contact with her doctor.

Instead, Baul ended up checking herself into the emergency room. During an interview, the 67-year-old shared that she stayed overnight but the doctors found nothing. “Because heart disease in women is very difficult to find,” Baul says.

It wasn’t until she was referred to a cardiologist that she received the daunting diagnosis. The doctor had gotten to the root of her problem, and discovered that “one of her arteries was 95% blocked.” The news shocked Baul, as she never thought she’d developed heart disease.

The Disease Runs In Her Family

Glenda Baul may have thought she was exempt from developing heart disease. However, her family history would argue otherwise. Baul has lost both her father and brother to heart attacks.

Unfortunately, genetics can play a huge part in a person’s health. Baul’s family history showed that she was at a high risk of developing the disease. Though, at the time, she wasn’t willing to face facts.

She Tells Other Women To Listen To Their Bodies

Nine years ago, Glenda Baul was forced to face the music. Like her father and brother, she had heart problems. Though, rather than sit around and do nothing about it, Baul decided to beat the odds.

The 67-year-old actually credits her diagnosis for changing her life tremendously. Now the Virginia native feels it’s her duty to share her knowledge and wisdom with other women, especially Black women.

Her greatest contribution has been her holding a Go Red Day at First Shiloh Baptist Church in her hometown of Mechanicsville, VA. The Sunday event was a day to help those manage their heart disease. Furthermore, nurses were on site to take everyone’s blood pressure.

"It's very important for us as women, but as African American women, heart disease is very dominant. And we tend to multitask 24/7, we have to do this, that and everything. And the first thing I say to others is breathe, take a break,” Baul says. Initially, she ignored all her early symptoms, but in the end, she sought out help.

Baul shares with women that it’s never a good idea to wait and hope our problems will disappear on their own. “We need to listen to our bodies,” the Virginia native says. Baul couldn’t be any more right. When it comes to managing our health, we should always make sure to get our routine checkups. Never ignore tale-tale signs, no matter how small they may be. It may just save our lives.