Lois Watts photo from BHS yearbook

Lois and her now deceased husband, Bob Watts, have made a large monetary gift to the Bismarck Public Schools. Bob’s avocation and vocation was aviation. Lois taught Home Economics for many years at Bismarck High School after her first year of teaching in Beach, and closed out her teaching career at Century when it was a brand new school. Their gifts are intended to augment the learning experiences of the students who take the classes Lois used to teach and those who are pursuing the career that Bob loved.

Although many of Lois’s recollections have faded with time, there seem to be two experiences from her teaching days that stand out. She remembers having four and five year old children come to the high school to have a playschool experience. Students in Child Development classes planned lessons and activities for the children. She recalls playing Ring Around the Rosie and reading children’s books like “The Little Engine that Could.” She also remembers how one youngster got fed up with the activities and decided he was going to just go home. Lois followed him to keep an eye on him and was relieved to find he lived just across the street from the school grounds.

During the holiday season Lois guided the Home Economics students in putting on an Annual Christmas Tea for faculty and spouses. This was a huge production and preparations were monumental. Thanks to Lynne Bigwood, a friend and companion to Lois, we were able to unearth a typed copy of all the recipes prepared for the tea held in 1966. There are four pages of legal-size paper chock-full of 32 different candy and cookie recipes. Notwithstanding the work of preparing all these goodies, imagine the effort involved in preparing the recipe handouts. Those of us old enough to recognize the format can appreciate what it took. My mom was the advisor for our high school newspaper and I recall how she typed a stencil and used blue correction fluid to correct her mistakes. Once that was completed, with lots of counting of spaces to center the titles, the stencil was attached to a machine with a drum and she cranked the handle to run each individual page through. Do we appreciate all the cut and paste capabilities of our word processing programs as much as we should? And this machine had no collating and stapling capabilities either!

Many of the recipes are familiar, and perhaps are still holiday favorites in your household. They include Green Wreaths made with corn flakes and melted marshmallows, Pfefferneuse, Spritz, and Melting Moments. And some seem to be more like a blast from the past – Jam Cake, Norwegian Butter Cookies, and Quick Walnut Panocha.

This must have been a much-anticipated event at the high school. It’s one that has gone by the wayside. However, students still invite small children to attend playschool. And they still read “The Little Engine that Could” and play Ring Around the Rosie.

Lois and Bob never had children of their own, but Lois holds a special place in the heart of many former students, friends, and neighbors. Her kindness and generosity were apparent through the years in simple acts, and now through their significant gift to this generation’s children.

A copy of one of the recipe handouts

by Linda Boyd

Mom is my inspiration. She encouraged me in my growing up years and she continues to be a positive influence.

In the 50’s mom had several loses in her life. Her twin sister passed when they were in their late twenties, and she lost her mother and grandmother – all in a short time. Caring for Grandpa in his home was now necessary. My siblings and I were close in age (all under age 5). With all she had to take care of she continued to give positive encouragement to those around her. I can still hear her reminding us with words like, “You can do it” and “Oh, you are just as good as they are”. Telling us we could be whatever we wanted to be – do whatever we wanted to do.

In my early teens Mom went to Business College and then started working at The Minot Daily News, where she worked for 25 years. As busy as she was, she made sure my siblings and I attended Sunday school, church and church choir and practiced for our baton and guitar lessons. She taught Sunday school and volunteered as a scout leader. Mom knitted mittens for the neighbor kids and was known for her popcorn balls, especially around the holidays. She always encouraged us to get a college education. I had a happy childhood. Mom saw to that.

Following the death of dad in the early 1990’s, Mom moved to Bismarck, to be close to us – her children and grandchildren. Family has been her priority; so moving close to us was a natural choice for her. Immediately she began to volunteer with The ARC and got involved with quilting at church, but more importantly she again became a part of our everyday lives by helping us with our families.

Today with some health issues, she carries on with dignity and a “can do” attitude. She enjoys lunch with friends and telephone visits with her out of town sisters and plays bingo. At home she always has a jigsaw puzzle to complete, computer games to play and afghans to crochet. A passion of hers is ice-skating (as a spectator these days). Together we enjoy the Bismarck/Mandan Newcomers meeting each month, the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony programs, local ballet productions, movies, lunch around town and attending church.

As I drop her off at her front door, I watch as she lugs a heavy bag and maybe some bargains she found at the mall. “Can I help you get those things?” I ask. “No, I will take my time and get there” she replies. Throughout my lifetime she has demonstrated that even though circumstances will sometimes get in our way, we need to continue to move forward and never, ever give up. Our attitude and faith will get us through the tough times.

I have been blessed and am thankful for my mom, Meredith Pratt, who continues to inspire me.

Linda Boyd is a substitute teacher after retiring from Mandan Public Schools. She and husband Jim have two wonderful boys, Jeff and Brandon.

Dr. Lynne Peterson with some volunteers at the 2011 Arthritis Walk

It’s a condition that affects individuals of all ages, including children, and occurs in both males and females. Although “arthritis” is a general term used to describe joint pain, there are approximately 70 million adults nationwide that suffer from some form of this condition.

“Typically, we divide joint symptoms into two main categories, those conditions that are degenerative or ‘wear-and-tear’ related, and those conditions that are inflammatory,” says Dr. Lynne Peterson, rheumatologist at Medcenter One.

Dr. Peterson completed her Rheumatology Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in 1996 and began practicing at Medcenter One the same year. She has taken part in national clinical arthritis research projects for the past 15 years and has also been named Clinical Researcher of the Year for the Rheumatoid Arthritis Investigational Network on multiple occasions.

“The symptoms of arthritis vary according to the type of joint condition,” she says. “The most common symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, swelling, difficulty moving a joint or redness of a joint. Children often present with a limp or refusal to walk.”

According to the national Arthritis Foundation, the most common types of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile arthritis. Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, is the most common, affecting 27 million people nationwide. It is a chronic condition characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is also a chronic disease, characterized by the inflammation of the lining of the joints and can lead to long-term joint damage, chronic pain, loss of function and disability. Juvenile arthritis refers to any form of arthritis or arthritis-related condition that develops in children under 16 years of age. It affects nearly 300,000 children in the United States.

Dr. Peterson says significant strides have been made in the treatment options for arthritis patients, especially those with rheumatoid arthritis. “Multiple medications are available for rheumatoid arthritis, including anti-inflammatory agents, steroids, disease modifying agents, and the newer biologic agents. Osteoarthritis, or degenerative arthritis, is typically treated with physical therapy, pain control, splints, steroid injections, and surgery. Unfortunately, we do not have a drug to reverse osteoarthritis.”

She notes there are measures individuals can take to help prevent arthritis, including exercise, smoking cessation, prevention of injuries and weight loss.

Anne West was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1996. “I was down in Texas for the winter and got very sick with a lot of pain,” she says of her first experience with the symptoms of the disease. “I was one of Dr. Peterson’s first patients in Bismarck. I knew she was trained at Mayo and I was waiting to see her when she got set up here.”

West has worked with Dr. Peterson to control the symptoms of her rheumatoid arthritis primarily with medication, but she has had both her knees replaced and surgery on both hands as a result of the condition. “I exercise an hour a day on a recumbent bike and I know that also helps,” West adds.

As a professional artist, she says the condition has not slowed her ability to create works of art and instruct individuals on the craft of painting. “I think people expect you to be crippled and I am not,” she says.

Many misconceptions exist today related to arthritis, notes Dr. Peterson. “Often people think arthritis is just aches and pains, and little can be done to alleviate the pain and disability of arthritis,” she notes. “But significant advances in treatment have occurred in the past few years, especially for inflammatory arthritis. It is important to seek medical attention early to avoid delay in diagnosis and to potentially start treatment before joint damage occurs.”

West also encourages those experiencing the symptoms of arthritis to seek medical attention. “That is what is going to help,” she says. “If an individual thinks they have arthritis, I would highly recommend Dr. Peterson. She is a great doctor.”

Both West and Dr. Peterson say raising awareness of arthritis is an important step to the continued research and treatment of its conditions. The Arthritis Walk is held each spring across the nation to help raise awareness of the disease. The event brings together community members to promote movement and raise funds for arthritis research, education and life improvement programs.

This year’s Bismarck-Mandan Arthritis Walk will take place on Saturday, May 5 at the Medcenter One Women’s Health Center. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. “The event is a fun-filled morning which includes a health fair, kid’s zone, warm-up exercises, one- or three-mile walk and door prizes,” says Dr. Peterson.

“Arthritis is a common and often, debilitating disorder,” she continues. “It is important to have ongoing joint problems evaluated to assess the type of arthritis and treatment recommendations. Although we do not have a cure for arthritis, the treatment options may put the arthritis into remission so that joint damage does not occur.”

Additional information on arthritis, along with a variety of resources for arthritis patients and their families, is available on The Arthritis Foundation website at www.arthritis.org.

After receiving a flu shot, Lisa Helseth’s heart began racing. She reached out for medical help. However, following numerous doctor appointments and emergency room visits, her health continued to decline. She sought medical treatment for a host of symptoms including her unexplained weight loss. Eventually Helseth turned to Mayo Clinic where she was diagnosed with celiac disease.

Helseth learned the villa in her small intestine had become damaged by the disease – preventing her body from absorbing nutrients into her bloodstream. She researched and discovered she’d need to completely eliminate gluten (the protein found in wheat, barley and rye) from her diet, since celiac disease can lead to a number of other disorders, including cancers, autoimmune diseases and anemia.
Armed with knowledge and prepared to adopt a new gluten-free diet, she shopped local grocery aisles for both foods and products without gluten. Discouraged and frustrated, she read label after label – discovering the harsh realities of her disease. Nearly everything she picked up held gluten in the form of one wheat product or another. From shampoos and toothpastes to obvious breads, pastas and processed foods, her shopping cart stayed empty. Five hour trips to grocery stores were cumbersome and depressing.

Unrealistic preparation of two different menus at each meal added to her burden. Even the smallest particles of gluten can cause health problems to those with gluten intolerance/sensitivity or with celiac, contributing to bowel damage and creating an immune-mediated toxic reaction. Cross-contamination while preparing foods posed a serious risk; her home became gluten-free and her husband Jay joined her new nutritional plan.

Still, they struggled with purchasing foods locally. They journeyed to Minnesota frequently to purchase safe foods for her and found they shared a deep desire to help make a difference not only in their household, but into the Bismarck-Mandan community of gluten-intolerant individuals, those with gluten-sensitivity and those diagnosed with celiac disease. They knew the difficulties of seeking gluten-free products and now recognized the severity of a diagnosis without treatment.

“Learning I had celiac disease gave me hope. I finally knew what was wrong with my body,” Helseth said. “Yet there were few options for us locally. We knew the ultimate option for us was to establish a gluten-free store.”

When both her son and sister were diagnosed, she moved on her decision to make life simpler. She and her husband Jay seriously began hunting for a store front so they might bring these products to our area – under one roof.

They considered locations in both Bismarck and Mandan before selecting a location with ample parking and windows. Located at 211 E Main Street in Mandan, the shelves are stocked with gluten-free foods and products as well as dairy- and peanut-free foods. Shoppers no longer need to scrutinize labels; every item at Lisa’s holds no gluten.

“We knew it was larger than the two of us when our son became diagnosed. I was no longer alone in this journey and began to fully understand the dynamic of this being an inherited disease,” Helseth explained. “Our grandchild also holds the gene.”

Gluten exists in all forms of wheat, inclusive of durum, spelt, rye, barley, semolina and more. According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, celiac disease affects one out of 133 Americans. When consuming gluten, ingested protein interferes with the absorption of nutrients. A genetic disorder, the diagnosis can be tricky. Symptomatic individuals may approach their physician to request information and may undergo blood work or a biopsy to determine celiac disease or to learn of gluten intolerance and gluten sensitivity.

“Recovery from this lifelong disease means never eating gluten again,” Jay Helseth said. “We chose to invest in a store; we are the only gluten-free store in North Dakota. Our goals are first to be a resource to friends and family with this disease, and secondly, we strive to make gluten-free products available in our area, our community.”

While recovering, Lisa has grown intolerant of both dairy and corn. She now finds herself more appreciative of other food allergies or intolerances. She tucks away ideas, recipes and tips from various customers – with every intention of sharing them. “Play-doh and licorice contain gluten,” she said. “Who knew?”

Lisa’s Gluten-Free & More holds replacement products for everyday all-purpose flour so baking and cooking is possible. Multiple pasta brands, flours and condiments as well as some chips or crackers fill the shelves. Baking ingredients such as yeast, baking soda and baking powder can contain gluten. Her stock items do not.

“Opening this business has been so rewarding to me,” Helseth said. “Seeing repeat customers and knowing they are now able to eat healthier and overcome this disease has been very fulfilling. It’s developed into a family business. And we like that. We wouldn’t have it any other way.”

by Kathleen Atkinson, OSB

There was nothing magnanimous in the gesture. I was with a GOD’s CHILD service team at Panajachel, Guatemala, and we were eating breakfast when an elderly woman came to the door begging. As she walked on, I picked up my waffle and syrup packets to follow her. We sat on the curbside and ate in comfortable silence, broken by soft laughter when syrup would run down one of our hands or chin.

Though a busy morning, one man stopped long enough to simply say, “You are a beautiful woman.” I translated it for my barefoot, syrup-smeared friend, giving her a smile and a gesture that said, “He told us we were beautiful women. Isn’t that wonderful? And it is true, too.”

I am inspired by her and still remember her months after that short meeting. I am inspired by the many beautiful women who live life valiantly. Their beauty will never make it to the front cover of a magazine; it will often come crusted with dirt and second hand clothing. It will come from an inner strength that proclaims “I will survive! Against all odds, I will survive!” This story is not about just one woman, but about the many who touched my life that year as I worked in Guatemala. These are some of the women:

Maria Juliana. I held her, bathed her and fed her at the Casa Jackson Home for Malnourished Infants. Rescued as a newborn from a dumpster, she was a fighter surrounded by people fighting with her. As I whispered to her of her beauty, I sent a prayer out for her mother. A woman must be devastatingly desperate to abandon a child that way.

Mother of Anita and Juan. I didn’t know her name because she often did laundry when the family arrived at the homeless shelter. She dressed her children for school in the morning. She worked during the day while they were at school, carrying the family belongings in a black garbage bag. Coming “home” every night to their mattress in a corner, she reviewed their homework with them and reminded Anita and Juan to say their meal prayer . She was a beautiful woman, fiercely believing in a better future for her children.

Marcia. I first met her in 1992 and in the decades since then, she has drawn the same heart and bird pictures, colored pencils held in her toes. A begging basket held in her wheelchair. With a smile and kind word for the people of the street – tourist or tramp, she treated all with dignity. One morning, a handwritten sign appeared on the chair where she had grown from a young teen to a woman. The sign simply read, “May 7, 2010. Marcia died.” The basket now received donations to buy this beautiful woman a final resting place; her heart and body are now free to fly.

Who inspires me? I am inspired by the many beautiful women who live life valiantly; most often for a person or purpose other than themselves. In meeting the women whose stories I have shared here, my life was changed and yet, I realized I have been blessed to meet many equally strong beautiful women here at home. They have lived here for centuries on our vast prairies: planting corn, braving blizzards, birthing and burying babies without medical care. They are living here today: I have met them in the schools, social agencies, country churches and city streets of our area.

Maria Juliana, Mother of Anita and Juan, Marcia, and the others of Guatemala simply opened my eyes. Opening my eyes often broke open my heart.

I’m frequently surprised by the broken and valiant spirit I find there, too.

Sister Kathleen Atkinson is a Benedictine Sister from the Annunciation Monastery in Bismarck, ND. She currently ministers at Charles Hall Youth Services and the ND Penitentiary.

Lois and Joey in Noblesville, IN

Editor’s note: This story was the third place winner in the 2012 “Who Inspires You” contest.

Bio:
Joanne (Joey) Kabanuck is a Registered Sales Assistant in Bismarck.

Kayla Matzke Newbanks is a writer residing in San Diego, Calif. where her husband serves in the Navy. She has a bachelor’s in print journalism from the University of Montana.

Cheryl McCormack is a CNA at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center. Creative writing has always been one of her favorite pastimes.

Helping others become well on a physical, emotional and spiritual level through annual exams, family medical practice and comprehensive programming describes a day’s work for Rhonda Jolliffe at Lifeways Clinic. As a holistic nurse practitioner, Jolliffe practices Holistic and functional medicine and is certified as a nutritionist and acupuncturist. Her clinic combines traditional and integrated medicine so clients are self-empowered to become well.

“We help patients become well in mind, body and spirit by promoting lifestyle changes while using a blend of traditional and holistic medicine,”Jolliffe said. “Each patient is unique and we like to offer ways to not only assess their situation, but prevent and help to make key changes that otherwise influence their health. And if needed, their diagnosis and subsequent treatment will be developed to support their optimal health.”

In their new location at 1001 Gateway Avenue at Bismarck, Lifeways Clinic offers annual exams, focused preventative care exams and medical lifestyle/weight management in a soft, serene spa-like setting. Warm neutral-toned wall colorings with inviting examination rooms help patients feel welcome and special. Jolliffe works closely with her RN, CNA, receptionist and adjunct health care practitioners in the clinic, offering a full gamut of services.

Diana Herner, LPCC, (“Choices Counseling & Educational Center”) provides mental health counseling services from a Christian perspective. Diana is located on the main level in Lifeways. Diana counsels individuals, marriage and families in transition. She is a BC/BS provider and accepts new clients upon referral.

Lifeways also offers a therapeutic lifestyle program, which promotes first-line treatments for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol as well as conditions such as menopause, fatigue disorders and those related to obesity. Through lifestyle coaching, consultations and testing, First Line Therapy helps patients establish realistic goals, monitor progress and learn how to choose healthy, nutritious foods. Additionally, stress management and healthful, safe exercise are addressed for weight management. Rhonda is also excited to add a new program this year: “Healthy Living with Beyond Organic”, a 12 week educational series that provides education on topics of healthy nutrition, exercise, mind-body-spirit, raising healthy children and organic cooking.

The lower level holds a Stott Pilates studio where two certified instructors instruct clients either privately or in small groups. Stott Pilates exercises are performed on a reformer (equipment) encouraging and benefitting one’s balance and flexibility, coordination and circulation as well as improvement of posture. Through basic core conditioning, the body functions and feels better with the use of the five basic principles: breathing, pelvic placement, rib cage placement, scapular movement and head/cervical spine placement. Certified instructors Susan Suchy, RN and Denise Enebo, PT student, work with clients of all ages, all abilities and help their client’s develop a fitness regime for a lifetime. The perfect complement to life, pilates will leave you looking toned, feeling revitalized, and moving with ease.

Also utilizing the studio is Pam Redline, personal trainer – who fills the need for individual training as well as post-injury and post-rehabilitation in the Bismarck-Mandan surrounding area.

Massage therapist Amy Leitner, specializes in therapeutic / clinical deep tissue massage for acute and chronic pain.

Tone-Lise Stenslie and Bel Neibel offer BodyTalk. A certified practitioner of Body Talk will help clients restore vital communication between various parts of their body and mind via muscle-testing and facilitate the body’s ability to heal itself. They encourage patients to learn how to help heal the body, however will not substitute for medical treatment or diagnosing illness.

Having an appreciation for the restorative properties of being outdoors and enjoying sunshine, Jolliffe also recognizes the dangers of prolonged sun exposure. Since many enjoy tanning throughout summer months, yet hope to do so safely, she sought a healthful way to tan. She recently welcomed aboard Megan Frohlich’s Smile of the Sun mobile spray tanning.

Jolliffe encourages her patients to utilize breast thermography as a tool for both early detection and prevention of cancer cells at an early stage. This diagnostic tool takes infrared images (digital photography and computer programming) that detect heat to measure the physiological activity in a breast. Thermography does not replace a mammogram, however serves as an additional screening tool for breast tissue.

Jolliffe has been recently trained in Medical Acupuncture and is now providing this as an additional therapy for many conditions, including acute pain from injury, chronic pain, smoking cessation, appetite control, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and hormonal imbalances. There are five mechanisms for understanding medical acupuncture: 1. Produce effects by stimulating nerve fibers in skin and muscles, thus promoting local healing; 2. Reduces pain in a segment of the body where the needles are placed; 3. Reduces pain throughout the whole body; 4. Provides a calming effect and improves wellbeing; 5. Inactivates myofascial trigger points. Jolliffes future plans are to add an additional service of “facial enhancement” or “facial rejuvenation” as an alternative to more invasive procedures of providing a more youthful appearance.

Jolliffe and the staff at Lifeways partner with patients to help them learn more about becoming healthy through individual lifestyle and habits. Each staff member works to help support an end result of optimal health by offering a holistic and functional medicine approach to: healthy weight management, nutrition, exercise, sports injuries and physicals, thermography, stress management, aromatherapy, allergy testing, hormone balancing, metabolic repair, autoimmune disorders, osteoporosis, depression and anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, inflammatory bowel disorders, insulin resistance, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

“At Lifeways, we’re about providing ongoing support while our patients ‘become well’,” Jolliffe said. “We strive to empower our patients to come to know their own highest level of wellness on a physical, emotional and spiritual level.”

Rhonda is married to Nick and has two sons, Nicklaus and Ben. Watching her boys in athletic events is what she loves most in life. Additionally, she enjoys golf, outdoor activities, reading and other social events with family and friends.

Mary K. Vetter knew something wasn’t right when she began noticing pain starting in the palms of her hands and radiating up her arms along with shortness of breath. At the time she was 49-years-old and after visiting her doctor, she was referred to a lung specialist.

“I was given inhalers with steroids which just enhanced my symptoms,” she says, adding this was in an attempt to treat her for what was thought to be allergies. “I went back to the lung specialist because after a few months I couldn’t even walk from a handicapped parking spot into a building.”

Vetter says one of the best decisions she made was to insist on additional tests to determine the cause of her symptoms. While taking a pulmonary stress test to examine her lung function, it was revealed something was very wrong with her heart.

After being introduced to Dr. Eshoo at St. Alexius’s Heart & Lung Clinic, a cardiac stress test was performed. Blockage was found in the arteries around her heart and, two weeks later, an angiogram test exposed a congenital heart defect that contributed to the blockage. “They told me it couldn’t be fixed with just a stint and I had a double bypass the next morning.”

Now fully recovered from her open-heart surgery, Vetter says she has enjoyed having more energy. “If you don’t have blood flow, you just don’t feel well,” she says. “I feel so good now. I am more active and I can go for walks without pain.”

Vetter learned a valuable lesson from her experience that she feels is important to share with other women. “Anytime you feel the slightest ‘twinge’ or something doesn’t feel right, don’t just pass it off. Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor,” she says. “You have to be your own best advocate because you know your body.”

Education is Key
February is American Heart Month and marks the American Heart Association’s push to grab the attention of all Americans regarding their heart health. During this time, the organization also targets women through its Go Red™ for Women campaign.

“It is so important for women to know the signs of a heart attack and get immediate medical treatment, but also work to prevent heart disease through a healthy lifestyle,” says Joan Enderle, Communications and Go Red™ Director at the American Heart Association, North Dakota. “We want them to be an advocate for their own health.”

Enderle offers some startling statistics when it comes to the heart health of women in the state and across the nation. “Heart disease is the number one killer of women in North Dakota and many women are unaware they are at risk,” she says. “More women die of cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, than all forms of cancer combined.”

In 2009, 32.4 percent of the deaths in North Dakota were caused by cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease, heart attack and stroke, as compared to 21.4 percent of deaths caused by all forms of cancer combined.

The American Heart Association’s Go Red™ for Women movement works to educate women on the risk factors for heart disease and to promote lifestyle changes that can benefit heart health. The American Heart Association has determined the following risk factors as controllable or treatable with the help of a healthcare professional or changes in lifestyle factors:
• Blood Cholesterol
• Blood Pressure
• Smoking
• Physical Activity
• Diet
• Obesity
• Blood Sugar

“Ninety-percent of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease and 80-percent of cardiovascular disease is preventable with lifestyle changes,” says Enderle, adding it is important women take these risk factors and lifestyle changes seriously. “Women are more likely to die of their first heart attack and nationwide 26-percent of women die within a year of having a heart attack, compared to 19-percent of men.”

Making Lifestyle Changes
“Heart disease used to be seen as more of a ‘man’s disease,’ but we women caught up with them and, unfortunately, galloped passed them,” says Melanie Carvell, director of the Medcenter One Women’s Health Center, a women-focused fitness facility.

“It’s often such a silent killer and we just can’t see what is going on,” she notes. “Sometimes the first symptom women have of heart disease is sudden death.”

In addition to regular check-ups with a physician, Carvell says physical activity is a strong factor in preventing heart disease. “If you are going to pick one thing that will help all the risk factors, it would be getting regular exercise.”

And she notes an important component of sticking with an exercise routine and lifestyle changes is developing a support system. “Join a group, join a club, or join league,” says Carvell. “If we enjoy it, we are just going to be more likely to stick with it.”

The American Heart Association in North Dakota is involved in all aspects of saving lives, says Enderle. “This includes funding two research projects at North Dakota State University, working with hospitals and healthcare providers across the state on stroke and heart systems of care, working with schools and worksites on promoting healthy eating and physical activity, advocating for policies and funding, and collaborating with the North Dakota Department of Health Heart Disease and Stroke Program on promoting the Million Hearts Campaign.”

“Ultimately, we just want people to say ‘Yes!’ to healthy behaviors as a way to prevent heart disease,” says Enderle.

For additional information on women’s heart health and healthy heart living, contact the American Heart Association of North Dakota website at heart.org/northdakota or visit goredforwomen.org.

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Signs of a Heart Attack in Women:
• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest. It may lasts more than a few minutes or go away and come back.

• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

• Other signs including breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

• As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms including shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

If you have any of these signs, don’t wait more than five minutes before calling for help. Call 911 and get to a hospital right away.

Source: American Heart Association/Go Red™ for Women