Dr. Marianne Clinton talks with us about Heart Health for American Heart Month and just in time for Valentines Day.
This year, perhaps more than any other, it has been essential to focus on the heart. Isolation has been difficult as we moved through the year, celebrating holidays and birthdays over zoom. We have been focusing on staying healthy, but with nothing to do it has been easy to lean on eating some comfort foods. As we enter heart month this February at Betances we are taking a closer look at the heart and reflect upon what a healthy heart really means.
In your medical opinion, what is the coolest thing about the heart?
[Dr. Clinton] I think the coolest thing about the heart is that it's not just one thing. One could take a medical scientific approach in terms of physiology (bodily function) as well as the philosophical, how it can be considered the seat of one's emotions. That is a wordy explanation for one thing, but the one thing is, that [the heart] isn't one thing.
With that in mind, what is one thing everyone can do, regardless of a heart disease diagnosis, to help their heart?
[Dr. Clinton] *long pause* Yeah, one thing is hard. *laughs* *laughs* Do you want to give a laundry list? One thing I'll say is. There is an internist (named Dr. Dean Ornish) that advocated for a vegan diet, which was helpful in lowering people's cholesterols that had otherwise been resistant. But it wasn't until years later that he discovered that there was a factor that he had not accounted for during his study; it was the community piece. These folks were interacting with each other during the study and they were supportive of each other. I want to recognize that developing compassion and support for each other is critical for long term heart health.
Wow, I was expecting something more like "drink more water." *laughs*
[Dr. Clinton] *laughs* I think I am going to focus on the less emphasized.
So [Dr. Ornish] found that people fared better when they had community support than without?
[Dr. Clinton] Oh yes. Both giving and getting [support], type of thing. He worked in terms of these [support] groups. [They were] trying these more intense vegan diets, and he was oblivious for so long that part of what was helping people to have a healthier heart was the community.
That is pretty relevant as a community health center.
[Dr. Clinton] Yes!
Speaking of diet, we just spoke about strict veganism; but in light of Valentines Day where we think about going out to eat, drinking alcohol, and indulging in treats. If we do indulge in these foods will we hurt our heart?
[Dr. Clinton] In the long arc of things, being healthy and eating healthy is not about one day. I think it’s about one day and how it fits into the scheme of things. Of course, one doesn’t necessarily have to link expressing love with eating the unhealthiest things one can imagine. Many different approaches, but the answer is one day of choosing some less healthy food is not too big of a deal.
I think that is a holistic answer. You touch on the physical and the philosophical. The point you bring up about not associating love with food is interesting to me because there are so many ways that we emotionally eat.
My next question is, can you break a heart?
[Dr. Clinton] A lot of the broken heart is a poetic expression but there is something. Where people have made the links has been people suffering emotionally traumatic experiences and that has had a negative impact on heart health. (After this interview Dr. Clinton sent a link to what she was talking about here. IT is called "heart math". After looking myself, it shows that the sadness we feel can be seen physiologically through abnormal rhythms of the heart.)
I wonder how that is impacting COVID outcomes because it is a clearly isolating disease. It is hard to feel like you have support or love outside of what a hospital can give you.
[Dr. Clinton] Yeah, and you know some of that can be linked in terms of the provider patient relationship as well. So, if patients feel like they are being heard they are more likely to come back, but I also think above that they may retain more of that conversation. I think that relationship itself can be healing.
Going off this conversation about emotions and healing, what makes your heart sing?
[Dr. Clinton] It is in medicine. When someone comes in, maybe after a previous conversation, and they say, "Since I last saw you, I'm making some little changes." Often, they have a big smile on their face and they'll just express that they are on the path. It makes my day. It does make my heart sing.
That's great to hear coming from a doctor. So often we find some doctors (on and off screens) to be cold and aloof. We can have such bad experiences. So it is great to hear that you are having these warm interactions and they seem to be making a difference.
COVID-19 has taught us to never take our health or our loved ones for granted. Do you have any valentines you are grateful for this year?
I am grateful for my offspring (Gender non binary, uses they/ them pronouns) who lives in Brooklyn and we've had many (every couple of weeks) walks. We plan this and it’s all outside. But it has been the opportunity afforded by being careful, loving one another, loving the community by following the rules. But getting outside, getting those endorphins, and just talking while walking. So, my valentine is for them what that relationship has meant to me.
[interviewer] Small moments of closeness in a time of isolation has brought me the most joy and firmer relationships than I have had. I have been doing wellness practices like affirmations with my mother and I have found that has really been beneficial to our minds and relationship. I also loved that piece about loving the community by following the rules. It has been such a group project that it feels like everyone is failing.
[Dr. Clinton] The more that I talk to patients, the more that I talk about we as community. It’s not like one person taking a risk or not taking a risk, it is a we thing. I am so glad that you are doing wellness practices. Meditation and yoga are part of my regular practice in the mornings. It is just essential. That quieting, that body motion, that moves yourself to ground and to focus on the heart. Otherwise, we are just caught in the swirling that goes on.
On Valentine’s day I know I will be connecting with a love one, sharing in the beauty of community, and remembering to take care of your heart. As we learned here, its not all just about eating broccoli.
We here at Betances are hoping that all of you, and your valentines, keep your heart happy and healthy during these hard times. We are always here as part of your community to support your heart whether it be through primary care, social work, or nutrition.
Dr. Clinton Is one of our Family Medicine Doctors practicing in our Bushwick site. She has been practicing in federally qualified health centers for over 35 and she has been at Betances Bushwick site for a little over a year.
This conversation was conducted and contributed by Betances Staff Member Annaliese Devita. We Thank both her and Dr. Clinton for this fun conversation filled with great information.
Love this post!