“Oh my gosh! I think I’m going to have a heart attack!” This was the sentiment being expressed by everyone in my living room as we watched the BCS National Championship for college football. As you may know, I’m a fanatical football fan. I am especially passionate about my son’s high school team and college ball, namely my alma mater. This year my college team had an unexpectedly great season that landed them in the national championship game. If you follow football you know that it was an incredibly close and exciting game, one that lead to symptoms of a racing heart, anxiety, and no small amount of sweating and nail biting. While I’m pretty sure nail biting isn’t a symptom of heart attacks in women, the others could be.

Heart disease is the top killer of American women, claiming 300,000 lives a year. According to our brief , “Part of the reason may be that women’s heart attacks can differ from men’s and the American Heart Association (AHA) warns that women often fail to recognize the symptoms, ranging from torso aches and pains and nausea to anxiety, shortness of breath, dizziness and extreme fatigue.”

But here’s the good news, in our Conscious Eating column author Judith Fertig tells us that according to two recent studies from separate teams of Harvard School of Public Health researchers report that cocoa serves as a superfood for cardiovascular and metabolic health. Chocolate lovers rejoice! If Harvard says it okay, that works for me.

Our feature article, Rethinking Heart Health, takes a look at how lifestyle can impact cardiac health. You’ll find local resources and practitioners who can help you make changes to improve your heart health. Discover Cardiac Care for Pets. Consider how to bring out the best in your introverted child. Then explore the key to unblock love and find your soul mate in our Wise Words column. I hope this heart-themed issue inspires you to greater cardio health.

Here’s to a healthy heart!

Kris Urquhart, Publisher