Today is national Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day. I encourage each of you to think about your heart, beating more than once per second, 24 hours a day. Your heart requires care and maintenance, the same as the other muscles in your body. Exercise and a healthy diet could add years to the life of your heart, and to yours.

I thought I was taking care of my heart, but a routine echocardiogram showed my aortic valve was hardening. I had it replaced on November 11, 2021, with an artificial valve, containing tissue from a cow. The surgery went smoothly and I’m doing fine now. Through cardiac rehab sessions, I have learned much more about caring for my heart. The American Heart Association has lots of good heart health information on this page.

Take care of yourself and of your heart. Please.