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← Return to COVID-19: Anyone else dealing with postponed heart procedure?
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COVID-19: Anyone else dealing with postponed heart procedure?
Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: Mar 15, 2022 | Replies (19)Comment receiving replies
Thanks for asking Colleen. I’d love to get some recommendations for keeping mentally and physically healthy through this very frightening time.
I’m logging all my food using “Lose-it”, an app that allows me to set goals for weight, exercise, calories, and each individual nutrient. I especially watch my sodium, water, and fiber. I have not been exercising, but did a little walking today. I plan to be more intentional with that. I need to wean myself from watching and reading the news for hours and hours each day. I won’t give it up entirely since I know it’s important to be informed. But too much time spent focused on the enormity of this Crisis - especially when individuals are mostly powerless to have an impact on its spread or duration - is a recipe for panic. And panic intensifies stress which batters the immune system. None of us can afford to compromise that.
Replies to "Thanks for asking Colleen. I’d love to get some recommendations for keeping mentally and physically healthy..."
@inali, so glad you asked. Check out this discussion:
- Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lets-go-walking-join-me-for-a-virtual-walking-support-group/
There is a whole group here on Mayo Clinic Connect who are gradually increasing their walking together (virtually) following this 12-week plan to ease into it. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/walking/art-20050972
Several members expressed that walking is not possible for them, so other members shared videos of chair exercises and gentle approaches. I encourage you to read through the whole discussion.
Another discussion that may interest for talking frankly about the emotions that sometimes get packed in with dealing with heart disease:
- Heart Disease: Let’s Talk About the Emotional Side https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/heart-disease-lets-talk-about-the-emotional-side/
And finally, for a pleasant escape and to behold some beauty among virtual friends, try this one:
- Visual Escapes and Daily Inspirations: Share Yours https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/visual-escapes-and-daily-inspirations-share-yours/
It looks like you're taking great steps forward. Even doing a little will help. I'd love to hear how you're doing if you don't mind checking in occasionally.
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Hi, Inali, I've found just standing up and moving a bit more often during the day, rather than too much sitting is helping me divert my attention to other things to do. I also found that limiting my tv news watching time to once in the early morning and then again in the evening for local and national news has improved my morale. Heard that "whatever we focus on grows" and as you said so well, we probably can better protect ourselves by distancing from the bombardment of news to some degree. Take care.