Women who are good at caring for others are not always as good at taking care of themselves. Maybe it just seems selfish or indulgent to place your needs on a level with those of your loved ones.

But consider this: how are you going to be there for your family and friends if you don’t take care of yourself? If you really believe it’s your responsibility to take care of them, then it’s vital that you keep yourself in shape for the job.

And the people you love get some less direct benefits from your good health, too. As you take control of your heart health and make the deliberate lifestyle changes that lower your risk of disease, you’re providing an important example of the benefits of healthy living. In quiet ways, your example will demonstrate to your family and friends that we can all take charge of our destinies.

Heart disease poses a serious threat to the lives of all women. But it also offers us an opportunity to take charge of the way we live, to take responsibility for our health. When you make the decision to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle, you’re fighting a battle our mothers and grandmothers might never have considered. And the effects of your decision sends positive ripples out to your family and community.

When you look at it that way, you may decide that taking care of others starts with taking care of yourself.

* for every code entered by January 31, 2009, to a maximum of $500,000; guaranteed minimum donation of $200,000.