On the month of October of 2008, I was on the couch nursing a terrible cold I had when my brother James answered a call I heard from my brother in law. He informed us that are sister had died. As I laid there with my eyes facing Heaven, I asked myself" How did she die? I finally got up and walked into James bedroom and asked what I've been thinking...How did she die??? "With my hands on my hips. He looked and said that she had died while singing in church. Was anyone with her? How long was it before someone was able to be with her when the heart-attack occurred ? I stood in the door-way while stream's of sorrow and lost ran down my cheek's, I wanted answer's and when I didn't receive any was when I decided to just walk away.".. Later during the week I was able to get question's answered about my sister and how she had suffered. I was told that even tho she wasn't feeling well at the time, she decided to go to church. My sister like most of us are not familiar with the WARNING SIGN'S or symptom's of an on-coming heart attack......

"Knowing the sign's of a Heart Attack"

Months have pass since the passing of my sister and their has been another heart -attack in my family.This time it was a cousin of mine." What is going on with these heart-attacks and why are they happening in my family ? As I was putting this page together I started to think about how my family dealt with health and other illness. I wanted to know what were some of the sign's when it comes to a heart -attack...So I went online and find some web-site's. I've learn that when it comes to having heart -attacks that African American women are  having more heart -attacks and stroke's than any other woman in the community and that cardiovascular diseases are the first and third caused of death in the African American women community and the black community as a hole. And it when comes to knowing the warning sign's of a heart- attack or any other illness we are most liking not to pay a attention to what is going with us until it's to late"... I think that is what happened to my sister and my cousin..They didn't pay attention to the warning sign's when they should have.

Why is it that so many of us African American women are dying of heart

 disease?... 'This is how I see it. " We are to busy taking care of other thing's that

 we forget about our self.... and going to the doctor is not on the list. I was surprise to learn that men will go to the doctor faster then we will. When I think about my sister and my cousin would wonder, did they know the sign of a heart -attack and did they have good health care? Knowing the sings of a heart attack or any other issue is very import to know. Because if you know what the sign's are then one can do something about them.  Here are some of the signs .. Some of them my not seen like signs to a heart disease but they are.. and if you're having any of those symptom's, go right away and have it checked out do not let fear get in the way"

1. A burning feeling in the chest
2. Pain in the back, between the shoulders
3. Pain or tightness in the chest that spreads to the jaw,neck,shoulder,ear or the insider of the arms
4. Pain in the belly above the belly button

What can we do as African American women do to lower the risk in heart attacks and heart disease in our community I believe that the African American must understand what heart disease is and understand it and educate yourself when it come to this disease and other illness.. We must learn how to take better care of ourselves.

Here are some of the things that must be looked at if we want to have good health and live longer . Find out all you can about your family history. Do not depend on your mother and father go back as far as you can... And see who in the family tree had heart disease and other illness before you where born and other disease ..So when you go to check this out your doctor or clinic will have something to work with. Visit your doctor or clinic often find out about the disease and another illness that may put you at risk. Women who smoke, you need to stop. High blood pressure runs wild in our community so go and get it checked out as often as can, you might need medicine to keep it at the right level. DIABETES is also number 1 in our community if you think you my have diabetes go and get tested for it and find out. One of the best way to take care of yourself and your heart is to know the facts. Cholesterol is something that we do not think about when we're putting that butter on our eggs and some of us still do that! you need to think about what your eating when it comes to food so go and get that cholesterol level checked out know your good and bad cholesterol.

Eating heart-healthy food.....Learning how to eat healthy foods as a whole has been an up hill battle for the African America community .is a change for us in that the way eat is coming form a long line of history and that has follow us up to day... In that our mother and father eat what they could get their hands which have not change for some of us. But if we want to live a long and healthy life we must learn how to eat and what to eat.... It is a known fact that African Americans love their fried chicken, pig feet's,chili ,butter and salt on ever thing" But in order for us to live longer we must look at food in a different way....

Eating right is the key to a healthy heart.That is why eating whole grain foods, more vegetables and fruits choosing leaner meats and looking at low-fat cheese and dairy products are important. WE must learn how to limit foods that have a lot saturated fats, like butter,whole milk,baked goods ,ice cream and fatty meats that make our heart work over time...Think about the drinking you do and if you are drinking alcohol cut back on it because it can raise your blood pressure and put you at a high risk for a heart attack or a stroke.

Put one foot in front of the other and get moving.. Here is a another known fact African American women are over weight and are dying in larger numbers because of this.. I will say that we are moving ,but we are moving onto the wrong things....It is time for us black women to step up the games when it comes to our health... lets get moving in doing more physical activity.. "Also this is something to think about, just because your thin does not mean that you are healthy just because a cover looks good doesn't mean it is......That was just on my mind and I needed to say that...." So lets look at how we look at life.Let's think and work on keeping a healthy weight and above all learn how to read the sign's when it comes to prevention.

This article I wrote was a way for me to honor my sister and in hope that someone will read this and think about learning how to read the sings when it comes to your health....