Posted June 16, 2008 – He was a gregarious person of big heart and persona. He was also my boss in my other life as an NBC Washington Bureau freelance producer. But when Tim Russert, 58, NBC’s Washington, D.C., Bureau Chief and respected host of Meet The Press, fell ill 
while taping promos for his Sunday show, it was a stunning blow to the gut. By all accounts, he’d been following doctors’ orders after being diagnosed with coronary artery disease, in which plaque deposits block the blood flow to the heart. He’d been exercising on a treadmill, watching what he ate more carefully and taking cholesterol-lowering medication. He’d also recently passed a stress test. But he died suddenly on Friday after suffering a heart attack, when a clot burst in an artery, blocking blood flow to his heart. It was not only an example of the quirkiness of life, but a wake-up call. It shows how the fallacy of medicine, the quirkiness of life and, more importantly that you can’t take your health for granted. Stress, lack of sleep and a diet on-the-go also can take their toll, particularly for people with a history of heart disease. African Americans die more often from heart disease than Whites, and Black men are particularly at risk. Unfortunately, we also disproportionately suffer from all the major risks that lead to heart problems – greater instances of diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. There’s no doubt that once you are is diagnosed with heart disease, you have a better chance of surviving it if you change your lifestyle. But, the better way to avoid a heart attack is to head it off all together, especially while you’re young. If you’re getting a little heavy around the middle, see your doctor about losing weight right away. If you’re not getting enough sleep or exercise, change up. Doctors say that even if you’re making the prescribed lifestyle changes – eating better, working out and staying on your meds – you’re still at risk if you don’t get your rest or cut fatty, cholesterol clogging foods from your diet. And there’s new evidence that the greater your girth, or the more expansive your waist line, the more stress you are putting on your heart – and that can heightening your chance of having a heart attack. On the other hand, there’s evidence that the cumulative affect of exercise over the years can help.The death of this consummate family man, master interviewer and astute political observer [ he was one of the first to recognize the tenacity of Barack Obama's run for the White House] is a great and tragic loss. But was also a wake-up call to me. It’s not like I hadn’t had enough examples of people in my life who died way to young from a heart attacks to know that if I take exercise more seriously, get more rest and cut the fat from my diet I stand a better chance at living than dying. But there was something about the death of giant in my own profession dying way too young and so suddenly that drummed home the point that maybe it’s time for me to take my own health more seriously. How about you?
Comments(11,714) 
Posted Sept. 26, 2008 – We’ve got a situation. On one hand, I applaud Essence’s special “Voluptuous Issue” for celebrating our curvy nature. We’ve got a number of examples of beautifully curvy women who help young girls feel better about themselves because they’re on top of their games. Actress and comedian Mo’Nique, who serves as a Essence guest editor for their “voluptuous” issue, brought her F.A.T. (Fabulous And Thick) philosophy to the issue, which features a plus-size fashion guide with Beverly Johnson’s daughter, Anansa Sims. But as we celebrate our curves, I also wonder if we aren’t sending the wrong message.