Guess what, everyone? It’s February, again! If you’ve been around my blog since this time in 2009, then you probably know a bit about this, and can skip a paragraph.

For those who may be new, or need a refresher, at the end of January 2009, my father had his first stroke. It was very unexpected as he was only 48 years old at the time! Within the year, he had two more minor strokes. As you can imagine, it was a very scary time for my family and for a long time we weren’t sure what would happen. Of course, today my dad is doing fairly well, but not everybody is so lucky. So, each February since 2009, I’ve tried to bring a little bit of awareness of the effects of heart and stroke to my friends and family.

I’m not going to stand up here and tell you I’m an extremely healthy person. I’m not. I love salty, fatty foods and I dislike many sports. I’m a short, pudgy girl whose main hobby is baking an extortionate amount of cookies. But recently, I have been trying. I’ve found physical activities that I enjoy and I’ve been taking a closer look at what I eat. I think that this Heart Month is the perfect time to kick it into gear.

The majority of the readers of this blog (based on comments, etc) are females in their late teens through to their mid-twenties. Many of us probably feel pretty far removed from the grip of heart disease and stroke, but the fact is this: heart disease and stroke are the #1 killer of Canadian women. And I’m sure the same can be said in countries with similar lifestyles. Not only that, but heart disease and stroke are becoming more and more prevalent in younger people, especially with the intense, high pace, high stress world we live in.

So, some years, I ask you guys to head on over to the Heart and Stroke Foundation website (or equivalent in your area) and drop your spare change in the proverbial can (now more commonly a “PayPal” button or something similar), but I’ve decided that seems a bit too passive. And I want you guys to be active, because I want you in my life for a long time!

I’m really digging the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s campaign “Make Death Wait.” It’s all about action. Mainly, taking the steps toward having a healthy heart. On the site you can find things like heart healthy recipes and physical activities. You can also take their Risk Assessment test, to find out in which areas you are at risk for heart disease and stroke, and how you can improve! It’s a great way to get started, and for each person who participates,  Desjardins Financial Security will donate $1 to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. So you can feel good about getting some money donated toward research too.

Well, that’s my spiel for this year! I know nobody wants to think about icky things like heart disease and stroke, but it needs to be said. And I’ll be back to my regularly scheduled programming later this week.

Tuesday January 31st 2012 — One Comment
✯ Posted under { Personal }