It may come as a surprise that heart disease continues to be the leading cause of  death for women and I mean all women, independent of race and origin. In fact,  heart disease takes first place in the number of deaths across the world. While  high blood pressure and high cholesterol have shown a positive correlation to  heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity are also significant risk factors. What  do all of these risk factors have in common, lifestyle! Is it then a stretch that the  leading cause of death can be preventable? Of course regular exercise, a proper  and balanced diet coupled with stress management can combat much of the  inflammation contributing to risk factors associated with heart disease. But what  else might we be missing? Join me to take a closer look at how to remedy a broken  heart.  

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the heart is the emperor of the  human body. The practice of Ayurveda and Yoga view the heart as a hub where  physical and energetic pathways intersect. The heart is mentioned in many  spiritual teachings. In the tradition of Sufism, it is said that ‘when the heart is sick,  the whole body is sickʼ. The heart thus houses our emotional and spiritual being as  well as keeping the mind grounded. In theory, the ladder could mean that if the  mind is affected by anger, overstimulation or depression then the heart energy  weakens and long term it begins to lose vitality. Why is this important? Other than  physical ramifications it also means that we begin to lose the ability to see beyond  the surface, miss when life is calling or worse forget the joy of living our lifeʼs  purpose. Emotional disturbances also lead to a viscous cycle of sleep disharmony  which in turn negatively affects heart health.  

How do you ensure a light heart? An encounter with acupuncture is a great start.  The stress relieving effects of acupuncture not only help to improve emotional  regulation but also sleep quality and quantity. Some of the best emotional release  occurs during or after acupuncture treatment which can in turn foster mental and  emotional clarity. Acupuncture can release the old and make room for the new.  Additionally, acupuncture is a non-invasive option which can be integrated with  conventional treatment in the management of heart disease. This is a simple  recipe for adding years to your life and life to your years. Acupuncture has the  ability to heal body, mind and spirit. Heart disease after all is a culmination of  body, mind and spirit.  

If you canʼt find joy, create it no matter how small. Do it daily, and contentment will  find you.