care TALK © Here are some suggestions for safe ways to express anger:

• Use your voice. This doesn’t mean to get in a yelling match with someone. This just means to use your voice to express the intensity of what you’re feeling. Maybe this means you go for a drive in the car and scream-sing along to a playlist. Maybe it means you scream into your pillow for a bit. It could also mean talking it over with someone if that feels supportive to you.

• Get moving. Anger is an intense emotion and can often feel like it’s bursting out of you or like it’s causing energy to build up inside of you. A great way to deal with the excess energy that often comes up with anger is to move your body and tire yourself out. Try dancing around to music that makes you feel powerful. Or maybe go for a run or a brisk walk. Any kind of intense movement that gets you moving, and your blood pumping can be helpful here to work through the feeling of anger.

• Be destructive (strategically). The urge to be violent when angry is often a way to get rid of the painful excessive energy that anger can bring. This urge can be met in ways that aren’t unsafe or scary, thank- fully! Here are some ideas for how to be destructive in a safe, strategic way to help relieve some anger:

» Safely throw or squeeze or hit or break something

» Visit a smash room and break some things

» Hit or kick a punching bag

» Squeeze play dough or a stress toy

» Knead dough or pound meat

» Throw something soft (or maybe throw a toy for a pet to chase)

» Break down cardboard boxes

» Pound on a drum set Practice progressive muscle relaxation. Anger can cause a lot of tension to spring up in the body. When you’re responding to anger, it can be helpful to notice where the anger is living in your body. This not only helps you identify what anger feels like so you can spot it when it comes up in the future; it also lets you know where to focus your attention for relaxation. To help you find where the anger is living in your body, you can do a body scan and practice mindfulness that engages the body, like progressive muscle relaxation. There

At your first visit to a new healthcare provider, pharmacy, or hospital you will receive their Notice of Privacy Practices. You are asked to read and sign an acknowledgement that you received the HIPAA notice. The law does NOT say you HAVE to sign it, but if you do, it helps the provider to document that you received the information. Health insurance plans must also provide you with a Notice of Privacy Practice, so if you have health insurance, you receive the notice in the mail. Insurance plans don’t ask for your signature.

With federal laws in place protecting the privacy of your health information, there has been much are lots of guided body scan meditations available online for free that you can try, to get in the habit of scanning your body for signs of anger.

Once you’ve spotted the anger in your body, you can focus on relaxing that area. Progressive muscle relaxation can help you slowly shift your body from a state of tension to a state of calm and safety.

• Find your safe place. Anger can feel scary and out of control.

When intense emotions like anger come up, it can be helpful to remind yourself that you are safe and in control of yourself. Where is a place you can go mentally to remind yourself that you’re safe? Some people choose a beach or mountains as their safe place, and others prefer a room in their house, or a space from their childhood home.

When you feel an intense emotion, imagine you’re in your safe place. If it helps, carry a reminder of this with you or save a picture on your phone to help you mentally return to your safe place. This can be helpful with lots of distressing emotions, not just anger!

Source: adapted from the article https://www.hope-wellness.com/ blog/6-safe-ways-to-express-anger

Your medical team will evaluate how well you’re managing your heart condition and consider treatment changes you may need before you become pregnant.

Certain medications used to treat heart conditions aren’t used during pregnancy. Depending on the circumstances, your health care professional may adjust the dosage or make a substitution and explain the risks involved.

Preventing complications

Taking good care of yourself is the best way to take care of your baby. For example:

• Keep your prenatal appointments. Visit your health care professional regularly throughout your pregnancy.

• Take your medication as prescribed. Your health care professional will prescribe the safest medication at the most appropriate dose.

• Get plenty of rest.

Take a daily nap, if you can, and avoid strenuous physical activities.

• Monitor your weight gain. Gaining the right amount of weight supports your baby’s growth and development. Gaining too much weight places additional stress on your heart.

• Manage anxiety. Ask questions about your progress. Find out what to expect during labor and delivery. Knowing what’s happening can help you feel more at ease. Know what’s off-limits. Avoid smoking, alcohol, caffeine, and illegal drugs.

For additional information, visit https://newsnetwork. mayoclinic.org/discussion/ consumer-health-pregnancyand-the-heart/