Today I struggle with the pandemic, with the mask restrictions, with the political unrest, with the social strife, with the difference in reality between now vs. the way life was prior to all of this. I feel like the media is making a deliberate effort to make the situation worse. After all - here is reality from the CDC
Risk factors for developing heart disease include:
- Age. Aging increases your risk of damaged and narrowed arteries and weakened or thickened heart muscle.
- Sex. Men are generally at greater risk of heart disease. However, women's risk increases after menopause.
- Family history. A family history of heart disease increases your risk of coronary artery disease, especially if a parent developed it at an early age (before age 55 for a male relative, such as your brother or father, and 65 for a female relative, such as your mother or sister).
- Smoking. Nicotine constricts your blood vessels, and carbon monoxide can damage their inner lining, making them more susceptible to atherosclerosis. Heart attacks are more common in smokers than in nonsmokers.
- Certain chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy for cancer. Some chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapies may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Poor diet. A diet that's high in fat, salt, sugar and cholesterol can contribute to the development of heart disease.
- High blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can result in hardening and thickening of your arteries, narrowing the vessels through which blood flows.
- High blood cholesterol levels. High levels of cholesterol in your blood can increase the risk of formation of plaques and atherosclerosis.
- Diabetes. Diabetes increases your risk of heart disease. Both conditions share similar risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure.
- Obesity. Excess weight typically worsens other risk factors.
- Physical inactivity. Lack of exercise also is associated with many forms of heart disease and some of its other risk factors, as well.
- Stress. Unrelieved stress may damage your arteries and worsen other risk factors for heart disease.
- Poor hygiene. Not regularly washing your hands and not establishing other habits that can help prevent viral or bacterial infections can put you at risk of heart infections, especially if you already have an underlying heart condition. Poor dental health also may contribute to heart disease.
Seems like most of the attributes above are being exacerbated by COVID. Wonderful.
So - today was a juggling day at work. You know... lots of things... lots of different activities. The day ended with me ready for a break. We ordered pizza. Madilyn visited Emma at college and I just collapsed in a chair. I removed a bunch of fencing that was left in our back yard. This was all wire fencing with a top wire that was barbed. I used my grandfather's fencing tool and it still works like a champ. Yesterday I played some songs I had recorded for Madilyn of Jan singing. It has been a long time since she heard these and just wept. I think we just forget someone's voice after a while. It was good hearing her sing.
I am getting people ready for bed so I am signing off for the evening. Until later -
