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FROM THE PUBLISHER
Media never stops , which makes my job 24 / 7 . This can be very stressful , and my health suffers because of it . Anxiety , headaches , nausea , lack of sleep , fatigue , and forgetting to eat weakens my immune system , so I tend to get sick more than I would like . It also messes with my emotional state . Mixing that in with being a woman … well some days I feel like I ’ m losing my mind .
Stress is a very serious condition that can lead to heart disease , including high blood pressure , heart attacks , and stroke , and it happens to be the number one cause of death of women in the US . Besides stress , diet , fitness , bad habits , birth control , and injury can all factor in . Brianne Cassidy was only 24 years old when she had a stroke after suffering a head injury . The experience changed her entire life physically , mentally , and emotionally . Today she shares her story with as many as she can , and I wanted her to share with all of you . Being a supporter of the American Heart Association , I ’ ve heard a lot of stories that inspired me . Hopefully Brianne will do the same for you .
I am aware of how stress affects me . I know when I ’ m feeling a certain way that I ’ m way too stressed out and need to chill out . I would be lying if I said it ’ s easy for me to relax , but I ’ m lucky to have a great team of supporters that often force me to do so . One other way I help to reduce stress is working out . Being fit is essential ; not only does it keep your body healthier , it also releases endorphins to boost your emotional state .
As important as it is to keep your body healthy , the same goes for your mind and what you surround yourself with . Therapists often recommend getting a pet to help reduce stress . Growing up with dogs , I decided to take that advice . Having a new puppy has been a handful , but she ’ s also helped a lot . She senses when I ’ m stressed and will come lie next to me to show me she cares . She also forces me to take a break when she needs a walk or begs to play tug of war . The unconditional love a pet can give is priceless , and a part of returning that love is to make sure she is healthy as well . I ’ ve discovered a lot in only two months about what can hurt her and help her . As Seattle is one dog-loving city , it seemed like a perfect fit to kick off a section in this issue dedicated to our furry Seattle dwellers .
So why do I continue to do what I do if it puts my health at risk ? Did you see this issue ’ s cover ? Trust me – there wasn ’ t an ounce of stress shooting that . All joking aside , soccer players are definitely at the top of the list of the fittest athletes . It was a no brainer to pull a few of our Seattle Sounders FC players ( Nelson Valdez , Tyrone Mears , and Zach Scott ) and ask them to show off their ripped bods . Having to run for 90 to 120 minutes per game with only a 15-minute break is hard on their bodies , so staying healthy is their only option to stay in the game . They each share how they do it in our exclusive interview with these star athletes . Sounder FC ’ s Director of Performance & Sports Science , David Tenney , also makes sure the players stay strong and injury free . He is responsible for the Catapult GPS program that measures the players ’ movement and the Omegawave technology that tests players ’ heart rate variability and state of readiness . Health professionals travel from all over to hear him speak at conferences since he ’ s one of the most respected and progressive sports science minds in Major League Soccer . It will be easy to see why we ’ re learning more about him with our exclusive interview .
The bottom line is that I love what I do . It ’ s uncommon to hear people say that about their job . And that within itself is what drives me to stay healthy to be able to continue to push each issue out , produce the unforgettable events such as the upcoming Seattle Nightlife Awards , and try my damnest to make a positive impact on this growing city . The only person that can take care of you the best is you , but it doesn ’ t hurt to take a little advice every now and then .
Charity Mainville
Photo by : Ernie Sapiro Photography
HEALTH & FITNESS ISSUE VILLE l
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