Category: Health

When We Drift

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Come near to God and he will come near to you. (James 4:8)

A little over a year ago, I had a stress fracture in my right foot and had to wear a boot for two months. (I wrote about that experience here.) Now, all these months later, I continue to have issues with the joint between my right hip and my thigh, the hip flexor. Most days, I don’t notice anything. But every once in a while, my hip aches or I have a catch in my hip when I stand and walk after sitting for an extended period. Earlier this year, in March, I tried running a short distance, and my hip flexor ached constantly for about two months.

When my hip gave me trouble during this time, I went to the doctor, who gently scolded me for running—it was too much too soon, she said. She instructed me to walk or do low-impact exercises only. Then I did some research on exercises that will strengthen that joint. The truth is, I’m getting older and most likely have some arthritis making that joint weaker, even without the added burden of walking off-balance in a boot for two months. Continue reading “When We Drift” →

A Healthy Heart

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23 ESV)

February is American Heart Month. I’ve long been aware of the heart problems that run in my family. My grandma had a heart attack and bypass surgery when I was fourteen, and my grandpa followed with quadruple bypass surgery a few years after that. Almost all my mom’s siblings have (or had) high blood pressure, stents, or other heart issues.

In late 2024, my family history caught up with me, and I joined the high blood pressure club. As I’ve written about before, I had gone to the doctor for a regular checkup, and everything was fine. Then two weeks later, I had a dizzy spell, my blood pressure spiked, and it didn’t come down for three days, resulting in a trip to the ER and a follow up with my doctor. After numerous tests to determine if there was an underlying cause, and then a referral to a cardiologist, the cardiologist determined that there was no underlying cause, just a long family history of hypertension. Continue reading “A Healthy Heart” →

A Limp and a Prayer

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. (Jeremiah 17:14)

The past year has been rough on my health. Last September, my blood pressure, which had always been normal, suddenly spiked after a dizzy spell and didn’t go down for three days, prompting only my second ever trip to the ER. While in the ER, my blood pressure went up to 164/117—definitely scary territory, especially because I didn’t feel any differently. Months of appointments and tests followed that trip to the ER—appointments and tests that didn’t reveal anything out of the ordinary. Eventually, I was referred to a cardiologist who determined that my family history, rather than an underlying issue, had caught up with me. The good news is that with medication, my blood pressure is back under control. The bad news is that the medication zaps my energy and took months to adjust to, and there are still days that I struggle.

Continue reading “A Limp and a Prayer” →

The Heart: What Makes Us Who We Are

Posted on by Staci Mauney

This post appeared previously on February 28, 2021.

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” (Mt. 22:37)

In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first proclamation to make February American Heart Month. With the ongoing, global COVID pandemic, paying attention to our heart health carries even more importance since the virus impacts the heart. Continue reading “The Heart: What Makes Us Who We Are” →

Fighting Burnout

Posted on by Staci Mauney

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. (Matt. 8:18)

Merriam Webster’s defines burnout as “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.” In January 2022, the American Psychological Association (APA) reported that burnout and stress were at all-time highs across all professions, and statistics show that just 51 percent of small businesses make it past five years.

None of these statistics are in my favor as a small business owner coming out of the pandemic. I’ve run Prestige Prose for almost eight years now. The good news is, my business has survived the pandemic while many others have not. Continue reading “Fighting Burnout” →