By Rachel Langston

I know that Valentine’s Day is still a few weeks away and “American Heart Month” doesn’t officially start until February. We celebrate a little early at our house, though, because we have a heart anniversary that is worth noting!

January 22, 2005 was the day that my, then 39 year old husband, had a heart major attack. It came without warning and with no obvious family history or risk factors. Because of my husband’s attention to his symptoms and his recognition that he was likely having a heart attack, he is alive to celebrate today – the 2 yr. anniversary of good health SINCE his heart attack.

I am not an alarmist, but I have become a believer in education about health issues and doing whatever we can to make ourselves healthier. Because of his heart attack, our family has made some changes. None of them are drastic and, hopefully, all of them will make all of us just a little healthier in the long run.

I encourage you to take just a few minutes today to think about your heart. If it is healthy, give thanks. If it is not, commit to doing what you can to start making it healthier.

Here are a few places to get you started on finding some good information…

http://www.americanheart.org

http://www.heartinfo.org/

http://www.health-heart.org/

http://www.pelinks4u.org/articles/bonello/020103HappyHeartInteractive.htm

http://www.happyheart.com/

http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2000/006/4.80.html