Recently I experienced what doctors call a transient ischemic attack (TIA). It is to the brain what angina is to the heart. Often referred to as a "mini stroke", my TIA was a warning that I am at risk of having a major stroke. I decided to pull back a bit, relax, and take some time off. That is why my blog output has slowed.
I want to take the opportunity to warn readers of my blogs to take heed to the warning signs of risks for stroke for themselves or loved-ones. There are a number of risk factors; some can be controlled and some cannot.
A
ccording to the American Stroke Association, the risk of having a stroke doubles every decade after the age of 55 years. A family history of heart disease or stroke (cardiovascular disease) raises the risk of having a stroke. (In my case, every male over fifty has suffered from either heart disease or stroke.)
Another risk factor is gender: more men have strokes than women. Ethnicity is also a risk factor for stroke. Aboriginal Canadians are at increased risk of stroke due, in part, to higher incidences of diabetes. People of African heritage are at much higher risk of dying from stroke than Caucasians. These risk factors can not be changed but there are a number of risks that can be changed, treated or controlled.
High blood pressure can be controlled through medications, exercise and reducing excess body weight. Smoking is a risk factor that can be eliminated by quitting. Cholesterol should be monitored. If you discover that it is high, your doctor can prescribe medications to reduce bad cholesterol and advise you on changing your diet.
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the world and is the cause of one in three deaths! According to the World Health Organization, heart disease and stroke kills 17.1 million people every year.
We must take care of our bodies. The Bible tells Christians that our bodies are a temple o
f the Holy Spirit within us (1 Corinthians 6.19). The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that the "human body shares in the dignity of the "image of God."" (No. 364). It says that man is to "regard his body as good and to hold it in honor since God has created it and will raise it on the last day." (365) We must take care of our bodies and not abuse them.
At this point, I must make a cautionary note: It is important that we not get carried away with concern for our bodies and fall into a cult of the body that permeates our culture by idolizing physical perfection or prefering the strong over the weak. This is a distortion of the concept of honouring our bodies and can pervert or degrade human relationships. It can even harm our relationship to God. We must take care of our bodies not idolize them.
Christians should live modest and moderate lives. It is healthy for the body, mind and soul and can be a striking witness to an immodest and excessive age. Vanity is unbecoming. Gluttony or excessive use of alcohol is unduly punishing to the body and may even be indicative of underlying emotional or spiritual problems that may need a healing touch from the Master.
When all is said and done, we can trust the sicknesses of our lives to Christ -- whether they are physi
cal, emotional or spiritual. We who follow Jesus Christ can rest placing our fate completely in His loving care. After all, whether we live or die, we are Christ's. Saint Paul said it best for me in his letter to the Romans: "For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. ... For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living."
This is why I can rest easy. Jesus Christ is in control.
MP
I want to take the opportunity to warn readers of my blogs to take heed to the warning signs of risks for stroke for themselves or loved-ones. There are a number of risk factors; some can be controlled and some cannot.
A
ccording to the American Stroke Association, the risk of having a stroke doubles every decade after the age of 55 years. A family history of heart disease or stroke (cardiovascular disease) raises the risk of having a stroke. (In my case, every male over fifty has suffered from either heart disease or stroke.)Another risk factor is gender: more men have strokes than women. Ethnicity is also a risk factor for stroke. Aboriginal Canadians are at increased risk of stroke due, in part, to higher incidences of diabetes. People of African heritage are at much higher risk of dying from stroke than Caucasians. These risk factors can not be changed but there are a number of risks that can be changed, treated or controlled.
High blood pressure can be controlled through medications, exercise and reducing excess body weight. Smoking is a risk factor that can be eliminated by quitting. Cholesterol should be monitored. If you discover that it is high, your doctor can prescribe medications to reduce bad cholesterol and advise you on changing your diet.
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the world and is the cause of one in three deaths! According to the World Health Organization, heart disease and stroke kills 17.1 million people every year.
We must take care of our bodies. The Bible tells Christians that our bodies are a temple o
f the Holy Spirit within us (1 Corinthians 6.19). The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that the "human body shares in the dignity of the "image of God."" (No. 364). It says that man is to "regard his body as good and to hold it in honor since God has created it and will raise it on the last day." (365) We must take care of our bodies and not abuse them.At this point, I must make a cautionary note: It is important that we not get carried away with concern for our bodies and fall into a cult of the body that permeates our culture by idolizing physical perfection or prefering the strong over the weak. This is a distortion of the concept of honouring our bodies and can pervert or degrade human relationships. It can even harm our relationship to God. We must take care of our bodies not idolize them.
Christians should live modest and moderate lives. It is healthy for the body, mind and soul and can be a striking witness to an immodest and excessive age. Vanity is unbecoming. Gluttony or excessive use of alcohol is unduly punishing to the body and may even be indicative of underlying emotional or spiritual problems that may need a healing touch from the Master.
When all is said and done, we can trust the sicknesses of our lives to Christ -- whether they are physi
cal, emotional or spiritual. We who follow Jesus Christ can rest placing our fate completely in His loving care. After all, whether we live or die, we are Christ's. Saint Paul said it best for me in his letter to the Romans: "For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. ... For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living."This is why I can rest easy. Jesus Christ is in control.
MP
2 comments:
Hi Mark--This is a great reminder that God created and values our physical bodies. As disabled Christians, we have a special mission to communicate the meaning of struggle without being overwhelmed by it.
I'd like to point you to a site called CHRISTIANS WITH DISABILITIES. (http://christianswithdisabilities.ning.com/) I think you might have something to offer there.
Rich Dixon
Mark,
It's always a good idea to take some time to rest. I had a couple of TIAs about two years ago. After several tests, they determined that it was probably the result of a new medication so they took me off that medication (sorry I don't remember which one) and I've been my normal self ever since, whatever that means :). Blessings to you.
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