HEARTTALK

Air Date: 07/15/2018
Today’s Guest: Dr. Louis Papandrea
Show Topics: Valvular heart disease
Links:
The easiest exercise to prevent heart disease symptoms has been revealed according to The Express, a British newspaper. The paper reports that “walking has the lowest rate of people dropping out of exercise” and that England’s National Health Service recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity every week to improve your cardiovascular health.
A new study finds that even relatively minor sleep disturbances can increase the risk of increased blood pressure and vascular inflammation in women. This increase was measured even in women who slept for 7–9 hours each night. An estimated one third of people in the United States do not get enough sleep. And, women seem to be affected more often than men.
Three studies published in the journal Circulation explain just how autopsy can reveal the underlying causes of sudden cardiac death, how cardiac implantable electronic devices can offer crucial postmortem information, and how studying the heart after death can help us to zoom in on the causes of death, the danger for other family members, and atherosclerosis, which is a condition characterized by plaque buildup inside the arteries.
New evidence now finds that consuming the amount of caffeine that is equivalent to four cups of coffee might be enough to set off a cellular chain of events that protects the cells of our hearts. The team hopes that this discovery leads to better strategies in protecting the heart muscle for seniors.

Air Date: 7/08/2018
Today’s Guest: Patricia Dickson, Assistant Director of Diagnostic and Outpatient Services, Capital Cardiology Associates
Show Topics: Testing can reveal the structural and functional health of the heart and can help in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease or other heart conditions. Today we will discuss the various heart tests your doctor may order, what happens during the procedure, and how you can better prepare for your test or visit.

Show Links:
Harvard researchers have made an interesting discovery: practicing mindfulness activates your body’s relaxation response, which physically changes the genes that regulate inflammation and metabolism. That change, in turn, lowers your blood pressure. One of the tools researchers used in the study was mindful breathing. Deep breaths boosts the flow of oxygen throughout your body, increasing calm and clarity, while decreasing anxiety and blood pressure.
If getting in better shape is something you’d like to do, know this: You’ll make more of a dent watching what you eat as opposed to trying to burn calories doing cardio. When it comes to exercise you’re better off building muscle which will increase your metabolism to burn more calories throughout the day. The easiest way to do it is by using your own bodyweight. Check out these body weight workout ideas.
Summer Superfood Alert: Blackberries are bursting with polyphenols, which may help prevent cancer as well as cardiovascular disease. Unlike exercise, you can see the impact they make in just three months.
Ditching the car and biking or walking to work just might cut your risk of developing heart disease and even dying from it. A new British study that finds a person’s risk of heart disease or stroke falls 11 percent and their risk of dying from these diseases falls by 30 percent, just by exercising on their way to work.

Air Date: 07/01/2018
Today’s Guest: Dr. Kevin Woods
Show Topics: This Wednesday is the 4th of July. As we take time off to gather with friends and family to celebrate our nation’s Independence; we also pause to thank our military service members for their duty to our country. Today we will talk about the unique opportunity to serve as a soldier and doctor in the US Army.
Links:
The American Heart Association has launched a new app called “My Cardiac Coach”. The app offers progress-trackers that people can use to monitor their weight and blood pressure, and also has the ability to log physical activity and keep track of the medication they are taking. It also offers the “Support Network,” where people can connect with others dealing with heart disease.
Immigrants coming from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are more likely to die from heart disease than the general population, researchers say. In a report published by the AHA, researchers have yet to find a specific genetic cause that would make South Asians more at risk than other groups. They believe that poor diet and lifestyle choice along with a lack of awareness are contributing to rising heart disease cases.
Heart disease may only be a matter of time for those with healthy obesity. In a study from the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, people who are 30 pounds or more overweight may want to slim down a bit even if they don’t have high blood pressure or any other heart disease risk, according to scientists.
Sitting for too long can cause heart and memory problems, as well as increase your risk for cancer and diabetes. Scientists recently discovered that people who sit more than 10 hours a day (not too hard to do for a person who spends 7 to 9 hours at a desk) have above-normal levels of proteins in their blood. The best thing you can do to counteract the harms of sitting is just to get up and move every 30 minutes or so.

Air Date: 06/24/2018
Today’s Guest: Susan Zogheib, Registered Dietitian and author of “The Mediterranean Diet Plan”
Show Topics: Heart Healthy Nutrition and Meal Planning
Links:
June is National Men’s Health Month. As we celebrate the most important men in our life, let’s encourage them to make their heart health a priority by knowing their risk and talking with their doctor.
‘Healthy obesity’ not so healthy for the heart. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, in 2013–2014, up to 40.4 percent of adult women in the US had been diagnosed with obesity. Still, some women have what is often known as “metabolically healthy obesity,” as, despite their high body mass index (BMI), they do not have many of the additional health conditions that obesity is a major risk factor for.
Too much protein isn’t good for your heart, says a new study published by the American Heart Association. Researchers found that men who eat high-protein diets have a slightly increased risk of developing heart disease during middle age. Heart failure risk climbed to 43 percent for men who ate animal protein but rose to 48 percent for those who ate dairy protein and then dropped to 17 percent for those who ate plant protein. Protein from fish and egg were not associated with increased risk of heart failure.
Research from the from the National Heart and Lung Institute shows the difference between a healthy heart and the heart of someone who drinks too much. It shows the enlarged heart of someone suffering from alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM), which causes the heart to swell and lose the ability to properly pump blood around the body. The deadly condition is triggered by drinking more than 70 units a week, roughly seven bottles of wine, for five years or more. In severe cases, the condition can be fatal or require a heart transplant.
A trial on folic acid found that supplement alone can reduce stroke risk by 22 percent. Additionally, people with high blood pressure who took folic acid in addition to their usual hypertensive medication had a 73 percent lower risk of stroke.

Air Date: 06/17/2018
Today’s Guest: Dr. Jeffrey Uzzilia
Show Topics: When someone has a heart attack, getting treatment in a timely manner is of the utmost importance. In 2014, Capital Cardiology Associates (CCA) launched its Enhanced Cardiac Access program. The ECA provides same day evaluations of patients with potential cardiac symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations.
Links:
A Swedish study found that individuals with high-strain jobs are more likely to develop atrial fibrillation, which is a common heartbeat disorder that can significantly raise the risk of stroke. “High-strain jobs” were defined as those that are “psychologically demanding” giving job-holders little control “over the work situation.” Examples include bus driving, nursing, and working on assembly lines.
88% of Americans don’t understand basic health information. The American Heart Association study came out this month shows that most Americans don’t know what bad blood pressure number are, didn’t know the causes of diabetes, and some didn’t understand the basic results of a health test.
Researchers found evidence that lingering smoke particles — called thirdhand smoke — can be picked up and spread all around buildings by forced air HVAC systems. This information will hopefully encourage smokers to light up in designated smoking areas which are usually marked at 25 feet or more from most building entry ways.
Poor sleep may fuel harmful eating habits and diabetes. According to a new study from the University of Arizona, people who have a hard time falling asleep at night are some of the most exposed to munching in the later hours, which may increase their risk of obesity and diabetes.
The New York City Health Department has launched an online calculator to measure your “heart age.” The calculator uses information like age, height, weight, blood pressure, and whether you smoke or have diabetes to determine your heart age. It then tells you your risk for stroke or heart disease.

Air Date: 6/10/2018
Today’s Guest: Dr. James O’Brien
Show Topics: We’ll discuss The Watchman, the 100th milestone CCA recently reached, and how this procedure is quickly becoming sought out by patients with atrial fibrillation, AFib, in the Capital Region.
Links:
Kevin Smith calls ‘widow-maker’ heart attack ‘the best thing that ever happened to me’. Smith had 100% blockage in his LAD in February. Since then he has lost 30 pounds using a plant-based diet.
Arlington, VA has been named the fittest city in America, according to the 2018 American Fitness Index. The index found that Arlington residents had the lowest smoking rate and highest reports of “very good” or “excellent” health compared to 99 other communities. Closer to home, Buffalo ranked 43rd, NYC made the list at 52. Albany did not make the top 100.
A new study shows that drinking more than five alcoholic drinks a week raises the risk of stroke, heart disease and aneurysms. The international study was reported in the Lancet Medical Journal. This study conflicts with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association that both say men can safely drink up to two alcoholic drinks a day and women up to a drink a day.
A Johns Hopkins University research team found that after six years of brisk walking or biking, in middle age may be enough to reduce your heart failure risk by 31%. Going from no exercise to recommended activity levels over 6 years in middle age may reduce heart failure risk by 23%.
Doctors in California are prescribing food as medicine, and it’s keeping patients out of hospitals. The program, which will cost California $6 million over the next three years, provides healthy, medically prescribed meals to those suffering from serious illnesses. The diet has led to lower monthly medical costs, fewer trips to the hospital, and less patients needing long-term care.

Air Date: 06/03/2018
Today’s Guest: Dr. Robert Benton
Show Topics: Clinical research advancements in heart health
Links:
Mayor Bloomberg era’s emphasis on ‘health in all policies’ improved New Yorkers’ heart health. Researchers analyzed legislation from the 3 terms of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, focusing on health-related policies related to air pollution, diet, physical activity, and smoking cessation and found that generally, the policy made an impact.
Michigan State University is developing a 3-D printed smartphone device that reads blood pressure as well as a finger cuff. The device uses a finger applied to the phone.
The New England Journal of Medicine published a 2012 study of 10.9 million U.S. marathon and half-marathon runners over a 10-year period. Between 2000 and 2010, very few runners died during marathons and half marathons — just 1 per 259,000 participants. In all, there were 59 cardiac arrests. Of them, 42 were fatal. The final mile of a marathon accounts for about 50% of the deaths.

Air Date: 05/27/2018
Today’s Guest: Dr. Lance Sullenberger
Show Topics: June is National Men’s Health Month. The average age for a male’s first attack is 66. Today we’ll discuss what men can do to improve their heart health and lower their risk of heart disease.
Links:
Former NFL player and general manager Matt Millen says he is being treated for amyyoidos is and awaiting a heart transplant.
New research shows the benefit of generating new heart cells through exercise. Scientists next steps are to understand the pathway to cell growth in human hearts. The goal is to improve recovery after a heart attack.
A new study examined the psychological effects of stroke on patients. Researchers found that stroke patients reported unhappiness with their social roles and activities. Researchers hope these findings can improve future therapies and rehabilitation.

Air Date: 5/20/2018
Today’s Guest: Mary Ellen King, NP, Capital Cardiology Associates
Show Topics: Memorial Day is next week, signaling the unofficial start of Summer 2018 and vacation season. How should heart patients prepare for summer vacations?
Links:
American Heart Association Heart Walk is next Sunday (June 3) at UAlbany. Sign up to join us here.
Belly fat is bad for your heart, researchers say. Adults with normal body mass index (BMI) and extra belly fat (termed “central obesity”) had a 79 percent higher risk of major cardiovascular events, compared to people who were mildly overweight but with normal fat distribution.
The new Medicare cards will start arriving in New York State next month (June).
What heart patients need to know about flying and driving.
Do you need to discuss your travel plans with your doctor?

Air Date: 05/13/2018
Today’s Guests: Drs. Robert Benton and Mary Ellen King, Nurse Practitioner
Show Topics: May is National Stroke Awareness Month. A stroke is an emergency – it can happen to anyone, at any time, and at any age.
Links:
A new study busts the myth of the existence of “good” fat that protects against heart disease. In fact, the study looked at the effects of losing weight in the hips, buttocks, and thighs on cardiovascular health, and it found nothing but benefits.
A new study on optimism and heart health adds a little more evidence worth considering. The results point to the benefits of seeing the glass half full, showing a strong correlation between increased levels of optimism and better cardiovascular health.