Take Care Of Your Heart

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in a report released in their website dated January 17, 2022 said that during the first nine months of 2021, ischaemic heart diseases were the leading cause of death with 110,332 cases or 18.3 percent of the total deaths in the country. (Ischaemic heart disease is the term given to heart problems caused by narrowed heart arteries. When arteries are narrowed, less blood and oxygen reaches the heart muscle. This is also called coronary artery disease and coronary heart disease. This can ultimately lead to heart attack.- heart.org). This indicated an increase of about 28.0 percent from the 86,164 deaths or 16.9 percent of the total deaths in the same period of 2020.

On the other hand, cerebrovascular diseases, now came in second with 58,880 deaths (9.7% share) from being third in the previous year’s ranking. It showed an increase of 10.9 percent from the 53,082 cases (10.4% share) in the same period in 2020. Deaths due to COVID-19 virus identified were now the third leading cause which accounted for 51,514 deaths (8.5% share), rising from rank 15 with 7,357 deaths (1.4% share) in the same period of 2020. With that being said, heart disease being the leading cause of death in the country is quite alarming. This means that we should be extra careful with our heart.

Our heart’s main function is to pump enough blood to deliver a continuous supply of oxygen and other nutrients to the brain and the other vital organs (https://www.uofmhealth.org ). If it malfunctions it would lead to serious illness that may lead to death. So, let’s take care of our heart. According to World Health Organization (WHO) we could do it by doing the following:

1. Eat a heart healthy diet.
2. If overweight, lose weight.
3. Increase regular physical activity to at least 2.5 hours per week.
4. Don’t use tobacco.
5. Avoid use of alcohol.
6. Have your blood pressure and blood sugar checked regularly.

On another note, we may feel our heart is doing well, but there are times that one may feel heartaches due to sad events in one’s life or caused by people who hurt us. This cannot be cured by a physician but rather the one experiencing it needs time to heal itself.

I have had also my share of heartaches in the past like when I was hurt when my parents separated during my high school days. It took me years to accept our family’s situation. Then, in college I had my heart broken by a first love that did not bloom. I cried buckets of tears. Thanks to family and friends who were there for me during that time, I got over it. Come my husband’s death in 2011 due to kidney problem and complications. I was devastated but with my kids in mind I was able to let go and be strong for them. Last 2016 my father died due to lung cancer. The grief was there but thank God that he did not suffer for long. Overall, it is not easy going through heartaches and pain. Along the way, I learned to accept and rise above on various situations, let go, forgive myself and forgive those who have hurt me. Then, I let God’s love make me whole again.

For those who are suffering from heartaches, don’t be too hard on yourself. Open up to your family and friends and let their love and support help you go through this moment. Let self love prevail (easier said than done). Make yourself busy. Be patient and let time take its course to ease the pain. And more importantly pray for acceptance and God’s will in your life.

Also, let your hearts be loving, caring and humble. For Luke 6:45 says, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of”. Thus, let us be understanding and supportive to those who are suffering from heartaches. Likewise, we should also be mindful of not hurting others so as not to cause heartaches.

Below is a prayer “Please Heal My Wounded Heart” that was posted in www.catholic.org that I’m sharing with you.

Dear God, please help me heal from grief, loss and the pain of love gone wrong. Let me leave deep heartache in my past. And be whole and happy again in my fear of never finding true love.

I have been needy and overly-anxious, Desperate and too willing to settle. Please calm the need in me that leads to unwise choices. Fill the emptiness in my heart that makes me crave unhealthy love. Restore my faith in love and relationships. And grant me the ability to love myself fully. And to feel lovable and wanted from within. Let the healing process must begin inside my heart.

Amen.

“Crying is a way your eyes speak when your mouth can’t explain how broken your heart is.” — Unknown