Patience Is A Heart-Healthy Virtue

The next time a petty problem makes you so frustrated that you could shake your fists and scream, consider this: By overreacting to a small setback, you may actually harm your heart.

New research has found that a lack of patience may be bad for your heart. Women and men ages 18 to 30 who showed signs of impatience and hostility were more likely to develop high blood pressure 15 years later. Previous studies have linked hostility to a higher risk for heart attack, too.

If you want to protect your heart, stop wringing your hands. The next time you feel flustered, try one of these approaches:

• Give in. You don’t always have to win an argument. If you do stand firm, do so calmly, not combatively.
• Be a little less nit-picky. If you’re super-critical of yourself and other people, you set yourself up for frustration.
• Ready to rage? Think twice. Before you let someone have it, consider the consequences.
• Take a breather. For just 10 minutes, take the time to relax, listen to music, or just do nothing.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, congestive heart failure, kidney problems, and other illnesses. And while both men and women are at risk, many still consider heart disease to be something only men have to be concerned with. Not the case.

"According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women," says David Zuckoff, M.D., section chief of Cardiology at Riverview Medical Center. Also, a recent survey shows 78 percent of women ages 40 to 70 in Monmouth and Ocean counties are at risk for a first heart attack. "In light of these findings, Meridian Health and Riverview have launched the Women’s HeartAdvantage Program to provide information and support that will help women in our community combat this deadly disease."

For more information on the Women’s HeartAdvantage Program, call Meridian Health Line at 1-800-560-9990.