Archive | November, 2009

Physical exercise vs. the ‘plumber’s pipe’ theory of heart disease treatment

18 Nov

plumber pipes

A billboard in cardiologist Dr. William Bestermann‘s hometown of Kingsport, Tennessee is sponsored by a local hospital there. It recently proclaimed: “More procedures equal better outcomes in heart disease”. So, he explains, the public in Kingsport likely understands coronary artery disease to be a progressive blockage, like hard crusty scale building up in a plumber’s pipe. And thus the more procedures, the more treatment, the more technology you can throw at coronary artery disease, the better. Dr. Bestermann adds:

“The current system of cardiac care works like this: even if a patient has a 60% blockage of a coronary artery, it does not interfere with blood flow. It does not cause chest pain or other cardiac symptoms. The patient is thought to be safe, and nothing much is done for or to the patient.

“But if the blockage is 70% or greater, it begins to interfere with blood flow. It may cause some pain or other symptoms. The patient is thought to be in danger, and this level of disease activates our entire health care system of treadmill stress tests, cardiac catheterizations, implanting stainless steel stents and doing open heart bypass graft surgery. A 100% blockage is a heart attack, but if we can catch the blockage before it becomes 100% and open it with a bypass or a stent, then we have saved the patient from having a heart attack. This is the way most patients and physicians currently understand the problem of coronary artery disease, and it is the way our current system operates.”

But Dr. Bestermann maintains that our current cardiac treatment does “too little, too late”. In cardiovascular disease, the care model is built entirely around opening blockages in patients with late disease, which can relieve symptoms, but does not prevent heart attack.  Find out how a heart attack happens …

Yes, French women DO get fat!

16 Nov

 

french eiffel5 

Remember that book  that came out a few years ago that explained to us the “French paradox” – why don’t French women get fat?   Anybody who has, like me, been unable to resist a Paris boulangerie without stopping to indulge has marvelled at the ability of French women to remain so thin and gorgeous in spite of all those exquisite croissants, crusty baguettes, heavenly sauces, divine cheese and oh, those wines.

Author Mireille Guilano (who, incidentally, is thin and gorgeous herself) published French Women Don’t Get Fat in 2004, explaining that their secret is in the eating habits of the women in France, who prefer to savour their food calmly, take small portions, and never snack between meals.  And they have traditionally eaten less of the trans fats that are so plentiful in the snack foods, fast food and frozen foods that North American women eat. 

While overall heart disease rates in France average less than half (40/100,000 people) of our rates in Canada (95/100,000 people), regional differences in French diet and health have been quite pronounced, especially for chronic diseases like heart disease. For example, middle-aged adults living in the southwest and Mediterranean areas of France still eat substantially less animal fat, including butter, and more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated olive and vegetable oils than those in northern areas. Not surprisingly, deaths due to heart disease are substantially higher in the north than in the south. The health of the French does seem to correspond to their diet and lifestyle, much more than the phrase “French paradox” suggests.

And contrary to their image as slim models of restraint, it seems that French women really do get fat, according to a new study published on November 10th. 

(more…)

Heart attack: did you bring this on yourself?

14 Nov

food junk

In the early hours, days and weeks following my heart attack last May, many conversations with family and friends started the same way: “How could this have happened to YOU?” – followed by an expectant pause during which I was supposed to explain myself.  If only I’d been a chain-smoker or a diabetic!  It would have somehow seemed more comforting to them, because it might mean that my heart disease was self-inflicted, that something like this could never touch them.  (more…)

Mayo Clinic and WomenHeart pull off another great success!

12 Nov

Last month, I spent a weepy week feeling very nostalgic – in an oddly happy way.  Because last month was the 8th annual Science & Leadership Symposium at the world-famous Mayo Clinic — a joint effort hosted by Mayo Women’s Heart Clinic and WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease .  And I was feeling so nostalgic because exactly one year earlier, five months after my own heart attack, I had flown to Rochester, Minnesota to attend the 7th annual Symposium - the first Canadian ever invited to attend. 

Each year, 50-60 women, all heart disease survivors, spend five days at this life-changing Symposium learning about heart disease, receiving support from other women and medical professionals, and developing skills to become advocates for women’s health back in their home communities. The only goal is to raise awareness of heart disease in women – our #1 killer.

In the video below, Symposium leaders Dr. Sharonne Hayes, Lisa Tate and Carol Allred share their thoughts about this unique cardiology training event for women.

This year, over 60 women – all heart disease survivors - gained invaluable insight into their disease, becoming, as cardiologist Dr. Sharonne Hayes describes: “women who go from being victim patients to gunning for bear!”  Most importantly, Symposium graduates are “changed for life”, as Dr. Hayes says, inspired to return to their own communities to share what they’ve learned. (more…)

Do women need to worry about cholesterol?

10 Nov

 cholesterol

Physician Dr. Rob Lamberts does a creative job of clearing up some confusing questions about cholesterol in his always enlightening ”Musings of a Distractible Mind” and related House Call Doctor podcast at Quick & Dirty Tips.

He starts off by reminding us that the current protocols for treating high cholesterol date back to before he was practicing medicine.

“Some smart scientists had noticed that people with high cholesterol had a higher risk of heart attack. More scientists got together and decided that, based on the evidence, keeping a low cholesterol number was a good idea. To celebrate their decision, they went out to a dinner of bacon cheeseburgers and donuts.”     (more…)

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