Do you ever feel that you seem to be working hard, but not reaching the goal you are striving for? Do you ever think that God is not answering your prayers? When we bring our concerns to the level of praying for them, which is helpful by the way, we may not be thinking that what we are hoping and praying for is not good for us.

I think that it is normal to believe that we know what is best for us. We seem to believe that we know what we can handle and the best way for us to handle a situation. The problem is that life is not predictable. When we are given challenges in life, we have to work through them, whether we want to or not. Working through a difficult time tells us a lot about ourselves. It also tells us a great deal about what we need to do to develop our skills to manage things better.

Whether it is an illness, a divorce, the death of a loved one or some other type of challenge, what we need to remember is that we do not need to “settle” for the final outcome. We are the ones that decide what the end result is. Sometimes the end result is not what we want, but what we have to accept and move on to the next best thing.

Don’t allow yourself to get stuck into believing that you “got what you deserved,” unless you were promoting a negative response, needed to be the better person, and you were not who you needed to be. Even if a situation turned out badly and you were to blame in part or fully, it is still a learning experience that you can grow from. Learn from each experience.  “Now let’s get going!” xo Sally

February is a fitting month to focus on heart disease and stroke. After all Valentine’s Day is in February. The American Heart Association has chosen February to be their month for heart health advocacy on an annual basis.

Statistics are a frightening thing when they are focused on disease development and the lifestyle that many Americans have. So I want to focus on real information that people can relate to. I am re-posting an article that was written by a physician, Dr. Manny Alverez, that covers a great deal of information in an understandable way. Let’s start here:

February is Heart Health Month, putting the spotlight on the No. 1 cause of death for both men and women in U.S.

Coronary artery disease, also known as coronary heart disease, is a narrowing and obstruction of the coronary arteries, which are responsible for bringing oxygen and nutrients to the heart itself. As early as your teen years, fat deposits begin to develop in some of these arteries, and as time goes by, the fat deposits build up, ultimately creating an obstruction that begins to decrease the amount of blood to the heart and cause an inflammation as the artery tries to heal itself.

Over time the fat deposits in the arteries begin to harden, and you begin to get deposits of small platelets that compound the obstruction. All of this can lead not only to a significant narrowing of the arteries, but to blood clots that may either obstruct the artery or get dislodged and create further obstructions elsewhere in the plumbing system.

One of the consequences of this narrowing or total obstruction of the coronary artery is ischemia, which occurs when there is an insufficient supply of oxygenated blood for the heart muscle. Any activity—eating, excitement, or changes in temperature—can make the problem worse.

One of the most common symptoms of ischemia is angina, which is a discomfort, heaviness, pressure, numbness, or squeezing feeling in the chest. Sometimes it is mistaken for indigestion or heartburn. It is usually felt in the chest, but it can also migrate to the arms, especially the left shoulder. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats or palpitation, a very fast heartbeat, nausea, and sweating. If this ischemia is not corrected, if it lasts more than 30 minutes and does not get better, a heart attack may result.

In a heart attack, the heart muscle begins to fail, either through a very erratic electrical stimulation called an arrhythmia or by stopping altogether. It is important to recognize these symptoms because early intervention could save your life.

A doctor can tell you if you have coronary artery disease by discussing your symptoms, especially shortness of breath, taking your medical history, and looking at your risk factors, in particular, smoking, cholesterol, blood pressure, and sugar control. There are a host of diagnostic tests your doctor can do, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG); an exercise stress test; an ultrafast CAT scan, which looks for calcium deposits in your coronary artery; and cardiocatheterization, which can help determine the degree of obstruction of the artery.

If you are diagnosed with coronary artery disease, treatment is threefold. The first has to do with lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking, starting to exercise, and keeping to a low-fat, low-sodium, low-cholesterol diet.

The second aspect of treatment is medication, which may be needed to get your heart working more effectively. Other medication will be prescribed to reduce the cholesterol.

The third aspect of treatment has to do with procedures to help improve the blood flow through the coronaries. One possibility is a balloon angioplasty, in which a small balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into the coronary arteries and then inflated to open up the clogged artery. Another possibility is placing a small, metal stent inside the artery to keep it open and improve blood flow.

A heart bypass operation takes place when total replacement of the piece of the coronary that is obstructed becomes necessary.

Plumbing vs. Electrical Problems

Other types of cardiac disease have nothing to do with obstruction of the coronaries but with the way the electrical system of the heart works. Sometimes the specialized cells that electrically stimulate the heart become dysfunctional, and you can develop an arrhythmia, where the heart beats either too slowly, too quickly, or out of sync. These conditions can be diagnosed with an electrocardiogram, and sometimes medications alone can help to regulate the rhythm.

Another common problem is heart failure. This occurs when the heart can no longer effectively pump all the blood that it receives. Heart failure affects about five million Americans, and it’s the leading cause of hospitalization of people older than 65. Many times, heart failure is due to prior damage caused by coronary artery disease, or by arrhythmias that have weakened the function of the heart. Ultimately, heart failure creates a backlog of pressure into the lungs, and people with heart failure tend to have difficulty breathing. Depending on the cause of the heart failure, different medications are available for treating it.

The valves of the heart are another source of heart problems. The valves can be damaged at birth or through infection. Abnormal or infected valves can interfere with normal blood flow and heart function and can lead to major cardiac disease. Surgery may be needed to replace the valves.

Sometimes the lining of the heart may be infected, a condition called pericarditis. If this membrane is inflamed, the heart may not beat properly. Valve abnormalities, arrhythmias, and heart failure all have a common symptom—shortness of breath or difficulty catching your breath. If you have this problem, see a cardiologist to get the correct diagnosis and treatment.

The heart is a remarkable organ. It is the core of life, and its beat is central to your survival. Keeping it in prime working order is of paramount concern.

All for One and One for All

When we talk about heart attacks, we tend to describe them in a way that suggests there are different kinds of heart attacks. But those are just words to describe our experience of the same underlying disease.

Number one is the silent heart attack. Here you don’t have major chest pain, you don’t have shoulder pains, you may have a little palpitation, but you’re not tired, you’re not fatigued, and you’re not dizzy. However, when you go in for a physical, the doctor finds that you have had a silent heart attack.

Number two is typical angina. This is the chest pressure that doesn’t go away, and you have thirty minutes to get yourself to an emergency room.

Number three is the sudden heart attack. This occurs when you have a major, catastrophic obstruction in a main branch of the coronary artery, and a very large area of your heart is instantly void of any blood.

Even though the three heart attacks described here evolve differently, the underlying theme is the same—they all involve chronic coronary artery disease. In other words, you don’t go around with a normal coronary artery one day and the next day develop a major clot. That’s just not the way it works. The heart attack may present itself differently in different people, but the cause is the same no matter how we experience the critical moment.

A Heart Test for Venusians

What works for men, doesn’t always work for women. We all know that, but medicine is just catching up to the fact.

The standard test for heart disease is known as an angiogram. In this test a dye is injected into the coronary arteries, which are then X-rayed to look for blockages. The test is very effective in detecting heart disease in men, but a new study has discovered that this test often misses the symptoms of heart disease in women. When the tests turn up nothing, women are given a clean bill of health, even though as many as 3 million women could be at risk with a buildup of fatty deposits that could ultimately interfere with blood flow to the heart and cause a heart attack.

Hidden heart disease may be a significant problem in women. It appears that one cause may be due to a phenomenon called arterial remodeling. This means that the artery dilates as plaque is deposited in the blood vessel so that, in the early stages of atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease, very little overall narrowing is seen on an angiogram. But late in the disease, the deposits may overwhelm the body’s ability to compensate by remodeling, and severe narrowing or complete blockage can occur. If this happens, a sudden heart attack can result.

To diagnose heart disease in women, physicians will now have to use the new generation of CT scanners and magnetic resonance scanners, which can visualize the heart’s blood vessels with ever-greater detail. In many cases, these tests can detect problems before a stress test or a conventional angiogram. Physicians should test for the presence of coronary artery disease in women who have risk factors for heart disease such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, a family history of heart disease or stroke, or nicotine use.

The moral of this story is: paying closer attention to the vast differences between men and women could save lives—in this case, women’s lives.

Which Fruit Are You?

Researchers have long noted the importance of body shape in determining a person’s risk factors for heart disease. They talk about the apples versus the pears. The apples tend to store their access fat in their stomach and chest. The pears store it below the hips, in their thighs and buttocks. A recent study found that a person’s waist-to-hip ratio is an even better predictor of cardiovascular risk than their body mass index, or BMI, the commonly used ratio of weight to height. It appears that a large waist size, which generally indicates large amounts of abdominal fat, is more harmful than a larger hip size.

Determine your body shape and risk for cardiovascular disease by calculating your waist-to-hip ratio. First, measure your waist at its smallest circumference; then, measure your hips at their widest. Next, divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. For example, a person with a thirty-six-inch waist and forty-inch hips would have a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.9. Waist-to-hip ratios over 0.85 in women and over 0.9 in men are strongly associated with an increased risk for heart disease.

Dr. Manny Alvarez serves as FOX News Channel's (FNC) Senior Managing Editor for Health News. Prior to this position, Alvarez was a FNC medical contributor.Source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/02/10/heart-disease-fast-facts/

We will be adding articles related to this topic throughout February. If you have a story to share please send us your story through Contact Us. We are always interested to hear from you.

How about giving yourself some credit today? Why don’t you take a step back and realize all that you are doing and trying to do for yourself and others.

Each day we are striving for more. That effort to make things better for yourself and those you love is always a worthy goal. But once in a while you have to stop and give yourself a pat on the back for what you have accomplished so far. There are plenty of people sitting around who tolerate the status quo. That is not you. Even if you have not reached your goal or you have not decided where your end point may be, you are moving forward.

Moving forward mentally and physically is a choice. You are agreeing to make that choice, because you are worth it. Your family is worth it. Change is hard and we all get that. Tomorrow we will go back to focusing on change. Love yourself today for all you are doing and the belief that you are getting stronger each and every day. You have the potential. You are amazing. Love yourself!                                                                                                                                                            “Now, let’s get going!”  xo Sally

There is not a person among us that can be funny and creative every minute of every waking day. Some people have the gift of humor and can turn many situations into funny moments, but not everyone has that capability.

We need to develop more patience when we are with loved ones, co-workers and friends. When people are comfortable with you and around you, people have less of a “guard” up, and can be more relaxed. That is when we can be more spontaneous, and when we feel that we can share our opinion or thoughts, without fear of an over-reaction or criticism, more information will be forthcoming.

What is the bonus of this? If you can be quiet and listen to others when they talk, they will be more willing to listen to you. If you are the quiet one and the atmosphere you are in is supportive and interested in what you have to say, confidence builds and teams are formed.

Every comment does not have to be interesting, but if your comments are kind, you will gain more followers than you had when you started your journey into greater self-awareness.     "Now let's get going!"  xo Sally

Have you ever “thrown in the towel?” Just given up? Have you ever said: “This is more than I can stand” or “Forget it, I can’t do it.” “I don’t have the skills.” “I don’t know how.” “I’ll never be able to make it.”?

The only limits that you have are those that you believe. If you believe that you will not be able to do something, you are right. Do not say that you cannot do something, if it is what you truly believe that you were put on this earth to do.

Nothing that is hard is easy. You can certainly believe that. If you want a job bad enough, figure out the skills you need to have to get it. It you want to reach your dream job, it will most likely be a ladder of small steps to get where you want to be. Most employers do not want to bother to train someone who isn’t invested in them and their idea. The only problem may be is that you don’t want to live someone else’s dream….but sometimes you temporarily have to do things that you know are not your life’s goal, just to get the experience or make enough money to survive in the meantime.

Taking on a different line of work temporarily is not a bad thing. Never say you will not do something, because that is usually what the universe gives you to do. Make yourself worthy of the challenge to take on a new goal. Everyone starts without experience. Don’t let that hold you back! Keep your eye on the long term goal to put up with the short term aggravation. You have the power to do it!    

"Now, let's get going!"  xo Sally 

We live in an era where medical advances have given us the impression that there should be some type of treatment for every ailment we have. Medicine has its challenges, and people are getting frustrated with the limitations they are now facing with the insurance changes and the strong reality of needing to become more involved in their own health care. There is limited time for hand holding in the doctor’s offices. We all have to be our own advocate.

I work with elderly people every day. When faced with declining health and life style changes, it is interesting to see how people deal with their frustration when their body and mind are not working like they used to. I often find that people still want to live, many times pursuing unconventional medical treatment, just to avoid passing on. They are not “ready” to go.

A physician that I work with, who attended medical school in another country, but completed his residencies in the United States once told me, “The United States is the only Country where people do not think they are supposed to die. In other countries people accept death more easily.” That was an eye opening statement for me. I think there is a lot of truth behind that.

So your homework for the next few days is to remember that we should not want to live forever. We were not made to do that. We have parts that wear out (and sometimes need to be replaced). We need a goal that is bigger than we are, to leave a meaningful mark in our place when we are no longer here. What will you be remembered for? Create something. It is never too late to create. “Now, let’s get going!” xo Sally

Make a decision now, that when you have tough times during the day, that you will not let it throw you off. Don’t give in to other people’s problems, including your own. Don’t join the “Complainers Club.” Recognize it for what it is and get past it.

Most people do not give themselves enough credit. They fail to see the skills that they have. It is hard for many to believe that the skills they possess are capable of seeing a problem and managing it.

As you travel through today, remind yourself that you actually handle the rough parts of your day pretty well. You are not perfect. None of us are perfect. What we need to be able to do is; handle things that come our way without affecting others negatively, including ourselves.

Keep a smile on your face. Focus on what you need to be doing to stay positive and you will not let yourself down. If a problem seems bigger than you are, decide that you will do one of two things: 1. Realize that the problem needs a solution and you work on developing a solution or     2. Acknowledge that the best thing you can do is ignore it and focus your energy on more positive thoughts.

You always have that choice. You have all the power to make today a great day.

                                                                                            “Now, let’s get going!” xo Sally

Many people seem to believe their “jobs” are their identity. When we tell people what we do to make a living, we frequently say “I am a teacher” “I am an engineer.” Think about the power your job or occupation has over you.

If you love what you do, and you are able to learn and grow in the process, that is the best possible situation. But, if your work consumes you and you do not keep in touch with friends, that is a problem.

Most of us are guilty of doing just that. Whatever time your day starts, the routine begins, all of the necessary things completed, we get to the task at hand. No matter what type of work fills your day, remind yourself of how fast time flies. The older we get, time seems to go faster. Remember how important people are that care about you. Do not take them for granted. Stay in touch with those who you could count on in times of need. Not every one of your friends would make that list, but you know who they are.

Try not to get so wrapped up in what you do, and remember who you are. Be grateful for your friends. If you are fortunate enough to have family members as friends that you can count on, it makes it that much better. Take nothing for granted. “Now, let’s get going!” xo Sally

Change is hard. Is there something in your life that you need to change? Is it a relationship? Your job? Your attitude? The difficulty you have coping with your job as a caregiver?

The first thing you have to accept is that you need to change. Once you agree that it will not be easy to change, you have taken a major step.  The next truth that I believe is a real challenge is that YOU have to believe YOU CAN CHANGE!

So many times we sabotage ourselves. We fall into a familiar habit because it is easier than striking out and trying something new. It is easy to do. When our “changing” is not going to be easy, and we are reluctant to embrace what we have to do to move towards that goal, we add to that feeling of being defeated before we give it a try.

I want you to decide today to not be hard on yourself if you goof up. It isn’t the end of your effort to change. Just pick yourself up and recognize what you did that was against your goal, and own it.

Try again the next day. Never lose sight of where you want to be. You will do it. You can do it. You have what it takes to be kind, and accepting and helpful to work through whatever it is – that is on the other side. You Goal is on the other side. “Now, let’s get going!” xo Sally

How do you become better than the person you are today? I hope people feel like they can discuss this over the next few days with family or friends. It is an important concept, because to really change your situation, you have to change.

We are living in tough economic times. There are many people who are in the work force that are not doing what they would like to be doing, but survival is critical and we can rationalize keeping a job we do not necessarily like, when we need the money.

The problem is that when you are working every day, doing a job that you do not like, the first thing you have to do is decide what you would like to do. Take age out of the equation. Remove the excuse that you don’t have the right training. The first thing you have to do is decide what you want to do. The next thing you have to do is figure out how to get there.

The more time you waste, avoiding taking a training program or getting a license to do something that you would like to do, the more you can blame life for your lack of progress. Stop thinking you cannot get out of your situation. Choose a pathway that leads where you intend to go. Don’t waste the next few days sitting around. Take the challenge to grow and be more. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. You are amazing. Believe it!  

                                                                                               “Now, let’s get going!” xo Sally