A Note From the Heart by U.S. Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Dear All,
February is American Heart Month, and Friday, February 3, is National Wear Red Day®. I would like to encourage you to wear red to express your personal commitment to a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Today, nearly 43 million women—one-third of all women in America—are living with or are at risk for heart disease. By some estimates, that number could rise significantly by 2030. Heart disease is also the leading cause of death among women, claiming more lives than chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and lung cancer combined. Women who suffer heart attacks are more likely to die from heart disease within a year than men, but are less likely to receive recommended care.
We’re working to change that.
Using powerful public-private partnerships that reach people where they are, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services’ Million Hearts campaign aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years.
Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health launched The Heart Truth® campaign and the symbol that sparked a movement—the Red Dress®. The campaign reminds women to protect their heart health. It also honors those affected by heart disease.
Raising awareness about risks for heart disease has done more than just inform women—it is motivating them to take action. According to a national study, women who know that heart disease is their leading cause of death were 35 percent more likely to be physically active and 47 percent were more likely to report weight loss than those who were unaware. Our efforts ensure that women are aware of their risk of heart disease and help women take action to lower their risk.
Show your commitment tomorrow by wearing your favorite red dress, shirt, or tie to call attention to women’s heart health.
Together we can help American women have healthier hearts and live longer, healthier lives.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Sebelius
Spiritual Truth Thursday: A Cheerful Heart
It always seems easy to tell my friends and loved ones not to worry, but I often have a hard time taking my own advice. There are many things that we as women deal with on a regular basis that lead to worry, doubt, and fear. Our finances, relationships, children, moving to a new city (Shout out to Diva Tee ), job security, school, and especially healthcare. Just look at all the women’s health issues that have been in the news this week — the Pfizer birth control recall and Susan G. Komen pulling their funding from Planned Parenthood. When we worry it’s hard to have a positive outlook on life. The more negative we become the more we worry. Sometimes we even worry ourselves heart sick. Anxiety leads to a heavy heart which can lead to depression and increase your risk of heart disease. So when life seems to get you down, it’s important to seek sources of encouragement. “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up” – Proverbs 12:25.
The scripture provides us with a simple step to a cheerful heart…hear a kind word! We can receive a kind word from reading scriptures, during a vent session with our girlfriends, or even from talking with family. You may even need to speak a kind word to yourself! Wake up in the morning and take a look in the mirror and say, Be Amazing Today, I’m fearfully and wonderfully made, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, I am Beautiful, and I will Be Bold Today! These simple kind words can begin to ease your fears and fill your heart with hope. It takes a cheerful heart for when trials come your way to be able to remain strong and rest on God’s promises. Having a cheerful heart will help you to be bold and take risks! A cheerful heart is medicine to your soul.
Are you heart sick today? Read some of your favorite scriptures or affirmations and call up your bestie, booski, bff, boo, your boyfriend, your mama, or Jesus (who is always on the mainline) and let them pour into you words of encouragement to cheer up your heart!
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Join Divas, MPH in our 2012 digital media campaign, I <3 Her Heart: Wear Red for the Heart You Love, this Friday, February 3, 2012 for National Wear Red Day. Take a picture of yourself in red, for the heart of a woman you love, and share it one of the following ways: post to Divas, MPH on Facebook, tweet to @DivasMPH using the #HeartTruth hashtag, or email to heart@divasmph.org.
Divas EJ
[Motivation Monday] An Enduring Heart
Do you remember the childhood story The Little Engine That Could? If not, let me refresh your memory!
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
A little steam engine had a long train of cars to pull.
She went along very well till she came to a steep hill. But then, no matter how hard she tried, she could not move the long train of cars.
She pulled and she pulled. She puffed and she puffed. She backed and started off again. Choo! Choo!
But no! the cars would not go up the hill.
At last she left the train and started up the track alone. Do you think she had stopped working? No, indeed! She was going for help.
“Surely I can find someone to help me,” she thought.
Over the hill and up the track went the little steam engine. Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo!
Pretty soon she saw a big steam engine standing on a side track. He looked very big and strong. Running alongside, she looked up and said:
“Will you help me over the hill with my train of cars? It is so long and heavy I can’t get it over.”
The big steam engine looked down at the little steam engine. The he said:
“Don’t you see that I am through my day’s work? I have been rubbed and scoured ready for my next run. No, I cannot help you,”
The little steam engine was sorry, but she went on, Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo, choo!
Soon she came to a second big steam engine standing on a side track. He was puffing and puffing, as if he were tired.
“That big steam engine may help me,” thought the little steam engine. She ran alongside and asked:
“Will you help me bring my train of cars over the hill? It is so long and so heavy that I can’t get it over.”
The second big steam engine answered:
“I have just come in from a long, long run. Don’t you see how tired I am? Can’t you get some other engine to help you this time?
“I’ll try,” said the little steam engine, and off she went. Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo, choo!
After a while she came to a little steam engine just like herself. She ran alongside and said:
“Will you help me over the hill with my train of cars? It is so long and so heavy that I can’t get it over.”
“Yes, indeed!” said this little steam engine. “I’ll be glad to help you, if I can.”
So the little steam engines started back to where the train of cars had been standing. Both little steam engines went to the head of the train, one behind the other.
Puff, puff! Chug, choo! Off they started!
Slowly the cars began to move. Slowly they climbed the steep hill. As they climbed, each little steam engine began to sing:
“I-think-I-can! I-think-I-can! I-think-I-can! I-think-I-can! I-think-I-can! I-think-I-can! I think I can - I think I can - I think I can I think I can—”
And they did! Very soon they were over the hill and going down the other side.
Now they were on the plain again; and the little steam engine could pull her train herself. So she thanked the little engine who had come to help her, and said good-by.
And she went merrily on her way, singing:
“I-thought-I-could! I-thought-I-could! I-thought-I-could! I-thought-I-could! I thought i could - I thought I could - I thought I could - I thought I could - I thought I could - I thought I could I thought I could —”
THE END
If you believe it, you can achieve it! This story is a true testament that positive thinking coupled with an enduring heart (i.e. persistence, refusing to give up, etc.) can make what seems to be impossible possible.
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Join Divas, MPH in our 2012 digital media campaign, I <3 Her Heart: Wear Red for the Heart You Love, this Friday, February 3, 2012 for National Wear Red Day. Take a picture of yourself in red, for the heart of a woman you love, and share it one of the following ways: post to Divas, MPH on Facebook, tweet to @DivasMPH using the #HeartTruth hashtag, or email to heart@divasmph.org.
~Diva T
