My Heart & Mind with Sallie Crawley - Life after a Heart Attack or Cardiac Surgery

Join me in this powerful and candid interview with John Fraser, who shares his remarkable journey through a triple coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. At 66, John, a previously active individual, faced unexpected heart issues, leading to a life-changing operation. Listen as John details his experiences from initial symptoms and diagnosis to the challenges of surgery and recovery. In this episode, John opens up about: John's story is a testament to resilience and the power of a positive outlook. Whether you've experienced a cardiac event yourself or know someone who has, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration. Key Takeaways: Send me a message, I'd love to hear from you! You can read the complete article about this episode here Podcast & Blog Page. Disclaimer The information contained within my podcast and on my website is for general information purposes only. It is not official health advice and is not intended to be used as such. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. If you have any questions pertaining to specific health concerns or you think you may be suffering from a medical condition, you should consult a medical professional immediately. You should also consult a medical professional before making any changes to your normal lifestyle habits. You can read my full disclaimer here. Getting to know Sallie Crawley Survivorship after a life-changing event can be challenging. You can rebuild the puzzle of your life and thrive. It takes one beat at a time and the support of people that have had similar experiences. Join me and other hearties in the My Heart & Mind Community, you'll get a warm welcome.

Today’s episode is a relaxamation and it focuses on taking time for yourself and putting yourself first. When was the last time you spent a whole day just for yourself, doing only what you wanted to do when you wanted to do it? I don’t do it very often myself and yet I know that I should. It’s an essential part of self-care. Self-care shouldn’t be for when you’re burnt out, uptight, stressed and feeling awful it should be used as part of your everyday life to avoid feeling depleted and unable to cope. If you have others that you care for or look after then you need to look after yourself first. Think of the oxygen mask on the plane, always put it on yourself first else you won’t be able to save others and may even make the situation worse. Life should be enjoyable as our mental health impacts our physical health; do you know what brings you joy? Maybe a bit of homework for you 😉 Time is something we can’t make more of but we can make more money, have more relationships or more jobs, and find some time for yourself. Live with gratitude for all the experiences you have, if you can’t give yourself a day, then look for an hour or maybe an afternoon. Be glad you did rather than wish that you had! Do not listen to this episode while driving or operating machinery. Your affirmations Say your affirmations 5 times each as a set. Repeat your set of affirmations at least once a day. The more you use them the bigger the impact. Add them to a habit that you do every day. While cleaning your teeth, driving, running, walking your dog, washing the dishes, when you first wake up or the last thing at night. Your self-reflection questions are: Use these reflection questions to delve a little deeper and get to know yourself better. You can use them as prompts for journaling, during meditation or just give yourself a few moments of time to consider. Send me a message, I'd love to hear from you! You can read the complete article about this episode here Podcast & Blog Page. Disclaimer The information contained within my podcast and on my website is for general information purposes only. It is not official health advice and is not intended to be used as such. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. If you have any questions pertaining to specific health concerns or you think you may be suffering from a medical condition, you should consult a medical professional immediately. You should also consult a medical professional before making any changes to your normal lifestyle habits. You can read my full disclaimer here. Getting to know Sallie Crawley Survivorship after a life-changing event can be challenging. You can rebuild the puzzle of your life and thrive. It takes one beat at a time and the support of people that have had similar experiences. Join me and other hearties in the My Heart & Mind Community, you'll get a warm welcome.

I am not sure about you but does your cardiac event consume your life? Is your heart health at the centre of everything that you do or think? Awe is an emotion characterised by a sense of reverence or wonder in response to something perceived as vast or great. Something outside of yourself. It has been shown to have several potential health benefits. Today I am going to talk about awe as it has been shown to have a positive impact on both psychological and physical health, making it an important aspect of well-being after a heart attack or heart surgery. Send me a message, I'd love to hear from you! You can read the complete article about this episode here Podcast & Blog Page. Disclaimer The information contained within my podcast and on my website is for general information purposes only. It is not official health advice and is not intended to be used as such. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. If you have any questions pertaining to specific health concerns or you think you may be suffering from a medical condition, you should consult a medical professional immediately. You should also consult a medical professional before making any changes to your normal lifestyle habits. You can read my full disclaimer here. Getting to know Sallie Crawley Survivorship after a life-changing event can be challenging. You can rebuild the puzzle of your life and thrive. It takes one beat at a time and the support of people that have had similar experiences. Join me and other hearties in the My Heart & Mind Community, you'll get a warm welcome.

The Dalai Lama said, “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” To me, the quote means that experiencing pain, physical and emotional, is a natural and unavoidable part of life, but whether or not we experience suffering as a result of that pain is a choice that we can make. In other words, we can choose to let the pain control and consume us, causing suffering, or we can choose to accept the pain and manage it in a healthy and constructive way. Managing how we feel and react to people, circumstances, and situations can reduce our suffering. You are in charge of how you feel. I’m sure you are familiar with the term, “You choose how you react”. Actually, it’s not 100% true as our limbic system is always on the lookout for trouble and anything that would be a threat so you may initially experience a fight or flight response. However, you can stop, take a breath or two, and calmly reconsider your response, there may be some facts you weren’t aware of, and therefore take charge of how you feel. Do not listen to this episode while driving or operating machinery. Your affirmations: Say your affirmations 5 times each as a set. Repeat your set of affirmations at least once a day. The more you use them the bigger the impact. Add them to a habit that you do every day. While cleaning your teeth, driving, running, walking your dog, washing the dishes, when you first wake up, or the last thing at night. Your self-reflection questions are: Use these reflection questions to delve a little deeper and get to know yourself better. You can use them as prompts for journaling, during meditation or just give yourself a few moments of time to consider. Send me a message, I'd love to hear from you! You can read the complete article about this episode here Podcast & Blog Page. Disclaimer The information contained within my podcast and on my website is for general information purposes only. It is not official health advice and is not intended to be used as such. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. If you have any questions pertaining to specific health concerns or you think you may be suffering from a medical condition, you should consult a medical professional immediately. You should also consult a medical professional before making any changes to your normal lifestyle habits. You can read my full disclaimer here. Getting to know Sallie Crawley Survivorship after a life-changing event can be challenging. You can rebuild the puzzle of your life and thrive. It takes one beat at a time and the support of people that have had similar experiences. Join me and other hearties in the My Heart & Mind Community, you'll get a warm welcome.

I am sure that like me you experience stress and anxiety. I thought that prior to my heart attack, I had it pretty much nailed anxiety and that I managed my stress levels well. Perhaps I did but after discharge from the hospital it got really out of my control and I had to learn to practice what I had been preaching to my clients. Today I am sharing with you 5 different ways of using your breath to improve your stress tolerance, enhance energy, and regulate your emotional and cognitive states. Send me a message, I'd love to hear from you! You can read the complete article about this episode here Podcast & Blog Page. Disclaimer The information contained within my podcast and on my website is for general information purposes only. It is not official health advice and is not intended to be used as such. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. If you have any questions pertaining to specific health concerns or you think you may be suffering from a medical condition, you should consult a medical professional immediately. You should also consult a medical professional before making any changes to your normal lifestyle habits. You can read my full disclaimer here. Getting to know Sallie Crawley Survivorship after a life-changing event can be challenging. You can rebuild the puzzle of your life and thrive. It takes one beat at a time and the support of people that have had similar experiences. Join me and other hearties in the My Heart & Mind Community, you'll get a warm welcome.

My interview with Jon Johnston. He’s a survivor of a widow maker heart attack and a cardiac arrest that caused him to be without oxygen for 20 minutes, technically dead. He is also an author of two books and a sports website owner. Today he talks to me about his life before his event and how he died but miraculously survived. He shares with me how he pieced together what had happened with the help of family and friends along with his realisation that he was not the only person affected. His heart attack impacted his family and friends in ways that he didn’t expect. Due to oxygen deprivation Jon now lives with a traumatic brain injury and yet during his recovery, he has penned two books to help himself and others with their own recovery. We talk about how Jon lives his life happy and has ambitions for the future despite the change to his life, health, and knowledge that he will never be the person he once was. We talk about Jon’s books and he shares some content with us. Some of his tried and tested activities have helped him and will help you too. You can find the links we mentioned here: www.Manageyourdamage.com www.Jonjohnston.com Been Dead, Never Been To Europe Manage Your Damage – Heart Attack Survivor Send me a message, I'd love to hear from you! You can read the complete article about this episode here Podcast & Blog Page. Disclaimer The information contained within my podcast and on my website is for general information purposes only. It is not official health advice and is not intended to be used as such. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. If you have any questions pertaining to specific health concerns or you think you may be suffering from a medical condition, you should consult a medical professional immediately. You should also consult a medical professional before making any changes to your normal lifestyle habits. You can read my full disclaimer here. Getting to know Sallie Crawley Survivorship after a life-changing event can be challenging. You can rebuild the puzzle of your life and thrive. It takes one beat at a time and the support of people that have had similar experiences. Join me and other hearties in the My Heart & Mind Community, you'll get a warm welcome.

This week is about nutrition, and my guest is Cheryl Strachan of Sweet Spot Nutrition. She is a Registered Dietitian, specialising in cardiac nutrition and wellness. Her mission is to share her love for food that hits the sweet spot. She is also the author of 3 recipe books. Cheryl believes that we should be eating for health gain that will naturally lead to weight loss. Today we talk about involvement in cardiac rehab in Calgary and how she developed her model the sweet spot. We have a great discussion about moderation, and what it actually means in real life. We chat about how what you eat can help reduce fatigue and talk about mood foods. If you want to hear her thoughts on chocolate, coffee, and wine, then stay tuned. How to reach Cheryl: https://sweetspotnutrition.ca/ Free Book, The Sweet Spot Guide to Eating Well with Heart Concerns: https://sweetspotnutrition.ca/eating-well-with-heart-concerns/ Why not join Cheryl in the Sweet Spot Kitchen: https://sweetspotnutrition.ca/join-us-in-the-sweet-spot-kitchen. The kitchen is the heart and soul of your home – and the Sweet Spot Kitchen is the heart and soul of my cardiac nutrition program. Simply knowing what to eat after a heart event or diagnosis isn’t enough. Staying committed day after day, year after year can be challenging. Find your Sweet Spot with food that’s healthy, delicious, and right for you, with guidance from me and the support of an entire community. As mentioned The Look AHEAD study www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1212914 Mediterranean diet studies www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1800389 Lyon Diet Heart Study pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9989963/ Lifestyle Heart Trial jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/188274 You can read the complete article about this episode here Podcast & Blog Page. Disclaimer The information contained within my podcast and on my website is for general information purposes only. It is not official health advice and is not intended to be used as such. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. If you have any questions pertaining to specific health concerns or you think you may be suffering from a medical condition, you should consult a medical professional immediately. You should also consult a medical professional before making any changes to your normal lifestyle habits. You can read my full disclaimer here. Getting to know Sallie Crawley Survivorship after a life-changing event can be challenging. You can rebuild the puzzle of your life and thrive. It takes one beat at a time and the support of people that have had similar experiences. Join me and other hearties in the My Heart & Mind Community, you'll get a warm welcome.

Today’s episode is going to be rather different; it’s going to be a fictional story. It’s a story of someone that had a heart attack although it is founded in a true story. It’s the first fictional story that I have found about having a cardiac event and I’d like to share it with you. I came across the author, Aaron David in a Facebook group when I was looking for people to proofread and give me feedback on my book ‘The Beat Goes On’, a how-to support yourself emotionally and practically guide for once you were discharged from hospital. Aaron agreed, he then told me he was a published author – this nearly gave me my second heart attack as I was then nervous about what he might say. He was amazing and really helped get it just right. In the meantime, I thought I would check out his work and found that he was the author of numerous books of short humorous fiction stories and poems. When I read his book of short stories “Booky McBookface” I came across this story that I would like to share with you today. It reminded me of how we never know what is just around the corner and how quickly things can change. Stories can be more than just fictional, they can be metaphors for life. I use them a lot in my hypnotherapy scripts they allow clients to apply their meaning and make the changes they desire. It's not me or Aaron who is going to read the story but another hearty, Tony Richens-Smith. Tony is also a published author he also wrote “Not Everyone Wants a Hug” seeing the world through the eyes of a dog. After his widow-maker during covid he wrote his second book “My B****** Heart”, his personal journey after his heart attack. It was when I was listening to his audio book version, I thought I’d ask him to record this for me. So now without any further ado, I will hand you over to Tony and the Egregious (uh·gree·juhs) Fortune. Aaron's Website Aaron's Amazon Authors Page for Books Tony's Website You can read the complete article about this episode here Podcast & Blog Page. Disclaimer The information contained within my podcast and on my website is for general information purposes only. It is not official health advice and is not intended to be used as such. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. If you have any questions pertaining to specific health concerns or you think you may be suffering from a medical condition, you should consult a medical professional immediately. You should also consult a medical professional before making any changes to your normal lifestyle habits. You can read my full disclaimer here. Getting to know Sallie Crawley Survivorship after a life-changing event can be challenging. You can rebuild the puzzle of your life and thrive. It takes one beat at a time and the support of people that have had similar experiences. Join me and other hearties in the My Heart & Mind Community, you'll get a warm welcome. You can also visit my website, like me on Facebook, or follow me on ...

Nicky was 44 years old, a fit and healthy mum of 3. She is not the stereotypical candidate for a heart attack. She went to see her doctor as she began to feel unwell, the doctor suggested it was indigestion so Nicky took the recommended Gaviscon unbeknown to her that her symptoms were angina. Nicky shares with us how 5 months later she’d been up all night with chest pain, although it was more in her back than her chest. “It was like having a red, hot poker being thrust between my shoulder...