This month we see hearts everywhere. The Heart and Stroke Foundation is out there doing its best to educate us to look after our Hearts. By now we all know the drill: eat right, exercise, watch for the warning signs. There are reminders not to forget our Valentines for those people that are near and dear to us. There are many choices, flowers, candy cards, Spa treatments, etc. These days it seems that just about everything qualifies as a Valentine. All of this would be great if we were able to find the time to pay attention to all the information. The trouble is that most people are on overload and there is no time to enjoy the fun part of Valentines Day or to implement the changes in our lives that would keep our hearts healthy.

Unfortunately, one of the most important things that we all need to do is left until last. Stress must be managed or it will make its presence known by taking its toll on our bodies, mind, and emotions. The body does not care if it is a big stress like our house burning down or a little stress like running late in the morning, it responds the same. The key to changing this lies with the heart. Take a look at the Heart Facts below.

Interesting Heart Facts

• The heart beats 100,000 times a day, approximately forty million times a year - nearly three billion pulsations in seventy years. It pumps over 100 gallons of blood per hour through a vascular system about sixty thousand miles in length (over two times the circumference of the earth).
• The heart's electromagnetic field is approximately 5000 times greater in strength than the field produced by the brain.
• The heart has its own brain with over 40,000 neurons (nerve cells) which include every type of neuron found in the brain.
• The heart communicates with the brain in at least four different ways; neurological, chemical, blood pressure wave, and electromagnetic. The heart sends more signals to the brain, than the brain does to the heart.
• The heart starts beating in the unborn fetus before the brain has been formed.
• The rhythmic beating patterns of the heart directly affect the electrical activity of the higher brain centers causing inhibition or facilitation of our thinking process.

This information is from the book The HeartMath Solution by Doc Childre and Howard Martin.

The good news is that we can learn to manage stress by using the heart brain. By managing our emotions we actually change the body's response to stress at a physiological level and we become healthier. Positive emotions are the key. When you feel stressed, try taking a few deep breaths to relax your body, then focus on a positive emotion such as love, care, or appreciation. Thinking back to a time when you felt those emotions strongly, such as holding a puppy or a new born baby will help you experience those emotions easily. You may not be able to see the changes that this makes in your body but you will actually be changing your body chemistry. So, the next time you are stressed, "FEEL" better by accessing those positive emotions. When you look after yourself then you have more to give others and that truly is the best Valentine of all.