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Today is national “Go Red for Women Day.” This is a great reminder for all of us who are primary caregivers to special kids to take care of yourself, whether you’re a man or a woman.
Parenting special kids can take a toll on your body, mind and spirit. Some days you struggle just to get out of bed in the morning knowing that the day is going to be a fight. Other days you can get out of bed knowing that it’s going to be a good day.
Heart disease is the number one killer of women for “normal” women. Stress increases your risk for heart disease. Are parents of special kids stressed? OK, that was slightly rhetorical and sarcastic.
What can you do to reduce your risk of heart disease, so that you can be around for your kids? Some of these things are things that you have heard for years, but bear repeating because we don’t always listen.
Eat healthy – I am turning 40 in August and my New Year’s resolution was to get healthy so I can be “fit at forty.” I have lost six pounds since I started, but I feel great. I have more energy, I sleep better, and it feels good to see the number on the scale going down. Simply following the food pyramid is a good way to start, not to mention the good example you are setting for your kids.
Exercise – OK, we can all make excuses why we don’t want to exercise, and I am the queen of them. I only do about thirty minutes of exercise a day, and it’s not hard core. I already have arthritis so I can’t do aerobics or kick boxing or other things like that. I do yoga and use an exercise ball. Hannah has started to do yoga with me and wants me to get her a ball that she can use. You can use this time for bonding, model healthy living practices for your kids, as well as getting healthy yourself.
Get enough sleep – This one is a little bit harder to do depending on your child, but get eight hours of sleep if you can.
Quit smoking – Again, if you’re a smoker you know this already. I have never been a smoker and right now I am the harping wife trying to get my husband to quit. It is healthy for you and for your kids, and again, you are modeling good behavior for your kids. It’s hard to tell your kids not to smoke when they see you smoking, plus by smoking you give your kids easier access to cigarettes when they get older and may want to experiment.
What are the warning signs of a heart attack?
Chest discomfort – Notice I didn’t say chest pain. The common myth is that you will feel pain. It can be simply a tightness in the chest and not necessarily pain. In some cases it may feel like heartburn. Just because you have heartburn doesn’t mean you are having a heart attack.
Shortness of breath – If you are having trouble breathing in addition to chest discomfort, you want to pay attention.
Upper body discomfort – Another myth is that you will have chest pain and pain in your left arm. That is not always the case. The pain or discomfort could be in other areas of your upper body such as you neck, head or jaw.
If in doubt, call your doctor or get to the hospital. Better safe than sorry, and you do want to be around to see your kids grow up, don’t you?
