There was nothing I ever wanted more than to play Division I soccer in college. The moment I stepped on the field in fifth grade for the first time, I loved the game. I loved everything about it: the speed, the aggression, the strategy, the teamwork. Right through high school, I was a leader on my teams. I transformed into a fighter who would do anything (legal!) to support my teammates and perform my best. There is nothing in my life that has ever made me feel so alive.

One woman's struggle to survive a procedure to treat Afib:
http://adventuresincardiology.wordpress....
or Google "Adventures in Cardiology"

In my previous blog, I discussed how hyperthyroidism can affect the heart. When I refer to the heart, I always focus on the major components that need to be addressed. They include the actual strength of the muscle, blood flow, heart valves and the heart's electrical system. Once these are understood, we can delve into the issues that people may have with their heart especially as it relates to thyroid issues. Hypothyroidism is a term referred to low thyroid hormone production. Many different disease processes may cause this type of abnormality. Common systemic symptoms include:

How strong is your core? If you've tried any exercise program, or watched the infomercials, you've probably heard a lot about developing "core strength." Generally, while a lot of us might only think "abs," this refers to strengthening the muscles between your pelvis and shoulders. Your core supports the rest of your body, protects your spine and is at the root of daily muscle activity. Arthur Agatston, M.D., cardiologist and author of the South Beach Diet, recommends core strength training for more than physical fitness, but also for strengthening your heart.

We all have our definition of heroes. To some, it’s those superhuman fictional beings with outrageous strength and fantastic skills. I’ll be honest…I certainly felt like a hero when I was four and used to wear my Wonder Woman underwear. It was my tip-top secret that on those days I could tear off my pants and save the world if requested …luckily Spindle City pre-school was never attacked by nuclear missiles or assaulted by an evil villain.

According to the Lupus Research Institute (LRI), there is a connection between lupus and heart disease that young women need to be alerted to. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects more than one million American women and causes the body to make antibodies against itself, can be very serious and life-threatening - emphasis on "can." I have lupus, but no history of heart disease or indication thereof, so far. Knock on my wooden head!

When it comes to the sexes, a heart attack is a heart attack, right? The short answer is no. The differences between men and women are not just the obvious ones. They can be as subtle as how they feel in the weeks prior to having a heart attack. The distinctions can also been seen in how women are treated in the emergency room. It is only in the last 50 years that we have seen women treated for heart failure and even more recently that we have seen women included in studies of heart disease. In essence, what is known about women and heart failure is a study in progress.

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer of people in our country. The group estimates that for the 2.3 million people who will die this year, an astonishing 41 percent will be from heart conditions.

Isn’t that one of the most sobering things you’ve ever read? I mean, I realize that heart disease claims many lives every year—but almost half of those who die?

In addition, the association’s website: www.americanheart.org states that 59 million Americans are currently living with some form of heart disease.

Remember learning about the birds and the bees, and how boys and girls are different?

Of course, those talks usually centered around the more obvious anatomical differences between the sexes, which of course then led to several giggle-filled discussions on the playground with my friends.

But really, the difference between boys and girls and men and women goes way beyond basic genitalia. In general, women tend to be smaller—not only in stature, but on the inside as well.

For years, my cholesterol levels had been very good. When I’d go in for my yearly check up and blood work, the number would always come back right in the 110 range. My physician and I were always pretty pleased with these results.

Then one year, seemingly out of the blue, my cholesterol shot up to 320.

No, that’s not a typo—in the space of 12 short months, my cholesterol reading went up by over 200 points.