This post is sponsored by St. Joseph® Low Dose Aspirin. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Welcome to Dressed for My Day where I hope to inspire 40+ women like us to dress beautifully and appropriately for our unique days so we can engage graciously and authentically with those around us. You see, I believe we gals never lose our ability to be mighty forces for good in this world. As we age we simply have even more insight, experience and grace to share. In fact, you and I know that many people are counting on us to do just that.
That’s why I’m pleased to partner with St. Joseph® Low Dose Aspirin today to turn the conversation from what we’re wearing to how we’re caring for ourselves and our hearts. St. Joseph has been producing quality aspirin products for over 125 years and remains committed to helping others maintain a healthy heart with a range of trusted, innovative and convenient low dose aspirin products.
Ladies, it’s time for a little heart-to-heart talk about our heart health.
We’re friends, right? So let’s cut to the chase, the way real girlfriends do. Cardiovascular disease is still the number one killer of women, causing one in three deaths each year. Of course, at our ages most of us are becoming ever more aware of our mortality. And yet, only one in five women believe heart disease is their greatest health risk.
I’ll admit, I used to be more fearful of receiving a bad report after my yearly mammogram than I was concerned about heart disease. But if we’re smart we’ll start paying more attention to our hearts.
Did you know that currently more women than men die each year from heart disease? And the gap between men and women’s survival continues to widen. Here are a couple more facts to consider about us gals and our hearts:
- 90% of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
- While 1 in 3 American women who die this year will die of heart disease, only 1 in 31 deaths (of women) will be attributed to breast cancer.
So what’s a gal to do?
The best thing most of us can do today is something that many of us are already pretty good at. We just need to talk about it. And I suggest the conversation begin with your doctor. Sure, there’s a lot of good healthcare related information available online, but when it comes to something as serious as heart health, the best source is a trusted expert like your primary care physician.
Look, I know how tempting it is to leave well enough alone. Having just recently moved across the country, I had to seek out a new general practitioner and gynecologist. And, truth be told, I probably wouldn’t have done that as quickly as I did if I hadn’t needed some ongoing prescriptions renewed. Shoot. I don’t like booking hair appointments, much less doctor’s visits! But I knew I needed a trustworthy healthcare provider in my corner.
I’m thankful to have started the conversation about my heart health with my new doctor. We talked about my diet, exercise regimen, weight, blood pressure and family heart health history. Have you done the same?
February is American Heart Month when the American Heart Association attempts to draw our focus to heart health with initiatives such as Go Red for Women. But while I encourage you to dress in red on February 7th to draw attention and support to the movement, I think another great way to participate might be to make an appointment with your doctor for a heart-to-heart about your personal heart health.
If you don’t have a doctor, do like I did and get one. But even if you’ve been seeing the same physician for years, it may be time to change the conversation. Here are some topics I found helpful to discuss with my doctor:
- diet
- sleep patterns
- exercise habits
- stress management
- vital numbers: blood pressure, cholesterol count, blood sugar and weight or body mass index
- family heart health history
- risk factors, such as race, age, weight, smoking, etc.
You also might want to talk with your doctor about the possibility of implementing a low dose aspirin regimen with St. Joesph® Low Dose aspirin.
I’ve learned that women who have had a heart attack or ischemic stroke may reduce the risk of a recurrent heart attack or stroke by using a daily low dose aspirin like St. Joesph® Low Dose 81 mg aspirin. And you can find St. Joseph aspirin right on the shelf at your local retailers. Of course it’s crucial that you talk to your physician before beginning or changing an aspirin regimen. While there are many benefits to aspirin therapy, it’s not right for everyone.
St. Joesph® Low Dose 81 mg aspirin is available in an easy to swallow safety coated micro size tablet. As someone who sometimes suffers from irritation in my esophagus, I especially appreciate how this feature protects the gastric lining from the potentially irritating effects of the aspirin. My dad currently takes the St. Joseph® Low Dose Aspirin Orange Chewable, but since I mentioned the easy to swallow safety coated tablets to him, he is talking to his doctor about changing to those.
Of course, if you do get the go-ahead from your doctor to use a low dose aspirin regimen, you’ll want to use St. Joseph® Low Dose Aspirin only as directed. I suggest you always read the label before using any new product.
Look, sweet gal. While some days you may wake up with a few aches and pains, I know you don’t feel old enough to have these conversations. Weren’t we just passing notes in history class a few years ago? Hahaha! But seriously, no, you’re not too young for these conversations.
And even if you consider yourself to be a healthy woman, these conversations are still important. Even women who are trim, exercise consistently and eat well sometimes have hidden risk factors that early conversations with a doctor can uncover.
Certainly, it’s smart to eat healthy, exercise consistently, laugh regularly, engage in healthy relationships and get plenty of rest. But even healthy habits won’t replace the need for a conversation with your healthcare provider. What will you do today to get that heart-to-heart talk started?
I’d like to thank St. Joseph® for bringing to my awareness the importance of having a regular heart-to-heart with my doctor about my heart health and for sponsoring this post. Thank you for supporting the brands that support my work at Dressed for My Day.
Save + Share
If you enjoyed today’s post, I hope you’ll save it to one of your Pinterest boards. Oh, and share it with your friends on Facebook, too. I love it when new readers find Dressed for My Day because you’ve shared what you found! You’ll find share buttons just below the scripture in the Blessed for My Day portion of the post. And Pinterest buttons should appear when you hover over the following graphic (or any of the graphics in this post).
Don’t Miss a Post:
If you like what you’re seeing here at Dressed for My Day, I invite you to subscribe to my email list. You can receive an email each time I post (about 6 times weekly) or just on Saturdays. You choose! But you’ll also receive the password to open up all the subscriber freebies I offer.
Blessed for My Day
Are you heavy-hearted today? I could just quip, cheer up! But that wouldn’t be helpful. Instead, I suggest you take your heavy heart to One who can truly lift the cares and concerns and regrets that weigh it down.
Begin the conversation by praising Him. When I acknowledge who God is, I begin to remember Who is in my corner and my burdens don’t feel so overwhelming. Then share your heart with Him. Tell him what hurts, what grieves, what worries, what angers you. Next allow Him to speak truth to your heart. Go to His Word and allow His consolations to cheer your soul.
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. ~ Psalm 94:19
I appreciate your attention to heart health. I have been working with my primary care provider on just these issues and feel like this post just validated the journey.
Great to hear, Michelle. Thanks so much for stopping in today. ?
I am so glad you are addressing women’s heart health. I do not believe enough information and education is given to the seriousness of heart disease and it being the # 1 leader in cause of death amongst women. Thirteen years ago I had a major heart event and emergency surgery where I wasn’t expected to live. God had other plans for me however, and I’ve been thriving ever since! Praise the Lord! I was trim, low cholesterol and generally healthy, or so I thought. Ladies heart attack in women very often does not present itself with the classic heart attack symptoms we tend to think of. I was having a heart attack and thought I only had a headache and went onto bed. Please educate yourselves about women’s heart disease and the symptoms then seek help immediately if anything seems a bit off.,A blood pressure monitor is a wise investment. My Cardiologist suggest bringing your monitor with you at check ups to have it tested against their blood pressure readings. A blood pressure monitor is useless if the readings aren’t accurate and many of them are not especially the bargain brands. Low dose aspirin is an excellent regimen under the direction if your health provider. Kay, thank you for initiating the subject of heart health.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. It is such an important one.
Excellent advice Kay!!!! Thank you for writing about this topic that so many people want to avoid including myself. Lisa~
You bet, Lisa. Thanks for reading.
Thank you for reminding us, Kay! We all get so busy we forget about what is making us function – our hearts! Great advice! And, you look beautiful in red!!
Yes, we women sometimes have to be reminded to take care of ourselves. Thanks so much for reading.
Thanks Kay. This is a conversation that women should be having with their primary care provider AND other women! Start with your best friend, your daughter, your next door neighbor! I took low dose aspirin for years and my doctor just took me off of it at my last appointment. I’m 78 yrs old, my heart is great (according to him), I’m trim and I exercise. I don’t eat fatty foods and my sugar intake is next to nothing. Anyway, thanks for telling all of us how important it is to take care of ourselves and if your doctor puts you on a low dose regimen…..do it!! Oh, and enjoy your week in Florida with your mom and dad!!
Thanks for sharing Sondra. I really appreciate you gals adding your own stories. So inspirational.
Thank you Kay, for calling our attention to a very important issue. I will be sharing your post today.
Thanks for sharing Doreen. I really appreciate that. Let’s spread the word! ❤️
Good morning Kay, yes, thank you for this heart healthy information. I was diagnosed in my 30,’s with high cholesterol. I exercise, im not one to eat alot of carbs or fats,; the doctor put me on meds in my late 40s and just last week he changed the meds because the levels are still high. He said it is genetic but I continue to eat heart healthy and exercise. I’m late 50ish now and hope changing my meds will help because high cholesterol is a silent killer if not staying on top of it. Blood pressure is excellent. Anyway, self care is very important. Thanks again for the information. ❤
Yes, it is so important to stay on top of those numbers. I’m having blood tests run as soon as I return home from Florida. Thanks for sharing.
Great post — a good reminder! My 94 year old mom takes the low dose aspirin every day. It’s time I talk to my doctor about doing this as well! Thanks again!
Yes! Good idea. Thanks for reading.
Thank you Kay for the inspiration! I am amazed at how little I hear about women’s heart health when it’s the cause of death in 1 out of 3 women. We’ll continue to try to get the word out to those we influence. Thanks again for being such a sweet encourager 🙂
I know. Those statistics were surprising to me too. We really do hear so little about it. Thanks for stopping in.
Thanks for highlight this information, Kay! It’s so valuable
You bet! Thanks for reading. ?
I’ve been taking low dose aspirin for years on the advice of my gynecologist. In the last several years, I’ve developed thrombocytosis and see a hematologist, who again prescribed low dose aspirin. He expounded on what low dose aspirin does for us that people aren’t aware of. I encourage everyone to ask their doctor about taking it if you don’t already.
Thanks so much for sharing your story, Pam. It’s so important for us gals to encourage one another in this area.
Thank you for this post Kay! I actually have an appointment with my primary care in the morning. I am adding this to my list. Safe travels to FL!
You bet. Definitely add that to your list. Thanks for the well wishes!
I enjoy your blog. Thanks for your heart care information. I have an appt with my primary care soon. It seems as though there is never enough time during the appointment to express my concerns. On a more positive note! I am having an AWESOME week. I am an SLP and I work with children with disabilities. all my kids are making good progress. That helps my heart.
I agree that it sometimes feels like those appointments are rushed. I guess that’s why it might be good to have a list. Thanks for sharing.
I have poor fami!y health history and appreciate the reminder to take care of myself.
We’ll definitely take care of yourself. You can break the cycle!
It’s good that you are raising awareness about this important topic. I used to be a “leave well enough alone,” but the older I get, the more foolish that seems. I just had my annual physical, complete with bloodwork, to get a picture of my numbers. Like you Kay, I don’t like scheduling or going, but I’m glad I went once it’s behind me. I think that as women, we downplay symptoms because we don’t want to appear like we are overreacting, acting like a hypochondriac or complaining. We tend to put others ahead of ourselves at our own expense. At least I always have, and know I’m not alone. I’m trying to change that by getting checkups and staying current with screenings. It’s truly important.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts. It is definitely an important topic.