Category: Women's cardiac risk factors

– posts here focus on how to address your risk factors to help prevent heart disease

Could heart disease have its roots in your mother’s womb?

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 2 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

When my mother was pregnant with me in 1950, mothers-to-be were very afraid of weight gain.  Back then, doctors had spent at least two decades warning pregnant women against gaining too much weight,  believing that excess pounds would lead to dangerous conditions like pre-eclampsia or toxemia. And lower weight gain would also ensure “preservation of one’s figure”.

In fact, I recall Mum’s stories about actually starving herself during the 2-3 days before each monthly prenatal appointment weigh-in so as not to incur the disapproval of her obstetrician. She was not alone. The average total pregnancy weight gain of North American women in 1950 was less than 20 pounds.

Less than 20 pounds?   Continue reading “Could heart disease have its roots in your mother’s womb?” →

How to stare down that plate of chocolate chip cookies

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 8 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

What would you do if you checked into your hotel room and found there a welcoming plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies waiting for you? I know what I’d do – I’d have a cookie. And then, because it tasted so darned good, I might eat another. And then, while I unpacked my suitcase, maybe just one more. And then, particularly if I were feeling tired or stressed or hungry, I might even say to myself: “Oh, what the heck! It’s been a hard day – and I deserve this little treat!” – and there goes the rest of that plate of cookies.

But that’s not what Dr. David Kessler decided to do when this very situation presented itself to him. As a person who had battled his own weight problems for years, he knew that he could have easily eaten all of those cookies in one gulp, but he also knew with equal certainty that he did not want to do that this time. There was only one way to gain the upper hand, and he had to act quickly.   Continue reading “How to stare down that plate of chocolate chip cookies” →

Pregnancy: the ultimate cardiac stress test

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 5 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas

I’m not interested in this Canadian women’s health initiative in Kingston, Ontario just because it will help identify links between our pregnancy complications and heart disease.

I’m not interested in this just because during my first pregnancy I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia – a serious complication that has now been “strongly linked” with a marked increase in cardiovascular disease.

And I’m not interested just because I have such a personal soft spot for the historic limestone city of Kingston and for its venerable Queen’s University, along with other members of our family who are Queen’s grads – “Oil thigh na Banrighinn! Cha-gheill! Cha-gheill! Cha-gheill! ” (for those of you who happen to have your Gaelic-English dictionaries handy).

Here’s why I do care about this innovative new women’s program.   Continue reading “Pregnancy: the ultimate cardiac stress test” →

“Jenny, know your numbers!” A free Mayo Clinic app

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 5 Comments

Catch the cameo appearances here by Mayo Women’s Heart Clinic cardiologist Dr. Sharonne Hayes (at work and joining Jenny on the treadmill!) on this spoof of a classic 1982 song reminding us to know and keep track of our heart health numbers. As part of the campaign, viewers can use a free application on Mayo’s Facebook page that will help them calculate their risk of a heart attack and learn how to prevent one.