February is American Heart Month. Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are our nation's No. 1 killer.
February 5 was National Wear Red Day, a day when Americans wore red to show their support for
The Heart Truth, a National Awareness Campaign for Women about Heart Disease.
"Heart Disease Doesn't Care What You Wear — It's the #1 Killer of Women."
www.americanheart.org
The heart is the center of love and compassion. It is the fourth chakra, center of the system of seven power centers in the body. Green is the color of the heart chakra, healing green, the color of nature. We cross our heart when we make a promise, and our heart swells with love or pride. When someone special comes hear, our heart goes pit-a-pat. Grief can literally cause pain in the chest, leading to expressions like heartache and broken heart. If someone is cruel or unfeeling, we call them heartless or hard-hearted. Someone especially kind-hearted has a heart of gold.
The heart is a muscle that pumps blood throughout the body. Blood provides your body with needed oxygen and nutrients and carries away waste. It takes less than a minute to pump blood to every cell in your body. Your heart works continuously from before birth until the end of life. It needs regular exercise, a healthy diet, and a peaceful mind to stay healthy.
Massage therapy relieves mental and physical stress, improves circulation, and lowers blood pressure. Reduced stress decreases the risk of heart disease. Lower blood pressure can lower the odds of having a heart attack, a stroke, or kidney failure.
Massage therapy is one effective way to prevent high blood pressure and lower stress. Several long term studies have shown that making massage a consistent part of your health-care regime can
- lower your heart rate,
- lower your blood pressure,
- lower your stress-hormone levels,
- reduce anxiety, depression, and hostility.
Massage relaxes you and reduces pain.
It's hard to feel stressed or angry when you feel so good!
Copyright Sue Redding.
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Heart Notes
"I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart's affections and the truth of the imagination."
- John Keats
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Chocolate Does a Heart Good
Did you know that chocolate is full of antioxidants that help reduce risk of stroke or heart attack?
Best are imported and organic dark chocolates low in sugar with few added ingredients.
"If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come."
From Spiral Eye Newsletter February 2010
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