Heart Health and Longevity
Okay, so last week I did a thing on resting heart rate, heart health and longevity. As a funny little coincidence, while reading about advancing research in the biotech sector I stumbled upon the following numbers:
- Nearly 12% of Americans have been diagnosed with heart disease.
- Worldwide, nearly 18 million people die every year from heart disease.
- Heart disease accounts for 31% of deaths worlewide.
I knew that heart disease was our (Canada and the USA’s) number one killer. I didn’t realize (although it does stand to reason) that it is the number one killer worldwide.
Heart Health and COVID-19
Then, when I was browsing one of my regular reads (mindbodygreen.com), I found an article “What Heart Patients Need to Know About COVID-19, From an Expert.” Now, the expert in question is a cardiologist with an MD PhD, so I’ll take him at his word. You should consider doing so, too.
Anyway, first off, heart problems are an underlying condition which increases your risk factor from the Kung Flu. Next, to reduce your risk, he recommends (1) exercise, (2) keep your prescriptions filled and (3) keep your stress under control.
Now, I’ve told you a hundred times, I’m an engineer, not a doctor. There is no medical advice around these parts. However, what about points 1 and 3? Not to toot my own horn or anything…well, maybe to toot it a little, I’ve been jabbering on about exercise and stress a fair bit lately, haven’t I?
So Breathe
When I gave you that little breathing exercise last week, I didn’t do so because I was thinking about Flu Manchu co-morbidity with heart disease. I was thinking about getting my stress under control for my general health and well-being, and to help get my thoughts, and my life back under my own control.
And it worked. I’m
- Healthy (still)
- Exercising (again).
- Researching and writing (again, and more)
- And I’m finding whole new directions to take StandUpRight.ca
And it all began with a breath. So breathe.
- Sit comfortably upright
- Straighten your back
- Arms straight, palms to knees
- Chin up, eyes closed and looking straight ahead
- Breathe in for a slow count of 6
- Breath out for a slow count of 8
- Repeat 5 times.
