Posted by Deanna Kidd on Tue, Jul 06, 2010
I found a great article called “Thank Your Way to a Happy Heart” which is so fabulous, I only want to offer you some teasers, so you’ll read it for yourself. In a nutshell, the article says that by shifting our emotions from negative, stressful feelings like frustration and anger, to positive ones like gratitude, appreciation and love, we do our hearts and our bodies a big favor. When we make that shift, we’re moving from the sympathetic to a parasympathetic state.
I always thought being sympathetic was a good thing, so I had to look it up. Wikipedia explains that, “The sympathetic division [of the autonomic nervous system] typically functions in actions requiring quick responses. The parasympathetic division functions with actions that do not require immediate reaction.”
Stress puts our bodies into a fight or flight state. The parasympathetic state is much easier on a person physiologically, according to Rollin McCraty, director of research at the Institute of HeartMath in Boulder Creek, California. By enhancing the function of the entire cardiovascular system, and it kicks the body's natural regenerative system into gear. Your body is much better able to heal and rejuvenate in this state.
I found another doctor who agrees, and wasn’t mentioned in the article. Dr. William Davis , a cardiologist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin said on his Heart Scan Blog, “Happiness, contentment, and gratitude are ‘parasympathetic’ states characterized by slower heart rates, deeper respiration, greater variation in beat-to-beat heart rates (a powerful predictor for health and the basis for the HeartMath program of Lew Children, lower blood pressure, and even a subtle change in brain waves. In other words, happiness is not just a mental and emotional state, it is a constellation of physical phenomena.”
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude, and enjoy a happy healthy heart!
Posted by North Ohio Heart Center and Ohio Medical Group on Thu, Jan 14, 2010
The holidays are over and your New Year’s Resolution is probably to eat healthy and lose some weight, right? You probably know from experience that if you start a new diet that’s very strict, you won’t be able to keep it up for long.
In order for a diet to stick, it has to be plan you can live with for the long term, not one that makes you feel like you have to do without. That’s why it’s a good idea to download this FREE Dessert cookbook from our website!
It offers a selection of healthier desserts that you can share with family and friends—keeping your loved ones healthy while letting you take part rather than have to sit it out. With healthier ingredients for desserts, healthy eating has never been easier and that's sure to please your cardiologist! It has a "Sweet Cheat Sheet" conversion chart that will help you learn how to satisfy your sweet tooth without feeling like you’ve ruined your diet.
Here are some other dessert substitution tips from the Diet Detective to help you on your way today:
Chocolate:
- To satisfy your desire for chocolate, try sugar-free pudding made with skim milk. Drop in a few chocolate chips while it's hot or top it with light whipped cream.
- You can also make No Pudge Brownies, a fat-free brownie mix using yogurt.
- If you're out to dinner, ask the staff if any healthy desserts are available; some places have offerings in the 200- to 250-calorie range. For instance, Applebee's has a chocolate raspberry layer cake that's only 230 calories.
Substitute Cakes
- Bake your own healthy version of cheesecake using low-fat or nonfat cream cheese as well as low-fat or nonfat cottage or ricotta cheese.
- If you have a craving for poundcake, try zucchini bread instead, which has about 360 calories for a 4- to 5-ounce portion depending on preparation.
Posted by W. Scott Sheldon, DO, FACC on Wed, Jan 06, 2010
Research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, showed that adults with hypertension (high blood pressure) may be more likely to have cardiovascular problems if they also have vitamin D deficiency.
1,739 adults enrolled in a long-term health study were tracked by Harvard Medical School's Thomas Wang, MD, and colleagues. Participants were 59 years old, on average, with no history of heart problems.
When their blood levels of vitamin D were checked, 28% had vitamin D deficiency, including 9% with severe vitamin D deficiency.
By the end of the study period:
- 120 participants developed a first cardiovascular event including fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease;
- 28 participants had fatal or nonfatal cerebrovascular events such as nonhemorrhagic stroke;
- 9 participants were diagnosed with heart failure; and
- 8 had occurrences of claudication, fatigue in the legs during activity.
People with vitamin D deficiency and hypertension were about twice as likely as people without hypertension and vitamin D deficiency to have a cardiovascular event during the study. Vitamin D deficiency wasn't linked to cardiovascular problems in people who don't have hypertension.
When researchers adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure, the risk remained significant with a 62 percent higher risk of a cardiovascular event in participants with low levels of vitamin D compared to those with higher levels.
The American Heart Association recommends that healthy people get adequate nutrients by eating a variety of foods in moderation, rather than by taking supplements. Food sources of vitamin D include milk, salmon, mackerel, sardines, cod liver oil and some fortified cereals.
Vitamin or mineral supplements aren’t a substitute for a balanced, nutritious diet that limits excess calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and dietary cholesterol. This dietary approach has been shown to reduce coronary heart disease risk in healthy people and those with coronary disease.
About the author:
Dr. Sheldon completed his Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic
Foundation. He specializes in Interventional Cardiology including
Balloon Angioplasty, Laser, Directional Brachy Therapy, Atherectomy,
Stent Placement, Rotoblator, Perepheral Intervention, Renal Stenting,
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Stenting and Acute Myocardial Infarction. Dr.
Sheldon sees patients in our Elyria and Sandusky offices.
.
More blogs from Dr. Sheldon...
Dr. Sheldon BIO...
Posted by North Ohio Heart Center and Ohio Medical Group on Wed, Nov 04, 2009
Doing some homework and preparation before meeting with your cardiologist can help make sure you get the best care. Here’s what you can do:
- Bring a list of your current medications--with name, dose, and frequency and any medication allergies.
- Carry a list of your health care providers-- name, address, telephone number, and condition to help your cardiologist communicate with your other care providers.
- Create a health history—surgical procedures, prior or ongoing illnesses or health issues, major tests, especially within the last year. Knowing this can give your physician clues to make the right diagnosis or prescribe the best course of treatment.
- Compile a family health history--close blood relatives are most important, back to your grandparents. Especially those relatives that have been diagnosed with heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, (http://www.nohc.com/) diabetes, or aneurysm.
- Bring in copies of any recent lab results--if you have them, and any other test results from the past year, especially from a different health care provider.
- Research your condition--having a better understanding of your condition ahead of time will allow you to have a more meaningful discussion with your physician.
- Write down your questions-- then pick the top 3 or 4 concerns. It can be easy to get side tracked during a medical appointment. Write down ahead of time what pieces of information you want to leave with.
- Create an organized folder--easy access during your visit will make things run more smoothly.
- Don’t take anything for granted--although information systems are getting better, and communication between systems is improving, you are still the most reliable repository of your health care record. Keep your copy accurate and up to date.