Healthy Hearts & Happy Minds

10/16/2026

Despite the Pumphead issues in some cases, I find this fascinating. Surgery and interventions have moved so far forward since the 1980s. (PS. I think this was created by AI, so not from a medical source)

10/14/2026

My new Relaxamation, I Am at Peace with My New Reality, has been created for anyone who feels that their life has become limited by a cardiac event or diagnosis.
It will help you focus on what you can influence, separate facts from fears and gently begin to see possibilities beyond the life you had before.

Your new normal is not necessarily the end of your story. It may simply be your new starting point.

Acceptance is not saying:

“I like what happened.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I will never improve.”
“There is no point trying.”

Acceptance is saying:

“This is where I am today. What can I do from here?”

Listen now, find comfort and relax https://myheartandmind.co.uk/relaxamation-i-am-at-peace-with-my-new-reality/

You can read/listen to the discussion (5 minutes) and then relax by listening to (34 minutes) a relaxation to bring you peace and calm.

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10/12/2026

🩷 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but did you know it’s also a vital time to talk about heart health?

As someone who supports individuals navigating heart health and cardiac events, I want to highlight the connection between breast cancer care and heart health that often goes unspoken. I'm also a survivor of breast cancer too.

🫀 THE HARD FACT:
🚨 Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer of women overall, accounting for roughly 1 in 3 female deaths.

While breast cancer awareness is essential, cardiac events and heart disease kill more women each year than breast cancer and more than all forms of cancer combined. In fact, heart disease claims roughly 10 times more lives than breast cancer annually, yet public awareness of female heart risk remains dangerously low on both sides of the Atlantic.

🎗️ The Breast Cancer–Heart Connection
Life-saving breast cancer therapies can sometimes impact the heart years down the line:
• Chemotherapy (such as anthracyclines/epirubicin/doxorubicin) can affect heart muscle function and increase the risk of heart failure.
• HER2-targeted therapies (such as trastuzumab/Herceptin) can temporarily reduce heart pumping efficiency.
• Left-chest radiation can increase the long-term risk of coronary artery disease, valve issues, or heart failure.

🩺 Mammograms as a Dual Health Tool
Routine mammograms detect more than just breast tissue changes. They can also show Breast Arterial Calcification (BAC), calcium buildup in the breast arteries that often acts as an early warning sign for systemic cardiovascular disease and heart risks elsewhere in the body.

💡 What Survivors & Loved Ones Can Do
If you or someone you care about is a breast cancer survivor:

1. Talk to your doctor, GP, or oncology team about baseline and long-term heart monitoring (such as echocardiograms, blood pressure checks, and lipid panels).

2. Never ignore symptoms: If you experience breathlessness, chest discomfort, or fatigue years after treatment, remind your healthcare provider about your past cancer therapies.

3. Ask about your scan: Inquire whether Breast Arterial Calcification (BAC) was noted on your latest mammogram.

Beating cancer is a triumph and protecting your heart ensures you can thrive for decades to come. Let's spread awareness to safeguard women’s hearts and health everywhere! 💗🫀

10/11/2026

Have you seen an ICU diary before? If not, you can download your FREE copy now. If you want to know more about it, you can find all the information in my article or podcast here https://myheartandmind.co.uk/your-intensive-care-unit-story-matters/

https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/1154931/199677144138253738/share

When someone is critically ill, the days in intensive care can feel unreal. Sedation, illness, medicines, disrupted sleep and the ICU environment can all affect memory. Some people remember very little. Others remember fragments, vivid dreams or frightening experiences that are difficult to place.

10/11/2026

I haven't been exercising in a while. Silly me, I've let work commitments take priority over my health. I know this is going to be me in the coming week!

Anyone else been slacking on the exercise front?

10/02/2026

FREE KINDLE BOOK until 3rd October - Have you just had a heart attack, heart surgery, a cardiac arrest or been given a heart health diagnosis?

https://mybook.to/TheBeatGoesOn You’ve likely been physically mended and discharged from the hospital, you may still be going through treatment and you are probably overwhelmed by all the lifestyle changes you’ve been told to make to reduce your risk factors and prevent another heart attack or future cardiac surgery.

You may be experiencing shock, fear, confusion and feeling alone. You no longer trust yourself or your body. It's hard to remember all the things that you’ve been told to do. Wanting answers to questions that you didn’t know you would have. All this leads to feelings of stress and anxiety which should be minimalised to ensure your cardiac rehabilitation.

While reading “The Beat Goes On”, you’ll get comfort from learning that you are not alone with how you feel or what you have been through. You’ll hear from others what to expect in the early days of your recovery at home. You'll gain an understanding of how your family may be feeling and ideas for them so they have some ways that they can help you.

It will help you understand your medications, what they are, how they work and how to build them into your everyday life. There are suggestions and ideas of how to get the best from your appointments such as keeping notes and how to prepare for them. There’s also a section to help you understand the terminology about your heart health condition and cardiac treatments. https://mybook.to/TheBeatGoesOn

Some activities will help you to overcome anxiety and learn to relax. There are ideas to help you sleep better and be able to make sense of your thoughts and feelings. There are also techniques to manage pain and angina after a heart attack or heart surgery. You will gain confidence to be able to make changes in your life including preparing to stop smoking.

You’ll also have access to the following documents to help you feel more in control and enable you to be able to have constructive and meaningful conversations with your medical team. These include journals to record your angina, pain, and sleep, prepare for appointments and help you gain purpose in your life. You'll also get a medication chart and a 20-minute guided relaxation to download.

“The Beat Goes On” is not a medical book. It is not about diet or cardiac rehabilitation exercise. It is about the emotional and practical side of everyday life after a heart attack or heart surgery. It is about positive psychology and empowerment through survivorship to thriving in your new life. It is to complement your cardiologist, medical specialist, nutritionist, and physical rehab teams.

Learn the art of living your life happy after a heart attack, heart surgery and heart disease!
https://mybook.to/TheBeatGoesOn

10/01/2026

FREE KINDLE BOOK until 3rd October - Have you just had a heart attack, heart surgery, a cardiac arrest or been given a heart health diagnosis?

https://mybook.to/TheBeatGoesOn You’ve likely been physically mended and discharged from the hospital, you may still be going through treatment and you are probably overwhelmed by all the lifestyle changes you’ve been told to make to reduce your risk factors and prevent another heart attack or future cardiac surgery.

You may be experiencing shock, fear, confusion and feeling alone. You no longer trust yourself or your body. It's hard to remember all the things that you’ve been told to do. Wanting answers to questions that you didn’t know you would have. All this leads to feelings of stress and anxiety which should be minimalised to ensure your cardiac rehabilitation.

While reading “The Beat Goes On”, you’ll get comfort from learning that you are not alone with how you feel or what you have been through. You’ll hear from others what to expect in the early days of your recovery at home. You'll gain an understanding of how your family may be feeling and ideas for them so they have some ways that they can help you.

It will help you understand your medications, what they are, how they work and how to build them into your everyday life. There are suggestions and ideas of how to get the best from your appointments such as keeping notes and how to prepare for them. There’s also a section to help you understand the terminology about your heart health condition and cardiac treatments. https://mybook.to/TheBeatGoesOn

Some activities will help you to overcome anxiety and learn to relax. There are ideas to help you sleep better and be able to make sense of your thoughts and feelings. There are also techniques to manage pain and angina after a heart attack or heart surgery. You will gain confidence to be able to make changes in your life including preparing to stop smoking.

You’ll also have access to the following documents to help you feel more in control and enable you to be able to have constructive and meaningful conversations with your medical team. These include journals to record your angina, pain, and sleep, prepare for appointments and help you gain purpose in your life. You'll also get a medication chart and a 20-minute guided relaxation to download.

“The Beat Goes On” is not a medical book. It is not about diet or cardiac rehabilitation exercise. It is about the emotional and practical side of everyday life after a heart attack or heart surgery. It is about positive psychology and empowerment through survivorship to thriving in your new life. It is to complement your cardiologist, medical specialist, nutritionist, and physical rehab teams.

Learn the art of living your life happy after a heart attack, heart surgery and heart disease!
https://mybook.to/TheBeatGoesOn

Previously published as The Basics of Heart Health Management at Home by Sallie Crawley You’ve likely been physically mended and discharged from the hospital, you may still be going through treatment and you are probably overwhelmed by all the lifestyle changes you’ve been told to make to re...

09/29/2026

Have you ever wondered what happened while you were in intensive care?

Many people tell me they remember very little of their ICU stay. Others remember vivid dreams, confusion, or experiences that don't seem to make sense.

This week we're exploring why this happens and how a simple ICU diary can help bridge the gap between missing memories and understanding.

💛 Because recovery isn't only about healing the heart. Your mind deserves support too.

You can read the article (23 minutes) or listen (18 minutes) to the episode here: https://myheartandmind.co.uk/your-intensive-care-unit-story-matters/

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"I don't remember much of my time in intensive care." It's something I hear often from people recovering from heart surgery.

09/22/2026

A heart event or serious cardiac diagnosis does not just affect your body.

It can affect your confidence, your emotions, your sleep, your relationships, your sense of safety, and the way you see your future.

In this interview, Immy Reid shares her experience of living with heart failure, surviving cardiac arrests, managing multiple health conditions, and dealing with the trauma that followed.

We also talk about panic attacks, therapy, asking questions, stopping smoking, medical uncertainty, and learning to take life one day at a time.
This is a powerful reminder that recovery is rarely a straight line.

Listen to the episode here: https://myheartandmind.co.uk/cardiac-chat-with-immy-reid/

There is a transcript but as it was created by AI, there are quite a few errors and typos.xXx

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