A rock drummer’s take on atrial fibrillation

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 4 Comments

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The incidence of atrial fibrillation increases as we age, so be on notice, you Baby Boomers. It’s the most common heart rhythm condition, and it’s also the most common heart-related reason for hospital admission. And as shown in this 90-second Heart and Stroke Foundation film (featuring Toronto musician and former Our Lady Peace drummer Jeremy Taggart, author of Canadianity: Tales from the True North Strong and Freezing), we should all know more about this heart rhythm condition which can triple our risk of stroke.  Continue reading “A rock drummer’s take on atrial fibrillation” →

Doctors who aren’t afraid of “Medical Googlers”

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 7 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

Many physicians worry about patients like me who go online to look up their medical conditions. They worry that we patients are not capable of understanding what we’re reading.  They worry that all that medical terminology is too confusing for us. They worry that patients don’t know how to research complicated medical issues. Patients, after all, haven’t been to med school and may be easily confused or mislead by what we find online.

Then there’s Dr. Joe Ketcherside MD.

He recently responded to my post called What Doctors Really Think of Women Who Are Medical Googlers (republished on LinkedIn’s Digital Health forum) – and with his kind permission, I’d like to share what one physician has to say to his worried colleagues:     Continue reading “Doctors who aren’t afraid of “Medical Googlers”” →

World Heart Day: focus on women and children

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 4 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas

It’s easy to forget that heart disease is not only our biggest health threat here in North America, but it also wins that dubious prize worldwide.  Over 17 million cardiovascular disease deaths will occur this year – half of whom will be in females. That’s why the Swiss-based World Heart Federation has launched an international goal of reducing premature heart disease deaths by 25 per cent by the year 2025.

The Federation also reminds us of the myth that cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are lifestyle diseases that primarily affect older, wealthy, male populations.  Continue reading “World Heart Day: focus on women and children” →

A heart film to watch before “Pinktober” arrives

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 6 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

We’re approaching the Pink season, my heart sisters. It’s that time of year when breast cancer awareness campaigns and their accompanying corporate marketing shills rev into high gear. Last Pinktober, we saw pink buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken, pink-handled Tasers, and (yes, seriously) pink Smith & Wesson handguns – each somehow helping us to be more aware of breast cancer.

What could possibly top what breast cancer survivor and author Barbara Ehrenreich calls this “cult of pink kitsch” again this year?

From my perspective as a 35+ year veteran in the public relations field, I have to say that my friends working in breast cancer fundraising have done a fabulous job in raising awareness of their cause. So fabulous, in fact, that they have erroneously convinced women that breast cancer is our biggest health threat.

It is not, of course.  This year, heart disease will kill 5-6 times more women than breast cancer will.  In fact, heart disease kills more women each year than all forms of cancer combined.  Continue reading “A heart film to watch before “Pinktober” arrives” →