Mayo Clinic is now recruiting patients for both a “virtual registry” with retrospective and prospective components and development of a DNA biobank of SCAD patients and first degree relatives. If you are a woman who survived a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and are interested in applying to be accepted to a study being conducted at Mayo Clinic by Dr. Sharonne Hayes,access the preliminary information here.
Protocol entails diagnosis confirmation and angiographic review to determine eligibility prior to enrollment in either of the studies. Women with SCAD can access the documents from this link or can request them to be emailed or mailed via the MayoSCAD@mayo.eduemail address.
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. Approximately 300,000 people die every year from sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the United States. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is defined as death occurring within 60 minutes after the onset of symptoms without any evidence of circulatory collapse. People who have heart disease are at higher risk for SCD. However, SCD can also occur in people who appear healthy and have no known heart disease.
Most people who experience SCD die from it—often within minutes. Rapid treatment with a defibrillator can be lifesaving.
A recent review of data from the Nurses Health Study states that following a healthy lifestyle may actually lower the risk of sudden cardiac death in women. This study appeared in the June 6, 2011 issue of JAMA.
Healthy lifestyle includes regular exercise, controlling obesity, healthy diet and no smoking. Women who followed all four of the good life style habits had a 92% lower SCD risk compared to those with none of the four good factors.
1 in every 3 young children are overweight or obese.
Hispanic youths are more likely to be obese and are more likely to develop diabetes and heart disease as they get older. Hispanic kids of low-socioeconomic status consume too much total and saturated fat, cholesterol, added sugar and sodium.
White children and teens watch 2 hours and 45 minutes of TV per day while Hispanic children watch 3 hours and 23 minutes per day.
Hispanic children are less likely to exercise on a regular basis.
Take a couple of minutes to watch this well done, informative video about the childhood Hispanic obesity epidemic.
We are nurse practitioners who are also trying to educate hispanics to develop healthier lifestyles. We have an adult book ready to be published “TOME CONTROL DE SU SALUD Usted Puede Prevenir la Diabetes, un Ataque al Corazon o un Derrame Cerebral” which discusses (in Spanish) risk factors and prevention tips for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Hispanic/Latino parent can help themselves and their children prevent heart disease, stroke and diabetes by developing healthy habits and lifestyles – this book will show you how! Please visit our website www.heart-strong.com for more info.
from HealthyWomen’s e-newsletter, HealthyWomen Take 10
When the dull pressure of an occasional headache begins, you might chalk it up to work stress, lack of sleep or personal worries. If the ache is mild or moderate, you may consider it no big deal and simply reach for an over-the-counter drug—aspirin, acetaminophen , ibuprofen or naproxen sodium—instead of calling your health care professional.
Simple tension-type headaches are common, happening to 78 percent of adults, according to the National Headache Foundation. Such aches are dull (not stabbing or pulsating), may contract the muscles in the scalp or neck and generally occur on both sides of the head, without nausea or sensitivity to light and noise.
Yet occasional or episodic headaches may increase in frequency over time. Are you taking headache medication nearly every day, but feeling little relief? Does the aching often start when you wake up or in the evening? Are you having sleep problems?
If that describes you on 15 or more days a month, you have chronic tension-type headache. And you might also be suffering from unrecognized depression .
Although people with chronic tension-type headache often get through their daily activities, studies show they have significantly higher levels of depression , which affects overall functioning and quality of life. That depression might not be displayed as sadness or other classic signs of a depressive disorder, so the problem underlying the headaches may be missed by health care professionals and even patients themselves. What’s more, chronic pain itself can lead to depression .
If you suffer from chronic headaches, get help now to end the pain:
Anyone taking headache medication more than two days a week needs to be examined by a medical professional. See your primary care provider or a specialist at a headache clinic (often affiliated with hospitals).
Even if you are not depressed, antidepressants are often prescribed for chronic tension-type headache. These drugs provide more pain relief than standard over-the-counter medications.
Biofeedback has also been shown to be helpful in ending chronic headache.
One of the most important parts of your journey to a healthier heart is deciding who will be your regular heart doctor. Heart doctors (cardiologists) can vary greatly. Even though most adhere to the standard of care, their interpretations can lead to a wide range of treatment styles. Some may be more conservative by suggesting very minimal medicines and follow-up. Others tend to be more aggressive in their treatment of heart disease by recommending more medicines and frequent follow-up. Both conservative and aggressive styles are perfectly fine but you need to find a cardiologist with the style you prefer. It should ideally be someone you trust undoubtedly. When it comes to your heart care, you do not have time to second-guess every move your doctor makes!
If you prefer a cardiologist who is proactive when it comes to national guidelines and standard of care, I would recommend you search several websites. First, go to http://www.ncqa.org which is the website for The National Committee for Quality Assurance. NCQA is a not-for-profit organization that promotes quality care for patients. You can search their physician database to obtain a list of doctors who have passed the Heart/Stroke Recognition Program requirements. The list contains both primary care physicians and cardiologists.
If you cannot find a cardiologist in the NCQA list for your area, then look up cardiologists through a search engine on the internet (Google, MSN, Yahoo, etc). You will have to type in key words like “cardiologist” and the name of your city. You can also use your local phone directory or ask a friend.
Once you have a list of possible cardiologists for your area, I recommend you check out their credentials. By internet, you can view all types of information about any licensed provider through your state’s medical board website. To find your specific medical board website you can visit the American Medical Association’s webpage (link http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/education-careers/becoming-physician/medical-licensure/state-medical-boards.shtml) and click on your state in their list. Physicians who have passed the cardiology board exam will generally have this listed on the Medical Board website under Specialty Board Certifications. The Medical Board website can also tell you if the doctor has had any lawsuits settled against them. If you prefer not to use the internet, you can call the American Board of Medical Specialties (1-866-ASK-ABMS) with questions about a doctor’s certification.
After checking out their credentials, the next step would be to call the cardiologist’s office for an appointment. You will have to ask if they accept your insurance and if they are taking new patients. Many offices have more than one doctor in their group. If you really want to find the perfect match, consider asking a nurse, physician assistant or nurse practitioner about the doctors. You might say to them, “I’m looking for a doctor who will see me often and treat my heart disease aggressively.” Or you could say, “I’d like to see a doctor who is personable and open to alternative treatments.” Chances are they can guide you to the right person!
Just got back from a community blood pressure screening and was surprised how many people were unaware that their blood pressure was elevated. When asked if they wanted their blood pressure checked numerous people said “I don’t have any blood pressure problems” but admitted they had not had their blood pressure checked for several years.
They were surprised with the elevated readings and said they thought their blood pressure was okay because they felt fine. We even found numerous teenagers with higher than normal blood pressures. The kids especially were shocked when we told them their blood pressure was high and wanted to know what they could do to help control their blood pressure.
High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because most people do not have any symptoms when their blood pressure is elevated. Remember the only way to know if your blood pressure is elevated is to get it checked on a regular basis.
Salt or sodium has been receiving a lot of attention lately in the media – excess salt or sodium in the diet has been proven to elevate blood pressure readings. Salt is in everything especially processed foods. Salt intake recommendations are less than 2,400 mg per day of sodium for people with normal blood pressures and less than 2,000 mg per day of sodium for people with elevated blood pressure readings. Cutting back on salt intake can have a dramatic impact on lowering blood pressure especially in African Americans and postmenopausal women.
Other things that can help control blood pressure include:
Weight loss, if overweight
Routine exercise (remember walking counts and is one of the best exercises)
Increasing fruit and vegetable intake (current recommendations are 5 to 7 servings of fruits/vegetables every day)
Increasing fiber in your diet
Home blood pressure machines are a good way to help you keep track of your blood pressure readings – do not just rely on getting your blood pressure checked when you go to your doctor/healthcare provider. If you are going to purchase a home blood pressure machine select one for the upper arm. Blood pressure readings from the wrist and finger are not as accurate, the further the blood pressure cuff is from the heart level the less accurate it is. Also take your home blood pressure machine to your doctor/healthcare provider at least once a year to make sure it is giving you accurate readings.
Goal blood pressure readings are less than 120/80 – that is for men, women and children. If you haven’t had your blood pressure checked recently – what are you waiting for?? What about your family members and friends – remind them how important it is to get regular blood pressure monitoring.
Heartstrong wants to try and help you control your blood pressure and other risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. Visit our website www.heart-strong.com for more information and to find out how to obtain our books “Take Charge: A Woman’s Guide to a Healthier Heart” and “Take Charge: A Man’s Roadmap to a Healthy Heart”.
This is the first of a three part series titled “Women and Heart Disease across the Lifespan.” On this show we will concentrate on heart conditions that are more likely to affect young women. We will discuss the following conditions: palpitations, tachycardia, pericarditis, conditions that may occur during pregnancy, and premature heart disease.
A stroke happens when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke) or ruptures (hemorrhagic stroke). When this occurs, part of the brain no longer receives the oxygen it needs, and the tissue in that area starts to die.
Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) consist of stroke-like symptoms, which go away shortly after starting and produce no lasting damage. Even if your symptoms disappear entirely, it is critical that you follow up with a health care professional to address your risk for future stroke.
Warning signs of stroke
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding others
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden dizziness, loss of coordination or balance or trouble walking
Sudden severe headache with no obvious cause
What to do if you think you’re having a stroke
If you experience any of the warning signs above, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital as soon as possible. Don’t wait to see if your symptoms improve or disappear. Treatments are available, and the sooner you can get to the hospital, the better your chance of a positive outcome.
Risk Factors for stroke
Risk factors are cumulative, so reducing even one will lower your overall risk of having a stroke.
Age: The chance of having a stroke approximately doubles for each decade of life after age 55. In addition, researchers have noted a surge in strokes among women between 40 and 55 that can be tied to metabolic risk factors including increased abdominal weight and diabetes. There are also certain risk factors that apply directly to women under 55 (see below).
Family history: If a parent, grandparent, sister or brother has had a stroke, you are at increased risk of having one too.
Ethnic background: African Americans have stroke earlier in their lives and are twice as likely to die from stroke than are Caucasians, according to the National Stroke Association. Hispanic Americans and Native Americans also have increased risk for stroke. For these groups, higher rates of stroke risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, may be responsible for higher rates of stroke.
Prior stroke or TIA
High blood pressure : High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and the most important controllable risk factor.
Heart disease or prior heart attack: Heart disease, including arterial disease, coronary heart disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation, can contribute to an increased risk of stroke.
Smoking: Cigarette smoking on its own is a significant risk factor for stroke. When oral contraceptives are used in combination with cigarette smoking, stroke risk is greatly increased.
Poor diet: Diets high in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and/or sodium can increase stroke risk. In contrast, a diet containing five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day may reduce risk.
Also: Diabetes, drug or alcohol abuse, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity or sickle cell anemia all can increase risk for stroke.
Risk factors especially important for women younger than 55
Migraines: Women who suffer from migraines with visual disturbances can be up to 10 times more likely to suffer a stroke.
Oral contraceptives: Women who take even a low-estrogen birth control pill may be twice as likely to have a stroke.
Other risk factors:Autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes or lupus, clotting disorders, taking hormone replacement therapy, increased abdominal weight, multiple miscarriages or pregnancy.
Despite the national initiative to eat better and cleaner, the stereotype of the pizza-gnawing, beer-guzzling college student still exists. And it’s not just because all college students are irresponsible or don’t care about their health or their weight. There are lots of factors working against you, students, when it comes to proper nutrition. Most young kids spend all week waiting for pizza night, and when you get to college, you’re allowed to eat it every night if you want. Also, college kids are on tight budgets and opt for fast food and frozen meals when they spend their own money off campus. Finally, students have little control over what they eat in the dining hall: if their school hasn’t stepped up and offered them a healthy, well-balanced meal plan, they still have to eat whatever is served in front of them.
But just because you face nutrition obstacles every day as a college student doesn’t mean you have to accept weight gain, health problems, bad skin, and low energy as a necessary part of your college experience. Below are several simple tips for winning back some of the control over the fight for your wellbeing.
Get enough sleep: Weird sleep schedules can contribute to even weirder cravings and weight gain. Think about it: the longer you stay up at night, the more you’re likely to eat. Doctors also believe that not getting enough sleep can lead to weight gain.
Keep a food journal: You don’t have to share it with anyone, so be as honest as you can by writing down every single snack, meal and beverage you eat or drink for one week. Writing it all down will help you discover which food groups you’re ignoring and which times of day you’re more likely to overindulge.
Pay attention to your emotions when you eat: Are you eating because you’re tired, stressed or sad? What kinds of foods to you eat when you feel happy vs. anxious? Identifying your food habits will also help you make proactive, healthier choices.
Only keep healthy snacks in your dorm room: If it’s inconvenient to find ice cream, you’ll be more likely to eat the whole-grain cereal or banana that’s already in your room. Empty out your refrigerator of the junk and keep good food stocked.
Stay nourished all day: You’re more likely to give into cravings if you go too long without food. Keep healthy snacks like fruit, yogurt and nuts in your book bag so that you can keep your mind and body nourished between meals. Always make time for breakfast, too.
Still confused about what to eat? Keep reading for healthy snack ideas when you get the midnight munchies, as well as smarter dining hall choices you can make.
Skim-milk string cheese: Great for mindless snacking, since you can pull apart the cheese as you study.
Go for grilled: Instead of fried chicken or fish, opt for the grilled version.
Get a side salad or side of veggies with lunch and dinner: Eat the veggies first, and limit dressing to a couple of tablespoons of light dressing or vinaigrette dressing.
Peanut butter: It’s great comfort food and contains good fats and protein. Just make sure you spread it on fruit, crackers or whole wheat bread and don’t eat it out of the jar.
Fruits and veggies: Grapes, baby carrots, watermelon and cherry tomatoes are great study snacks that are low in calories and good for your energy and overall health.
Have you ever investigated your roots and your family tree? Several years ago I was able to trace several of my great-grandparents back to the ship they traveled on when they arrived at Ellis Island. While you are working on your family tree, why not piece together your family health history as well?
The best place to start is with your immediate family. Your parents, brothers and sisters have the closest genetic link to you and the greatest likelihood of sharing similar conditions or diseases. Next, move on to your grandparents, aunts, uncles and as much extended family as possible. You may uncover a lot of information about your family’s health that you were never aware of.
Are there certain diseases that run in your family? Be sure to ask about the “BIG 4”- cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. You should also inquire about some other common cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other unhealthy risk factors they may have had. If a family member has had or died from a heart attack or stroke, were the overweight/obese, did they smoke or drink alcohol heavily, were they sedentary? If your grandfather died form a heart attack but was obese, never exercised, smoked 2 packs per day for 30 years and drank excessive alcohol, these factors may have contributed more to his heart attack than genetics. However, you cannot rule out a genetic influence as well. Also, if anyone in your family has died from heart disease at an early age, you may be at increased risk for premature heart disease as well. Finally, if a family member has died due to an aneurysm, either in the brain or the chest/abdomen, you should also be screened. Increased risk for aneurysms can also be inherited.
Try to find out the age at which your relatives developed certain conditions. If your grandmother developed diabetes in her 70’s, it may not be a very strong genetic risk factor. If she developed diabetes in her 20’s or 30’s, you may be at a higher risk of inheriting the gene. The general rule is that the younger a person is when they develop a disease; the more likely it is to have a genetic or hereditary component.
For women, at what age did your mother or grandmother go through menopause? Most women will become menopausal around the same age as her mother. Remember, menopause is one of our strongest risk factors for heart disease. If you have an idea as to when you may go through menopause, you can try to get all of your controllable risk factors at goal levels before this occurs.
Make sure you investigate all diseases….from A to Z….Addison’s disease, Alzheimer’s, thyroid disease, etc. (not too many diseases start with Z, but you get the point). Be thorough and put the information in a computer program or make a chart. Share this information with your healthcare provider, your children and your family. There is a lot you can learn by investigating your family’s health history and many diseases are preventable by making healthy lifestyle choices. So what are you waiting for? Get moving, learn about your family’s history and make some lifesaving changes.
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Healthy Hearts & Bodies with Heartstrong 