A potentially life-saving study was plastered all over the
internet yesterday.  Job Stress May Raise
Women’s Heart Attack Risk by Almost 90%! 
This is at the ‘preliminary assessment’ state as the results have not
been fully analyzed- basically meaning the medical community is not willing to
stand behind this claim just yet.  The
news, although, seems quite convincing and promising as it was done after
processing 10 years of data on over 17,000 women.  As the universe would have it, our very own Nurse
Practitioner Robin, is present at the American Heart Association Scientific
Sessions 2010 meeting where this information was presented.  Why do I know she was likely the one in the
front row of the lecture hall sitting at the edge of her seat at this
particular presentation?  Because this
type of data ‘(health news’ to you) is what any scientifically curious Integrative
Medicine health care provider seeks all the time.  Medicine is slow to accept change, in my
opinion.  The process is arduous, but
understandably necessary many of the times. 
But let me tell you, when modern evidence confirms what ancient healing
traditions have known for thousands of years- Integrative Medicines docs do the
end zone dance (you know the one that looks cool and silly at the same time but
the player doesn’t care one bit because the play and the achievement of the
touchdown was all that was on his mind at that moment). 

The connection between the health of your brain and the
health of your heart is irrefutable.  It
will take some time until scientists comb through the data to decide whether or
not they will change “The Guidelines.”  These
are the commandments that physicians will follow as they work to guide you in
your disease management.  If you happen
to be one of every 3 women bound to have heart disease in their future, this
should be a major treatment goal for you, your mother, your sister, your
friend.  The shocking statistic is that
one woman dies each and every minute due to heart disease or its
complications.  That’s crazy!!!  How can this be happening in the United
States of America, land of freedom and opportunity?  Well, if it makes you feel any better (it
doesn’t for most), in underdeveloped countries the rate of heart disease is 1
out of every 2 women.  That’s still
shocks me as a physician battling diseases of lifestyle like heart disease!!! 

Each one of us as women are uniquely gifted with a sense of
purpose, compassion, dedication and unfortunately, this can be taken to
dangerous places with risk to our mental health.  There is a line you cross when you go from
caring to OVERcaring.  You Superwomen
know I am talking to you!  Take it from
me.  I am blessed to learn the moral of a
patient’s  personal life story every
single day in the office.  I have seen
thousands more than 17,000 doctor visits with women over my career!  The healthiest women I meet have a sense of
calmness and peaceful perspective about them that pervades everything they go
through.  Their decisions are grounded in
a sound mind, not a scattered one.  They
don’t get overly emotional or negatively chained to their job, boss, work
responsibilities, coworkers, job performance. 
This cool, calm and connected mindset saves them a whole lotta fuss with
their other job- navigating the waters of family life.  

Adding an emphasis on stress management and relaxation
techniques to help decrease your risk for a heart attack is imperative.  The study suggests that 10-15 minutes a day
doing yoga, meditating, walking and appreciating nature, just plain letting go
is all that you have to start with to get going.  The truth is, whether or not science tells
you that ‘the evidence’ points to stress being a major risk factor for your
heart, your body will continue to serve as physical evidence of the impact of
chronic daily stress on your potential for living your happiest, healthiest
life each and every time you have a bad day at work.  The way that I see it- why wouldn’t you try
to reduce the impact of stress on your body? 
What do you have to lose?  If this
study turns out to be correct, it is your life!