“Philippine police say a contestant of the Bulgarian reality show “Survivor” has died of a heart attack while filming on an island beach.
Police say the 53-year-old Noncho Vodenicharov died Saturday despite efforts by a Filipino and a Bulgarian doctor to save him.”
The difficulty with self-diagnosis is that some symptoms of serious health problems are seemingly innocuous. Here are some signs that women over 40 shouldn’t ignore:
Symptom: Pain and swelling in your calf
Likely cause: Pulled muscle
Worst-case scenario: Blood clot in the legSymptom: Flu-like feelings (fatigue, nausea, sweating, chills)
Likely cause: Virus
Worst-case scenario: Heart attackSymptom: Burning, tingling, or numbness in your feet
Likely cause: A tight-fitting pair of shoes
Worst-case scenario: Prediabetes (elevated blood sugar levels)Symptom: Bloating and pelvic pain
Likely cause: Gastrointestinal bug
Worst-case scenario: Ovarian cancerSymptom: Persistent cough
Likely cause: A cold
Worst-case scenario: Adult-onset asthma, a condition that can worsen as women enter midlifeSymptom: No matter how much you sleep, you don’t feel well-rested
Likely cause: The flu
Worst-case scenario: Sleep disorderSymptom: Trouble finding the right words
Likely cause: Sleep deprivation
Worst-case scenario: StrokeSymptom: A new mole
Likely cause: Harmless skin growth
Worst-case scenario: Skin cancer
The holidays are coming and that means friends, family and lots of drinking!
This year you may want to beware because “many studies suggest that an irregular pattern of heavy drinking brings about a two-fold increase in risk for a fatal heart attack, even as moderate drinking has been shown to reduce risk (the red wine effect).”
The western diet is becoming deadly!
According to a recent study, there are nine major risk factors were found to significantly increase the risk of heart attacks and heart disease: smoking, lipids, hypertension, dietary choice, physical activity, alcohol consumption, diabetes, obesity and psychosocial factors.
A new study has found that even if you have low cholesterol and are at a low risk for heart disease, you may still benefit from taking some sort of cholesterol pill - such as Crestor, Lipitor or Zocor. This result is “hailed as a watershed event in heart disease prevention,” as half of heart attacks occur in people who don’t seem to be at risk. However, to treat everyone in the United States in this manner could cost upwards of $9 billion annually.
The study also looks at ways to predict who will be at risk for heart attacks. Read more…
According to a recent study done in Europe, we should be eating dark chocolate!
To be exact, we should be eating 6.7 grams of dark chocolate per day. Dark chocolate is a great example of where less is more, eating more that 6.7 grams a day can and the beneficial effects will diminish and even disappear.
Eating dark chocolate reduces the risk of of cardiovascular disease by one-third in women and one-fourth in men because it reduces the risk of chronic inflammation which can lead to a cardiovascular arrest.
The bad news for milk chocolate lovers is that the findings only apply to dark chocolate. Milk chocolate does not have the same effect, since the milk added to milk chocolate interferes with your body’s ability to absorb the beneficial antioxidants in the chocolate.
A new study has cemented the link between heart attacks and “the Western Diet.” This Western diet is defined as rich in fried foods, salt and meat, and it accounts for 35 per cent of heart attacks. The study also looks diets throughout the world and their effect on health. For example, the “Oriental diet” is high in salt, and therefore - for this and other reasons - a large number of Asian adults suffer from hypertension. The study claims it is diet, and not exercise, that has the greatest effect on incidence of heart attacks. Read more…
NEW YORK, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ — Randy Jackson, music industry veteran and TV personality, is holding a casting call for people living with type 2 diabetes. Jackson has partnered with the American Heart Association to speak on behalf of The Heart of Diabetes(TM), a national campaign to help those living with type 2 diabetes manage the disease and learn about its connection to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Approximately 21 million Americans have diabetes; and according to estimates, two-thirds of them will die of CVD, such as heart attack or stroke.
“When I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I thought, ‘Wow, I have a serious disease,’” Jackson said. “I’ve learned that people can live well, with proper management of this disease, and that hearing stories about how others manage type 2 diabetes helps me. I am encouraging people to share their stories as part of The Heart of Diabetes campaign. I hope this campaign will help others who live with type 2 diabetes lead happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives.”
Through the campaign, Jackson shares more of his story about living with type 2 diabetes and provides information about how to successfully manage it. The campaign calls upon those who either have, or know someone who has, type 2 diabetes to share their tips and inspirational stories on the campaign’s Web site, IKnowDiabetes.org. Three people with type 2 diabetes, whose stories are inspiring to others, will be selected and invited to appear in a public service announcement with Jackson.
Daniel W. Jones, M.D., president of the American Heart Association, noted, “People living with type 2 diabetes often need a comprehensive solution that involves appropriate lifestyle changes and proper medication management. The Heart of Diabetes encourages them to get regular physical activity and eat a healthy diet to help prevent the associated cardiovascular risks common in people living with the disease.”
“When I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I took a hard look at my life choices and lifestyle habits,” Jackson said. “I also worked closely with my doctor to stick to a treatment plan, including learning about healthy food choices and exercise routines. I’ve learned things that have helped me manage the disease and worked with the American Heart Association to develop tips to help others lead a healthier life.”
Tips available on IKnowDiabetes.org include:
— Keep active and maintain a healthy body weight. Even 30 minutes of
moderate physical activity five days a week can help prevent diabetes,
reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, maintain a healthy body weight
and minimize risk of cardiovascular disease.
— Normalize your numbers. Schedule regular visits with your doctor to
help monitor your blood sugar and manage your diabetes. It has been
shown that you can reduce cardiovascular disease by improving your
blood sugar control and controlling other risk factors. Learn to keep
track of your critical health numbers, including blood pressure,
cholesterol, body weight and blood sugar.
— Opt for a healthy lifestyle. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and reduce
intake of saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, sodium and added
sugars. Also, if you smoke, opt to quit - smoking increases the risk of
cardiovascular disease.
— Work with your doctor. People living with type 2 diabetes often need
multiple approaches to treatment to control the disease and its
associated risks. If you live with type 2 diabetes, it is important to
talk with your doctor, describe your symptoms and be persistent until
you find treatment options and lifestyle changes that work for you.
“If you have type 2 diabetes or are at risk of developing the disease, work with your doctor to create a game plan for monitoring your critical health numbers including blood sugar, cholesterol, body weight and blood pressure,” Dr. Jones said. “It’s important to be persistent and ask questions until you find a treatment plan that is right for you.”
Those who submit their stories on IKnowDiabetes.org by October 21, 2007 will be eligible to appear with Jackson in a public service announcement. Visit IKnowDiabetes.org for details about how to submit a story and to find educational resources and more information about The Heart of Diabetes.
The American Heart Association’s The Heart of Diabetes(TM) campaign is supported by an educational grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.
About the American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim over 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2005-06 the association invested over $543 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Sept. 4, 2007 /PRNewswire/ — A recent survey of U.S. adults with high cholesterol* shows that in spite of concerns about the serious health risks associated with their condition, such as heart attack, stroke and coronary heart disease, there is a significant disconnect between understanding what should be done to monitor and control high cholesterol and actually implementing recommended changes to lower cholesterol levels.
Sponsored by Daiichi Sankyo and conducted by Harris Interactive, the survey of 400 adults diagnosed with high cholesterol found that nearly everyone (95 percent) agreed that a change in diet and regular exercise would be their preferred way to lower cholesterol. Yet, only half (50 percent) say they are doing everything they can to lower their cholesterol. Many are concerned about the possibility that prescription medications will damage their liver (83 percent) and kidneys (80 percent), but only three-fourths (73 percent) have discussed risks and side effects with their doctors.
Survey respondents often appeared to have other cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension (52 percent), diabetes (29 percent) and coronary heart disease (14 percent). Cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death and disability in the U.S., claiming more than 870,000 lives every year.(1) Currently, more than 100 million American adults, about one third of the U.S. population, have a total blood cholesterol level higher than 200 mg/dL, which puts them at risk for cardiovascular disease.(2)
The survey also indicates that while most (91 percent) say it is important to them to have cholesterol checked regularly, nearly half (46 percent) of those with high cholesterol are not sure what their total cholesterol level is, and four in five respondents (80 percent) aren’t sure what their LDL (”bad” cholesterol) level is. This lack of knowledge may also affect cholesterol goals. Half don’t have a total cholesterol goal and 79 percent don’t have an LDL level goal. Further, about half of adults with high cholesterol (52 percent) do not believe their LDL cholesterol level is a serious risk to their health.
The 2007 high cholesterol survey, sponsored by Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., is a follow up to similar surveys conducted in 2000 and 2004.
“This survey demonstrates that despite all the information available today about high cholesterol, and the seriousness of health problems associated with elevated levels, many people don’t seem to be making all the lifestyle changes necessary to address the problem. There is a significant gap between understanding the health risks associated with high cholesterol and knowing what their personal total and LDL cholesterol levels are, and the goals of treatment,” said Peter H. Jones, MD, Baylor College of Medicine. “The survey also shows a need for physicians to communicate about treatment options and safety, including non-systemic or non-absorbed medications,” added Dr. Jones.
Survey respondents said that important characteristics of a cholesterol- lowering medication are: that the medication is easy to tolerate (91 percent); that the medication can be used safely in combination with other drugs (89 percent); that the medication does not pass through their liver or kidneys (84 percent); and that the drug does not require blood work to monitor side effects of the liver (83 percent).
The leading class of non-systemic cholesterol-lowering medications is the bile acid sequestrant class (BAS). The branded leader of that class, WelChol®, is an effective option with a well-established safety profile for patients with high LDL cholesterol.(3) WelChol differs from many other LDL cholesterol-lowering medications on the market because it is non-absorbed, meaning that the body does not absorb it and it is eliminated without affecting the liver, kidney or other target organs.
“WelChol may be a viable option for those who recognize the benefits of taking LDL cholesterol-lowering medications but are concerned about potential adverse side effects noted with other prescription options,” adds Dr. Jones.
*For the purposes of this survey, those with “high cholesterol” were defined as U.S. adults (ages 20+) who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol and are doing something to manage their condition, including exercising regularly, changing diet, taking prescription medication, taking over-the-counter medication or eating cholesterol lowering food products.
For more information on WelChol, call 877-4-DSPROD (877-431-7763), or go to the WelChol web site at www.WelChol.com.
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