The good news is heart disease, cardiovascular disease rates declined over a ten year period (1998-2008). However, in the United States heart disease continues to be the number one cause of death. There are, of course, contributing factors and it is likely you or someone you know has one of more of these factors.

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• High  blood cholesterol levels (including triglycerides and LDL)
• Sedentary lifestyle and body fat : physical  inactivity and overweight
• Smoke

The two leading factors are diabetes and overweight.

In prior posts here and here I’ve advocated the importance of taking small steps when making lifestyle changes. There’s nothing like grand plans undermining your intentions and long term goal. The steps can be so small they’re not noticed and do not produce mental anguish or bodily stress.  Add one heart healthy food at a time.

Heart healthy foods include:

• High fiber foods such as steel cut oats and whole grains
• Omega-3 fats in flaxseeds and wild salmon
• Foods rich in potassium (bananas, oranges, kiwi) ;

Calcium (low fat or no fat dairy products, broccoli and almonds);

Flavanoids (dark chocolate, tomatoes, berries and red wine) and the

Antioxidants in deep red, blue, orange and dark green fruits and vegetables.

National Wear Red Day is February 3 and February is Heart Health Month. Red is the color to wear during February for matters of the heart. Heart disease is the number killer of females at the rate of one per minute Heart disease kills before cancer. Heart disease shortened my mother’s lifespan. Based on my family’s past medical history, I’m at risk for heart disease. At the same time I’m on a mission to break the family cycle of heart disease.

You can be heart healthy at any age. What are you doing to protect your heart and the hearts of other women?

In the State of the Union address the President of the United States spoke about economic stability in the United States, equal pay for women for equal work, bringing jobs back to the United States of America instead of outsourcing and encouraging entrepreneurship and small business development.

Made in America

“An economy built to last, where hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded”.

He didn’t speak specifically and directly about the health of the nation. However he did speak indirectly about issues that impact the health and wellness of the nation.

“Technology made businesses more efficient, but also made some jobs obsolete. Folks at the top saw their incomes rise like never before, but most hard- working Americans struggled with costs that were growing, paychecks that weren’t, and personal debt that kept piling up.”

The number of nurse practitioners and complementary care practitioners who are business owners is increasing.  The number of practitioners would be greater if equal pay for services rendered was in the equation.

The nursing profession is female dominated and the medical profession is male dominated. One could debate that the reimbursement rate is partially due to the fact the majority of nurses are females, therefore less pay. The Medicare ratio is 85% to 100% for physicians. This unequal pay rate was and is a deterrent for some who considered entering the nursing profession and also retaining nurse professionals.

The media has reported many stories about people who seek health services (dentistry, reconstructive surgery, treatment for diseases, cosmetic surgery) outside of the United States because the cost for such services is too high in the U.S.A.

According to the Guardian Special Report, women small business owners are more engaging than their male counterparts.

Are you providing quality service? Is your client’s health and state of optimal wellness a priority in your business? What is the financial health of your business?

Education is a priority for women.

On one hand is the matter of education. Education is female dominated profession as well. Many colleagues have returned to school for more education and clinical experience and have also earned a doctorate degree. We are constantly reminded about the importance of education in our society. Additionally, a higher education, terminal degree is not cheap. The doctorate prepared can also go further for the Diplomate of Comprehensive Care-DCC. I can now address Nurse Practitioner XYZ or NP XYZ as Dr. XYZ, Nurse Practitioner. Everyone in America is entitled to obtain the highest degree set forth and given due respect for having done so. Future teachers matter. As said in the political arena, you don’t have to like the person but respect the position.

Small wellness business owners and female entrepreneurs

“You see, an economy built to last is one where we encourage the talent and ingenuity of every person in this country. That means women should earn equal pay for equal work.

It means we should support everyone who’s willing to work and every risk-taker and entrepreneur who aspires to become the next Steve Jobs.

After all, innovation is what America has always been about. Most new jobs are created in startups and small businesses. So let’s pass an agenda that helps them succeed. Tear down regulations that prevent aspiring entrepreneurs from getting the financing to grow.

Expand tax relief to small businesses that are raising wages and creating good jobs. Both parties agree on these ideas. So put them in a bill, and get it on my desk this year.”

Are your fees too low? Are you paying yourself and your employees equal pay for equal work?

Let us know the state of health of your business by leaving your comments below.

Sources: (1) State of the Union 20112:Obama Speech Transcript, The Washington Post.

(2) Guardian Special Report. Women Small Business Owners will Create 5+ Million New Jobs by 2018, transforming the Workplace for Millions of Americans, December 2009

Are you happy? I mean are you really, really, really happy? What is happiness for you? Happiness can be an elusive state of well-being for many individuals. Some individuals are always smiling, laughing and give the appearance of being happy. Yet, the question, ‘Are you really happy?’ arises. What is the meaning of happiness, you ask.

he Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines happiness as a state of well-being and contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience; joy.

• Mahatma Gandhi said happiness is “when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony”.
• “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful” ~Albert Schweitzer
• “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence”~Aristotle
• Some individuals say happiness is bite of chocolate, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a kiss, the sun against their face or the smile of a baby.

In Buddhism happiness and sorrow are our responsibility and both arise from the mind. We can train our minds to be happy. “All that we are is the result of what we have thought”~Buddha.

Happiness and unhappiness have a way of manifesting in one’s lifestyle in various ways. It can have a profound effect on health and wellness, relationships such as family and business life, financial status, success, the impact we have on others lives and the world at large. Happiness can effect whether or not we may leave the world a better place for having been on the planet earth-better than we found it.

The brain’s firing and re-firing and the mind can affect the state of happiness and the resultant physical and mental well-being of women and men. This in turn affects how humans move and interact in the world around them which extends into the outer reaches of the community and the world. Positive emotions such as happiness help expand one’s view of the world, to recognize opportunities when they appear, to act on those opportunities, to grow, develop, to be creative and to have a successful business, a state of health and wellness, and positive relationships. This topic of happiness and positive psychology and how they affect our lifestyles warrants more blog posts.

In ending this post, I must say Dr. Martin Seligman, a pioneer in this domain, continues to conduct research, teach and write about authentic happiness and positive psychology.

Are you happy? How’s your health, your state of well-being? Is your business growing and financially healthy?

Gyms love this time of the year because the beginning of a new year brings resolutions such as losing weight and new gym memberships. Gradually these new adventures start to wane and fall by the wayside and eventually forgotten. What can be done to offset the inevitable for many of you who were excited and believed you were committed about losing weight?

The answers are small steps and lifestyle changes. They always work!  The key word here is “believe”

Dictionary definition of believe:

To accept as true or real; to have faith;

To expect or suppose;

To have confidence in the value of something

I like “believe”. Weight Watchers use this word in their advertising campaign and it is one of my two words (believe and growth) for the New Year. Believing has great potential to bring internal and external personal and professional growth. Believe that pounds can be lost and weight reduced.

Weight Watchers is one of the nutrition plans I recommend and its new Points Plus 2012 program is easy to follow. When you add the activity routine it’s a win-win deal.

Additionally, studies have shown the combination of the weight loss nutrition plan and attending meetings (support) results in greater percentage of weight loss versus a dietary program alone. It has worked for me!

The other programs include DASH and the Therapeutic Lifestyle Program. I have found the DASH program to also be effective for a reduction in blood pressure in persons with high blood pressure. The Spectrum, another effective program is not as easy to follow as Weight Watchers. The Spectrum provides a higher nutrient count than Weight Watchers – Weight Watchers recommend a daily multi-vitamin mineral supplement. Lasting weight loss is a lifestyle change.

Is weight loss one of your New Year resolutions for a lifestyle change?

What program are you following to achieve your weight loss goals? Do you need support?