The 2008-2009 holiday season has officially gotten underway. Beginning with Thanksgiving, and all the way through Christmas, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Day, the 2009 Inaugural festivities of President-elect Barack Obama, and Super Bowl celebrations, many Americans will be surrounded by alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and a variety of whiskeys, during this season.

The best advice is ‘if you don’t drink, then don’t start’, as the temptation to over consume alcohol is tremendous. Be prudent and be mindful of the amount of alcohol ingested during this time.

Studies recommend drinking one 8-oz glass of red wine per day. This small amount of alcohol protects the heart by raising HDL (good cholesterol) and reducing plaque accumulations in the arteries. On the other hand, drinking more than three alcohol drinks per day has a direct toxic effect on the heart. Heavy drinking, particularly over time, can damage the heart and lead to high blood pressure and alcoholic cardiomyopathy (enlarged and weakened heart).

Protect your heart and your health during this holiday season. Limit your alcohol consumption to one-half ounce per day, which amounts to: one 12-ounce bottle of beer, or one 4-ounce glass of wine, or a one 1/2-ounce shot of 80-proof spirits, as each of these contain the same amount of alcohol.

Walking is by far one of the easiest, and cost effective ways to increase your physical activity and improve your health. Pastors’ spouses and parishioner participants in NCPS’ Atlanta Heart Truth pilot are witnessing incredible results using this secret weapon: ‘walking and drinking water’. In addition to reports of weight loss and body mass index reductions, church- goers in the pilot program have become more aware of how walking can help reduce cardiovascular risks.

Merely walking four days per week has been shown to strengthen the heart muscle, increase your heart rate, and increase blood circulation throughout your body. Walking also increases your lungs’ ability to take in oxygen for an overall better feeling.

So, how much walking are Americans doing on average? Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that only 1 in 18 people, who say walking is their chief exercise, were doing enough.

• 78% walked for 30 minutes or more when they walked
• 34% walked at least 4 times a week
• 26% walked at moderate intensity (3.5 miles per hour or faster)
• Only 6.7% met all three goals

Experts recommend 30 to 60 minutes of brisk walking in your quest towards a healthy heart. Beginners, however, are encouraged to clock 2,000 steps a day, and then gradually increase their steps over time to 10,000 steps per day, which is the norm. To gauge the number of steps walked per day, it is best to invest in an inexpensive pedometer (steps counter), which can be worn throughout the day on your belt, pants or skirt.

Do not begin any exercise or walking program without first consulting your doctor or medical care provider.

Heart Truth is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Since 1963, February has been recognized as American Heart Month. Every year since then the President has issued a proclamation to this effect, to help raise public awareness of heart disease.

Pastors’ spouses are out front leading the charge– exclaiming that cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in women…but also that heart disease is the most preventable cause of death. Churches involved in NCPS’ Atlanta Heart Truth pilot continue championing this effort. Thanks to funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) scores of parishioners in the Atlanta region are currently participating in classes, and other daily activities in their local churches, designed to bring awareness to the behaviors which increase their risk of cardiovascular disease.

According to Dr. Brenda Lankford, NCPS Board member and Atlanta Heart Truth Project Coordinator, “because women are so focused on keeping their husbands, children, and other extended family members healthy, they sometimes ignore key early heart-risk signs/symptoms in their own bodies which could indicate an impending heart attack.”

Some of these warning signs may include, but are not limited to: chest pain, which may also include back pain and/or deep aching and throbbing in one or both arms; breathlessness or unable to catch your breath when waking up; clammy sweating for no apparent reason; dizziness and/or unexplained lightheadedness, possible blackouts; anxiety or anxiousness followed by unusual nervousness or feelings of impending doom; edema or fluid, puffiness or swelling usually of the ankles or lower legs; fluttering and/or rapid heartbeats, palpitations; nausea or gastric upset; and lastly… a feeling of heaviness, such as pressure-like chest pain between the breasts that may radiate to the left arm or shoulder.

If you experience any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate… please get medical help immediately!

It’s official! Pastors’ spouses from the National Coalition of Pastors’ Spouses (NCPS) Heart Truth pilot in Atlanta will attend the Red Dress Gala in New York City on February 1, 2008, when the Heart Truth returns to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for its annual Red Dress Collection fashion show on National Wear Red Day. The campaign’s partnership with the fashion industry continues as top designers and celebrities converge on one runway to debut red dresses created to raise awareness about heart disease, the #1 killer of women.

The Red Dress has become the national symbol for heart disease awareness. In a show of solidarity for this event and NCPS’ heart truth initiative, pastors’ spouses in the Atlanta Heart Truth pilot will encourage parishioners to wear red dresses to church the Sunday prior to their New York departure.

Through signature programs like the Red Dress Collection Fashion Show, The Heart Truth is reminding women of the need to protect their heart health. Awareness among women that heart disease is their #1 health threat increased from 34 percent in 2001 to 57 percent in 2006. Additionally, 57 percent of women recognize the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness, up from zero percent when it was created by The Heart Truth. Join the national heart health awareness movement that is being embraced by millions who share the common goal of greater awareness and better heart health for all women.

The Heart Truth is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

The National Coalition of Pastors’ Spouses’ (NCPS) recently kicked off its Atlanta Heart Truth 1-year pilot! As part of an NIH (National Institutes of Health) and NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute) grant, pastors’ wives from several Atlanta church/ministries have committed to draft a national heart health template specific to people of color in faith communities.

The excitement and enthusiasm are mounting as approximately 100 parishioners from the various Atlanta churches have signed up to participate in the pilot. Armed with the NCPS 12-month diary entitled Get to Stepping: A Daily Walk with Jesus, along with the Get to Stepping: A Daily Walk with Jesus, an original CD, written by Mr. Warren Lankford of Atlanta; a pedometer; sample supply of NCPS bottled water; and NHLBI Heart Truth literature, these soldiers are on the road to a heart-healthy lifestyle. The successes and challenges of this pilot will be chronicled in hopes of rolling out a national faith-focused Heart Truth program throughout the NCPS network, and other churches in 2008.

The National Coalition of Pastors’ Spouses recognizes that while modern conveniences are making our lives more simple, these same conveniences are contributing to increased health risks and disease in our bodies.

Conveniences such as taking the elevator instead of the stairs; driving the car two blocks instead of walking or bicycling; using the remote control instead of getting up changing the television channels are increasing our risks of heart attacks, diabetes, and possibly stroke.
Please take a few minutes to answer the following “true or false” questions to increase your knowledge on walking and heart disease.

Check Your Physical Activity and Heart Disease I.Q.:

1.      Regular physical activities can reduce your chances of getting heart disease.  T or F

2. Most people get enough physical activity from their normal daily routine.  T or F

3. The older you are, the less active you need to be.  T or F

4. You should consult a doctor before starting a physical activity program.  T or F

5.      It doesn’t take a lot of money or costly equipment to become physically fit.  T or F

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Looming on the horizon are major health challenges that will face today’s youth. These health concerns can be directly linked to not eating properly. Poor eating habits are a leading contributor to heart disease and many other illnesses that will disproportionately affect today’s teens (13-19), t’weens (9-12), and young adults (20+) in the not-too-distant future.

More and more African-American youth and young adults are overweight because of their lifestyles: frequent fast-food eaters, engage in little or no exercise, and eating an unhealthy diet at least 5 days a week. So what is the remedy?

Young people need to eat less and get involved more in exercise-driven activities on a regular basis. In addition to participating in sports or walking in the local mall or neighborhood, they could be washing the family car; mowing lawns; vacuuming and mopping floors; cleaning sinks, showers and tubs; ironing and other household chores, which are ideal ways for youth to burn calories.