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Singer Darlene Love is best known as the voice behind the 1960s hit He’s A Rebel and the holiday standard Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), which she sang for 28 straight years on the Dave Letterman show. In 2011, she became a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And in 2014, she was among those invited on stage to accept Oscar award for 20 Feet From Stardom, a documentary about talented, often-overshadowed backup singers such as her.
In 2012, Love woke up with a terrible head and stomach ache hours before a performance on the Jersey Shore, but refused to cancel. She took various medicines, but didn’t get much relief until her husband aided her with aspirin.
The next day, Love visited her longtime primary care physician. A cardiologist told her, “Tell your husband to take you home, get some clothes and meet me at the hospital.”
“But I’m not in pain,” she protested.
“Darlene,” he said, “your artery is nearly 90% clogged.”
The public celebration of her survival began last week when Love took part in this year’s American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection fashion show. The word “Survivor” shined in the background as she walked the catwalk.
Love’s heart story is unique because women do not have the typical warning signs, such as chest pain or a shooting pain down the arm. “I’m telling you, it’s different for everybody,” she said.
“My doctor said, ‘You either have a heart attack and die, or you have a heart attack and live.‘ I’m so grateful to be on the living side.”
Healthy for Good is a revolutionary healthy living movement to inspire you to create lasting change in your health and your life, one small step at a time. The approach is simple: Add color. Be well.
EAT SMART. Healthy eating starts with healthy food choices. You don’t need to be a chef to create nutritious, heart-healthy meals your family will love. Learn what to look for at the grocery store, restaurants, your workplace and any eating occasion.
MOVE MORE. A good starting goal is at least 150 minutes a week, but if you don’t want to sweat the numbers, just move more! Find forms of exercise you like and will stick with, and build more opportunities to be active into your routine.
BE WELL. How do you want to live? Along with eating right and being active, real health includes getting enough sleep, practicing mindfulness, managing stress, keeping mind and body fit, connecting socially, and more.