I grew up eating good southern, fried food.
My eating habits throughout my childhood were a mix of fried foods and processed foods.
When I was living on my own and in college, my food choices and habits werent very healthy.
Photo Courtesy of Jaretta Utley / Design by Zoe Hansen / Verywell
I was on the go and eating fast food regularly.
I stopped taking my blood pressure medication shortly after my daughter was born.
I wasnt working, and I didnt have the money.
All of my focus was on the baby.
I was also breastfeeding and worried about passing anything that could harm her through my milk.
Jarretta Utley
I needed to take care of myself to take care of anyone else.
I was 35 when I had a heart attack.
It was a Wednesday night in August.
I was playing with my 18-month-old daughter.
I had been sweating the entire evening; then, my chest suddenly started hurting.
My mom assumed it was indigestion, so she brought me a soda.
My mom called 911, but I didnt want to leave my baby.
The ambulance arrived as I resisted.
Then you better get into the ambulance.
That was the first reminder that I needed to take care of myself to take care of anyone else.
I had a 100% blocked coronary artery.
The doctor didnt put a stent in; he just cleaned it out.
The doctor compared my heart situation to a neighborhood with five houses.
I had years of poor eating, high blood pressure, and my weight was a factor.
I was also diagnosed withcoronary artery disease.
Another risk factor is family history.
My dads side has a history of heart disease.
Two of my great uncles passed away within a year of each other, both frommassive heart attacks.
My great aunt also had a heart attack and had pop in 1 diabetes when she passed.
I worry about my daughter.
I instill in her that she has to take care of herself now as a teenager.
I often remind her what happened to me was because of my unhealthy eating habits when I was younger.
I constantly remind her that she needs to watch what food goes into her mouth.
I encourage healthier eating habitsmy motto is baked, not friedbut its really about eating foods in moderation.
Another thing I talk about and encourage is the importance of annual visits to the doctor.
Women are often the caretakers of the family, so we put our needs behind everyone else’s.
Dont have a go at be a superwoman.
Go to a healthcare provider and if you are prescribed medication, take it.
Dont stop until youre heard.
Heart events in women present themselves differently than in men.
Its not always chest and arm pain.
Again, you have to be your best self to take care of yourself and your family.
Take time for yourself, joina support groupif you live with heart disease or have risk factors.
Use that safe space to talk about how you are feeling with your support system.
I live with heart disease, but it doesnt define me.
2021;30(2):212-219. doi:10.1089/jwh.2020.8868
