COURIER L 12 IFE, FEB. 1–7, 2019 B
WEAR RED DAY
THRIVING: Ellis, who now works as an actress and advocates for heart health, has not had
a cardiac episode in roughly a decade. Tabitha Ellis
showed no evidence of one. There was
nothing for the doctors to do but advise
her to watch for future symptoms.
A decade later, Ellis — now 27 and
working as an actress in New York
City — is grateful she hasn’t had a recurrence,
according to her dad.
“I’m not sure she would have done
half the things she’s done if not for her
heart problem. It made her fearless,”
Todd Ellis said. “A lot of kids might
not try something, but Tabitha always
said, ‘Let’s try it — the worst thing
that can happen is I fail.’ ”
Ellis’s heart condition taught her
that every day is a gift, and that everybody
has their own problems.
She’s been volunteering for the
American Heart Association since
she was 10, helping at runs in her
younger years, and speaking at
events as an adult, including at the
United Nations, where she recently
shared her story and advocated for
global health-care access.
“A lot of people are affected by cardiac
issues like mine,” Ellis said. “It’s
nice to meet others who have similar
stories.”
— American Heart Association
CHAMPION
Continued from page 3
Heart-health tips for women
Recognizing the threat that heart
disease poses is a great fi rst step
for women. The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration offers the following
advice to women looking to prioritize
their heart health:
1. Consume a heartfriendly
diet
When examining labels, look for
foods that are low in sodium and sugar.
When planning meals, avoid foods that
are high in trans fats.
The Cleveland Clinic advises consumers
to check labels for “partially
hydrogenated oils,” which are a hidden
source of trans fats. In addition, the
Clinic notes that foods such as cakes,
pies, cookies, biscuits, microwavable
breakfast sandwiches, and many types
of crackers contain trans fats.
2. Take existing
conditions seriously
High blood pressure, diabetes, and
high cholesterol can increase a woman’s
risk for heart disease. Take medications
as directed, monitor blood
sugar levels if you have diabetes,
and routinely have your blood pressure
and cholesterol tested to ensure
any preexisting conditions are not increasing
your risk for heart disease.
3. Discuss aspirin intake
The Food and Drug Administration
notes that many physicians prescribe
aspirin to lower patients’ risk
of heart disease, clot-related strokes,
and other problems related to cardiovascular
disease. However, there are
risks associated with long-term aspirin
use.
Bleeding in the stomach, bleeding
in the brain, kidney failure, and certain
types of stroke are some of the
potential side effects of long-term aspirin
use, according to the Administration.
Such side effects may never
appear, but the risk that they might
makes discussing the pros and cons of
aspirin well worth it.
Women can learn more about heart
disease by visiting www.fda.gov.
/www.fda.gov
/www.fda.gov