To you, Dripping Springs Mama,
The kids are back in school! As you get back into the daily grind of school schedules, carpools, sports, extracurricular activities, meal planning, laundry, and maybe that thing called work, what are you doing to take care of yourself?
At Indigo Healing Acupuncture & Massage, I listen to mamas just like you that have spent months, years, even decades of putting their kids first and letting their own needs slide into the backseat. When we sit down and talk, I learn that you have high blood pressure, you toss and turn every night, you feel too exhausted to exercise, you feel frustrated with your family, calls and texts go unanswered because you’re out of bandwidth, and you generally feel like a hot mess express.
I’m here to give you a tough love wake-up call. You need to put yourself first. Now.
Why?
Your blood pressure is dangerously high.
Your restless nights are prematurely aging you.
Your chronic sleep deprivation is wreaking havoc on your hormones.
You feel constantly on edge.
You are go, Go, GO, while your body is screaming for care.
You are on the fast track to having a devastating stroke.
Or a heart attack.
And you will not get to choose the time or place.
You and your family’s life will change forever.
Sadly, you might not even be around to see the impact.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts, severely damaging brain cells. It might surprise you to learn that stroke is the 5th leading cause of death for women, and 1 in 5 women between 55 and 75 will experience it. These figures are not meant to scare you, but rather empower you with knowledge. The good news is that 4 out of 5 strokes can be prevented.
One of the major warning signs your body will send you before having a stroke is high blood pressure. Hypertension affects over 45% of women and more than 2 in 5 women have blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 mm Hg. Only about 1 in 4 of those women have their blood pressure controlled to below 130/80 mm Hg.
In the midst of your packed schedule, it’s important to acknowledge the impact of lifestyle choices. Smoking/vaping, an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, obesity, high blood pressure (equal or greater than 130/80 mm Hg, high cholesterol, diabetes, stress, excessive alcohol, and poor sleep can heighten your vulnerability.
I completely understand the challenges of finding time, but small positive changes can yield substantial benefits. Incorporating a healthier diet, even a bit of activity, managing stress in manageable ways, considering steps to quit smoking and moderate alcohol, and maintaining a healthy weight can all contribute to lowering your risk.
Your well-being matters. By investing a little time now, you’re securing a healthier future for yourself and your family.
With love and understanding,
Dr. Michelle Wendt, L.Ac., DACM
P.S. My team and I are here to guide and support you. Give us a call at 512-686-0777 or learn more at IndigoHealingAcupuncture.com
P.S.S. We have morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend appointments to fit YOUR schedule.
