February 2018 |
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HEALTH AND WELLNESSSELF-LOVE TIPS FROM COACH VENUSAlthough love is universal , we all experience it differently . Some of us meet our true love in high school and live happily ever after with them . Others may fall in love several times , or when they are ready to receive love . My first true love , you know the one that broke my heart , defined what I love and hate about other people to this day , including myself . Experts say you can ’ t love another person , until you love yourself . If that is true , that makes me question the “ love at first sight ” notion . He told me that he loved me and I was going to be his wife on our first date . He basically had me at “ hello ”! We were so broke as newlyweds that our date nights consisted of blockbuster movies and inexpensive takeout on the couch . But we were madly in love .
Something changed one rainy Friday night when he didn ’ t come home . That was the night I became an emotional eater . Although I wasn ’ t hungry I remember polishing off an entire pint of Ben & Jerry ’ s Cookie Dough ice-cream by myself that night . Initially I was scared , fearing something had happened to him , but after a few hours of calling everyone we knew , checking the hospitals , pacing the floor and crying , I used that ice-cream to quiet my thoughts and settle in to what my new life would be like .
The man I was madly in love with had self-destructive tendencies . So , I did what any self-respecting Super Hero would do , I put on my cape and spent the next two decades trying to save him . I have some fond memories of our life together and we have a beautiful daughter from our union ,
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but when the relationship ended , I was emotionally bankrupt , a single parent and morbidly obese .
Back then I didn ’ t know how to express myself , but now I understand that retail therapy , drugs , alcohol and over eating are all forms of self-medicating . When I took off the cape , I realized I had been using food to fill the empty spaces in my life . It was time to get to work on me and my first order of business was to breakup with Ben & Jerry ! Then I joined a gym and went on the “ I can lose more weight than Oprah diet ”. Although , I wasn ’ t successful I was determined that if I could survive the heartbreak from falling in and out of love that I could learn how to love myself .
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Learning to love myself has been a journey and some days have been easier than others . One day while journaling I had a huge “ aha moment .” It was in my quiet time that I realized the reason I wasn ’ t successful at dieting was because I was trying to fix the outside . Self-love requires time . I had never started my day investing in myself , but I was ready .
The most magical thing about love is that when you love yourself , surprisingly you ’ ll have more love to share with others . That ’ s right , the more love you give away , the more you receive . I ’ m going to try this with shoes , but here ’ s My top self-care tips :
• Surround yourself with things that make you happy .
• Give back by looking for opportunities to help other people .
• Journal - words bring thoughts to life .
• Read Positive affirmations to reaffirm yourself .
• Practice meditation to calm your thoughts .
• Exercise will make you feel strong and powerful .
• Eat properly it will give you lots of energy and wisdom .
For me Love is all about not feeling guilty for taking care of the person in the mirror ! It took me a long time to realize that selflove does not mean I ’ m selfish . It simply means that I love my family enough to take care of me too .
Coach Venus Lose the Fat , Keep the Curves
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IN RECOGNITION By Marge Roberts , RN , MSHP , DAHom
In 1976 , February was decreed Black History Month by President Gerald Ford . February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln . The recognition evolved from Negro History Week which was established as the second week in February in 1926 . Incidentally , Lincoln was a regular user of homeopathy and as a lawyer represented the Hahnemann Medical College in obtaining its charter . President Ford said in his announcement , “ In celebrating Black History Month , we can seize the opportunity to honor the toooften neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history .” With this in mind , our February article seeks to honor just some of the many black Americans and their contributions to medicine and healing . Dr . Ben Carson is probably the most prominent African American deserving of this honor . Dr . Carson is one of the most respected doctors in the world , now continuing his service as the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development . His surgeries to separate conjoined twins made international headlines , and his pioneering techniques have revolutionized the field of neurosurgery . He became the director of pediatric neurosurgery at one of the most prestigious hospitals in the United States and in 2004 he was awarded the Healthcare Humanitarian Award .
At the beginning of World War
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II , necessity brought Dr . Charles Drew , a physician , researcher and surgeon , to a new understanding of blood plasma that allowed blood to be stored for transfusions . This success led to his position as the head of the Red Cross blood bank . Necessity also brought Dr . Daniel Hale Williams the opportunity to shape history . He is credited with the world ’ s first successful heart surgery , conducted in Chicago in 1893 . A victim , with a stab wound to the heart , arrived at Provident Hospital ( founded by Dr . Williams as the first blackowned hospital in America ).
When the patient went into shock , Williams decided to operate and successfully sutured the patient ’ s pericardium ( the membranous sac enclosing the heart ). Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first Black professional nurse in America . She spoke at a 1909 Boston nursing conference and called for action to correct the blatant inequalities faced by African-American nurses . Dr . Bobby Westbrooks founded the American Black Chiropractic Association in 1981 . His goal was to “ empower African American doctors and students in chiropractic .” Coincidentally , the first chiropractic adjustment , performed by D . D . Palmer , the originator of chiropractic , was performed on Harvey Lillard , an African American . Susan Maria McKinney Steward was the first female African-American medical homeopathic doctor in the state of New York . She earned her medical degree in 1870 and opened a private clinic in Brooklyn , which she ran from 1870 to 1895 . During this time , she also co-founded the Brooklyn Women ’ s Homeopathic Hospital and Dispensary which successfully treated many patients with homeopathic medicine .
Dr . Clemence Sophia Lozier founded the New York Medical College for Women , a homeopathic medical school , in 1863 . Although Hippocrates is often considered the Father of Medicine , it is Imhotep , says Sir William Osler , who was the real Father of Medicine . According to Osler , “ Imhotep diagnosed and treated over 200 diseases , 15 diseases of the abdomen , 11 of the bladder , 10 of the rectum , 29 of the eyes , and
18 of the skin , hair , nails and tongue . Imhotep treated tuberculosis , gallstones , appendicitis , gout and arthritis . He also performed surgery and practiced some dentistry . Imhotep extracted medicine from plants .
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He also knew the position and function of the vital organs and circulation of the blood system . The Encyclopedia Britannica says , “ The evidence afforded by Egyptian and Greek texts support the view that Imhotep ’ s reputation was very respected in early times ... His prestige increased with the lapse of centuries and his temples in Greek times were the centers of medical teachings .”
In 1976 , when only 26 years old , Dr . Alexa Canady became the first Black female neurosurgeon in the United States and in 1986 , became chief of the neurosurgery department at Children ’ s Hospital of Michigan . In 1993 , she received the American Women ’ s Medical Association President ’ s Award . Canady ’ s research in neurosurgical techniques resulted in the invention of a programmable anti-siphon shunt , which is used to treat excess fluid in the brain . She shares a U . S . patent for the device with two other neurosurgeons . In 1973 , Dr . Patricia Bath became the first African American to complete a residency in ophthalmology , and in 1976 she co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness . In 1986 , Dr . Bath invented the Laserphaco Probe , which improved the treatment for cataract patients and in 1988 , she patented the Probe , becoming the first African-American female doctor to receive a medical patent .
We must also not forget the contribution made by the many slaves who brought with them the wisdom of the various herbs , plants and other home remedies . Often , standard medical care of that time ( bloodletting and purging ) was not available to them .
Often , to their credit , they chose to use their natural approaches rather than the barbaric standard treatment . Although I have been in the medical field for over 40 years , I learned a lot about the contributions of African Americans in the field of medicine through my research for this article . I have included only a small portion of those who are deserving of mention and would be delighted to share with you any references I came across in my research .
Marge Roberts , BSN , MSHP , DAHom
President / CEO Newton Homeopathics / AACH
770-922-2644 www . newtonlabs . net
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Living Better with PiedmontHOW ANGER HURTS YOUR HEART |
Anger is a normal human emotion and often a justified response to a frustrating person or situation , but too much of it can damage your heart . “ Anger is a normal human sentiment ,” says David Montgomery , M . D ., a preventive cardiologist at Piedmont Heart . “ However , frequent anger and / or maladaptive anger management end up being a big threat to your cardiovascular health . The more intense or prolonged your anger , the worse the adverse effects on the heart .”
Your Body on Anger
The moment you become angry , your body activates a powerful adrenaline response known as “ fight-or-flight .” Humans evolved this response long ago as a survival
mechanism ( to , for example , fend off a lion attack ) and increases the body ’ s heart rate , breathing rate and blood pressure , and causes the muscles to contract .
“ This manifests in our bodies as a state of hyperawareness , increased strength and an instantaneous switch to our instinctual mode of combat , escape or ‘ survival ,’” Dr . Montgomery explains .
Why is Anger Harmful to the Heart ?
“ A person with a chronically angry personality activates this kind of response repeatedly ,” says Dr . Montgomery .
Frequent spikes in blood pressure and heart rate directly compromise heart health .
“ Many studies have shown anger increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke , even in otherwise young
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and healthy people ,” he adds .
What Level of Anger are We Talking About ?
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“ People with intense and prolonged anger , or unsettling physical responses to anger , should first be seen by a preventive cardiologist to check for imminent danger ,” says Dr . Montgomery . “ While settling your thoughts ( e . g ., meditation ) would be nice , it is easier said than done when one is in a moment of anger .”
Anger Management to Protect Your Heart
Practicing meditation and other relaxation techniques can help you better handle anger in the long run , but if you need a strategy to combat anger ’ s negative effects in the moment , try high-intensity exercise .
“ Make the anger work for you , not against you ,” he says . “ A short power walk , burpees and jumping jacks are all ways to help diffuse the energy and lessen the effect on your heart .”
For more heart health tips , check out the Living Better section of https :// www . piedmont . org
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LOOK GOOD & BE FOUND ! |
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