(Listen to the Full Episode Here.)

Have you ever wondered why medicine focuses so much on the heart in February? Well, it is not to increase the greeting card companies’ bottom line.

February was federally designated as American Heart Month by President Lyndon B. Johnson on December 30,1963 (via Proclamation 3566). The fact that Valentine’s Day arrives on the 14th of this month provides an additional boost to the health care community’s efforts to educate us on the importance of caring for our hearts.

Unfortunately, more knowledge on how to keep our hearts healthy isn’t improving our cardiovascular outcomes. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounted for 931,578 deaths in 2021. Further, the CDC states that cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. In fact, it is killing one person every 33 seconds!

There are various reasons why these numbers may be so high. One is that CVD is often underrecognized in women and minorities. This is because these populations may present with different symptoms than those with the typical, more recognizable warning signs of heart problems. There is also the misperception that heart disease risk is gender specific. In fact, many women are not even aware that CVD kills more females than breast cancer. This means that both doctors and patients could mistakenly attribute signs of heart issues in women to hormonal, digestive, and/or mood imbalances, which are perceived to be more common in this group. All of this is very concerning, and more people need to be aware of these aspects.

So, in the latest episode of the Essential Oil Revolution podcast, I provide a brief overview of the current state of cardiovascular care, why we need more integrative approaches to heart health, and how essential oils can support our loving organ.

Previously, I wrote a few articles on integrative cardiovascular health and published their accompanying videos on YouTube. They are posted below and in the show notes so you can dive into them a bit more if you desire. During the episode, I compiled all this information to give you an overview. Then I provide more details on how essential oils can help us to fill in the gaps on how to care for our hearts more holistically.

Below is a full summary of what you will learn in this episode with estimated timestamps:

  • Why the heart gets so much attention as a topic in medicine in February (0 min)
  • How heart disease is underrecognized in specific populations (4 min)
  • How heart disease is viewed more often as a male disease (4.30 min)
  • Why breast cancer is more feared in women, yet heart disease causes more deaths in females (5 min)
  • Typical risk factors for heart disease (6 min 50 sec)
  • The great cholesterol debate, including what influences the effects of cholesterol on heart health (9 min 30 sec)
  • Statins and heart disease (13.50 min)
  • Unique symptoms in women that could signal an underlying heart problem (16 min)
  • How hormones impact the heart (17 min)
  • Isolation and socioeconomic aspects as risk factors for heart disease (18 min)
  • The impact of social connection on heart health (19 min)
  • How essential oils support heart health (21 min)
  • Various heart risk factors that essential oils can help modulate (23 min)
  • Some of my favorite single essential oils and blends that support heart health (24 min)
  • The science of heart rate coherence, the HeartMath Institute, and mind-body medicine (31 minute)
  • The balancing impact of essential oils for the mind-body-heart (34 min)
  • Additional resources for essential oils education (35 min)

Be sure to access the full episode and show notes here.

If you like the show, we’d be so grateful if you could support us by subscribing and providing a rating and feedback on your favorite podcast player. This is a no-cost way to spread the word and ensures we keep providing you with the best guests and essential oils information!

Additional Blogs, Videos, and Information on Heart Health and Essential Oils:

 

Links to Learn More About My Offerings and Education on Essential Oils:

 

Previous Episodes Mentioned in the Show:

 

References

  • https://www.heart.org/-/media/PHD-Files-2/Science-News/2/2024-Heart-and-Stroke-Stat-Update/2024-Statistics-At-A-Glance-final_2024.pdf
  • https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
  • See embedded links in resources

Grab My Free Guide to Using Essential Oils & Access My Naturopathic Wellness Newsletter

If your a seasoned oiler or brand new….

Grab this guide with information on essential oils and access to future health and wellness topics.

Sign Up Here.

Learn How Naturopathic Medicine and Mind-Body Wellness Can Help You

Click here to learn more.

Disclaimer: This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. (Affiliation link.)

This information is applicable ONLY for therapeutic quality essential oils. This information DOES NOT apply to essential oils that have not been tested for purity and standardized constituents. There is no quality control in the United States, and oils labeled as “100% pure” need only to contain 5% of the actual oil. The rest of the bottle can be filled with fillers and sometimes toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin. The studies are not based solely on a specific brand of an essential oil, unless stated. Please read the full study for more information.

Thanks Pixabay and Canva.