Welcome!
The
Faith Community Nurse Health Ministry is committed to sharing the love
of Christ in our community by offering: preventive health information,
community education programs, advocacy, referrals, healing prayer, a
Christ-based 12-step program, and by partnering with other community
organizations to meet the health needs of our community members. The
Faith Community Nurse ministers to body, mind, and spirit.
The
Nurse is IN! Every Tuesday from 1-6 PM for blood pressure screening;
health education; referrals; or just to listen and pray.
February is Heart Awareness Month
Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is
blocked, usually by a blood clot. If this clot cuts off the blood flow
completely, the part of the heart muscle supplied by that artery begins
to die.
Signs of a Heart Attack:
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or
pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or
goes away and comes back.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
- As with men, women’s most common heart attack
symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely
than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly
shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
If you have any of these signs, don’t wait more than five minutes
before calling for help. Call 9-1-1...Get to a hospital right away.
Women & Heart Disease
More women die of cardiovascular disease than
from the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of
cancer. But 80 percent of cardiac events in women could be prevented if
women made the right choices for their hearts involving diet, exercise
and abstinence from smoking. Make it your mission to learn all you can
about heart attacks and stroke — don’t become a statistic. CALL 9-1-1
“ Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 NLT
There
is a misconception that cancer is the greatest health risk for women,
especially breast cancer. In reality, heart disease kills more women
than all forms of cancer put together. Minority women have the highest
death rate from heart disease while the entire gender has a higher death
rate from stroke than men. Part of the problem is that heart disease is
displayed differently in women than in men so it becomes difficult to
recognize in women if the observer doesn’t know the difference in
symptoms.
The
classic symptoms for heart attack are severe chest pain, a squeezing
sensation in the chest lasting 5-10 minutes, pain radiating down the
left arm or profuse sweating. Up to 50% of women who suffer heart
attacks have symptoms that are considered atypical. These include
shortness of breath, indigestion, pain in the jaw, shoulder, or back,
sudden nausea or vomiting, unexplained fatigue, fainting, or even
dizziness. Anytime a female experiences these symptoms, she should seek
medical attention by calling 911. Even a slight hesitation could lead to
severe consequences if she is having a cardiac episode.
Plaque
buildup can be different in women also. In men it tends to be clumpy
and irregular which responds well to angioplasty and stents that flatten
out the plaque. In some women, plaque forms an even layer on the vessel
lining which means drug therapy works better than angioplasty. Women
also respond to aspirin differently. In women, it seems more effective
in preventing stroke while in men it is more effective for heart attack
prevention.
For
a woman, the most important thing to do is talk to her physician. She
should discuss her health history and determine potential risks for
heart disease. The next step would be to create a plan to change or
impact those risks and follow the doctor’s instructions. Women are the
same but different. It is important to find out individual needs and
then address them. (Source: www.mayoclinic.com)
“For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy.” Proverbs 2:10 NLT
You have heard of cholesterol levels
but do you know what they mean? LDL is the ‘bad cholesterol’ and stands
for ‘low density lipoprotein cholesterol.’ It builds up on the walls of
your arteries and can cause cardiac problems. To lessen your risk of
heart disease, your LDL number should be below 100 (if you have known heart disease this number should be around 70). HDL is ‘high density
lipoprotein cholesterol’ and is the good kind because it keeps the LDL
from building up in your arteries. For women this number should be above
40. Triglycerides are fats and the higher the number the greater risk
of disease. This number should be less than 150. Total cholesterol is
the combination of LDL and HDL found in your bloodstream and should be
less than 200. To keep these numbers under control, watch your diet and
limit fatty foods.
“The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.” Psalm 25:17 NIV
Indigestion is one of the symptoms of
heart disease so how do you determine when it is heart related and when
it is the hot peppers you just ate? Since heartburn is not
life-threatening, pay attention to other symptoms you may be having. Are
you experiencing any heavy sweating, heart palpitations, or shortness
of breath? If so, it could be heart-related and you should see a
physician right away. Heartburn will generally occur after a heavy meal
and is quickly relieved with antacids. If you have any question at all,
call 911, go to the ER, and see a physician to rule out cardiac
problems. It’s better to find the episode is a false alarm rather than
be surprised by a heart attack.
“The
Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps
me, and my heart is filled with joy.” Psalm 28:7 NLT
Women need to be specifically concerned
about two risk factors. Depression is twice as common in women and
doubles or triples the risk of heart disease over women without
depression. The feelings of disinterest and hopelessness make living a
healthy lifestyle difficult, especially when trying to remedy any weight
gain. Menopause is the other risk factor because of the changes in
hormone levels. Studies have shown that a decrease in estrogen may
contribute to higher risk of heart attack but hormone replacement is not
unconditionally recommended. Rather, lifestyle changes are encouraged
to minimize the impact of menopause and decrease the risk of heart
attack.
“His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.” Psalm 112:8 NIV
To decrease your risk for heart disease
it is important to maintain a healthy weight and to promote good
circulation. Exercise can do that and should be part of your daily life.
The optimum amount of exercise is 30-60 minutes of moderate exercise
most days of the week. If it is difficult to carve out that much time,
break it down into 10-15 minute sessions to get the same benefit. The
most economical exercise is walking since the only cost is a good pair
of walking shoes. Set a course that gets the blood pumping and offers
you a contemplative setting. This will strengthen your heart and relax
your mind. If you work better with support, find a walking buddy to keep
you on track for a healthy heart.
A Prayer for Those Struggling With Addiction
Dear Heavenly Father, I stand in faith on the authority I have as a
believer in Jesus Christ, and a co-heir to His kingdom. Your Word says
that Satan has come down with great wrath, knowing that he has only a
short time. We know Lord that You are the only answer. We know Lord that
the enemy comes to steal our lives, to kill and destroy our families.
In
the name of Jesus Christ, I bind every evil spirit and every evil plan
the enemy has planned to keep me in this addiction. God’s Word says that
God has plans for good and not evil (Jeremiah 29:11) for me and I claim
God’s plan for my life right now. You have given me all authority
through Jesus Christ to execute this judgment on the forces of Satan
(Psalm 149:5-9). Your Word says that the adversaries of the Lord shall
be broken in pieces in Your perfect timing, and will bring salvation,
restoration and healing to me (Samuel 2:10). O Lord, with each new day,
help me to be strong and continue to trust you. Bring into my eyes and
heart an honesty that sees my true situation and find strength in your
goodness and guidance. I declare release from my addiction and receive
my renewed joy in living from this day forward (Psalms 21:1-3). Let me
not be ashamed for I put my trust in You. Cleanse my mind of all
darkness and fill it with love and light. Almighty God, You sent Jesus
to set the captives free (Isaiah 61). I know Your power and I know Your
might. I ask that You deliver me from all addictions and bondage that
has kept me from being and doing my best. I know Lord that You and only
You can and will deliver me from this evil. Help me to arm myself with
strength and hope. Help those around me to give me sound and Godly
advice. I believe in miracles and according to Your Word in Psalms
149:5-9 because You are my deliverer. Heavenly Father, I ask that You
send Your angelic warriors to drive back this stronghold of addiction.
To God be the Glory. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen
If you have prayed this prayer and wish to find a support system that will help you grow in your relationship with Christ, please plan to attend one of the Overcomers Support Groups. Detailed information is listed below.
Ongoing Programs
Overcomers Recovery Support Group:
Group meets every Monday at 6:00 PM
Millions of people are fighting silent, losing battles with alcoholism,
drug addiction, gambling, pornography and sexual addictions, eating
disorders, violence, criminal activities, or feelings of inadequacy and
failure. Through self-help books, talk shows and the Internet, it has
become easy to research the subject of recovery. People have been
inspired to renew spiritual commitments, get involved in a local church
or develop a willingness to change. Maintaining emotional and spiritual stability
for a lifetime, however, involves more than knowledge; it requires
changes in attitudes and behaviors, and most of all, a relationship with
God.
The Overcomers Program has a long established history of success
through weekly meetings and the 90-day recovery workbook A Daily Choice,
Overcoming Life-controlling Problems, by Charles and Sharon Burton. The
daily lessons are personal and there is no specific evaluation of your
written work. You are asked to faithfully attend a minimum of 12 weekly
meetings and complete one easy to understand lesson each day for 90
days. Meetings are open to adults who desire spiritual and emotional
support while overcoming addictions, compulsive behaviors or
codependency. Our support groups maintain a positive atmosphere of
acceptance, practicality and encouragement. Observing the principle of
confidentiality creates a safe environment for discussing difficult
issues or disclosing painful emotional wounds. Your participation in
weekly support meetings and completion of the daily lessons will provide
direction for your successful future.
Our commitment is to give you friendship, prayer and acceptance,
along with the educational and spiritual tools to help you overcome your
life-controlling problems. A better understanding of God’s love and
forgiveness will help you make appropriate daily choices and regain your
self confidence. You can use your failures as stepping stones to make
necessary lifestyle adjustments and take control of your future.
Nurse Christian Fellowship Meetings
Meetings are held the 1st Thursday of every month at 6:00 PM
Jesus Christ is good news for nursing. Nurses Christian Fellowship
(NCF) helps nurses know God through
a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to live
out this relationship in nursing, bringing God's love and justice to
nursing education and practice.
NCF provides a local, regional, national and international
network to bring the message of Jesus Christ and a Christian
worldview to nursing education and practice.
This group meets for prayer, Bible discussion, mutual encouragement
and outreach.
