“The general idea is that by providing these cells of blood vessel origin, we hope to either generate new blood vessels from the growth of these implanted cells or stimulate the heart to regenerate new blood vessels from the cells that reside in it,” said study investigator Carl J. Pepine, M.D., chief of cardiovascular medicine at UF’s College of Medicine. “It’s not completely clear whether it’s the actual cell itself that would do this or whether it’s just the milieu and the chemical signals that occur from the cells that would result in this.”

University of Florida is one of 20 research sites that is testing about 150 patients, which is not that many! They will use the stem cells from patients bone marrow and not harvested from their blood. Time will tell, but this stem cell thing is really so amazing. I know all the ethical dilemmas that surround the term “stem cells”, but just imagine what they could do for so many chronic disease process’ in the near future.

via Science Daily/University of Florida

Post from: Blisstree

New Stem Cell Study Examines Exact Use In Regenerating Damaged Cardiac Tissue

Let’s get real, your heart definitely gets a workout during the horizontal hokie pokie. Not enough to cancel your gym membership, but enough to mention. Here is a peek at how your heart reacts during the 4 stages of your “hot and heavy”…

Arousal- Your heart rate and respiratory rate go up. Your blood pressure quickly follows suit and you get a flushed feeling from head to toe. Just imagine walking the mall briskly, but only way more enjoyable!

Plateau- All of the above changes are magnified. This would be the second heaviest workload right before orgasm. Yes, once again I have use one of those funny, uncomfortable and clinical words. Think of this phase as walking up a few flights of stairs. But once again, a heck of a lot more fun.

Orgasm- This would obviously be your greatest increase in blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. Maximum workload for the ol’ ticker. This lasts about 15-30 seconds. All that work for just 15 seconds! I’m not sure what to compare this to. I will just say it is a very happy place to be and leave it at that!

Resolution- Your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing very quickly returns to normal. This is the heaviest workload after you orgasm. Let’s see, I will compare this to the end of a soccer game when you are sucking down your water and catching your breath. You are so sad to see the game end but so darn glad you played!

I am sad to report that this whole process on the average takes 10-20 minutes. Yes, that is all. If you have angina during the warm up, feel that your heart is “beating out of your chest” or have trouble regaining your breath after sex, you need to make an appointment with your cardiologist. Don’t be embarrassed, anxious or ashamed! Isn’t it better to discuss the problems rather than ignore them and have a heart attack in the throws of passion? Personally, I think that it would be more embarrassing, but not uncommon! But we will save that discussion for another time.

Post from: Blisstree

From Arousal To Resolution… This Is How Your Heart Reacts During Sex

So when my patients that haven’t exercised in years, not even a walk to the end of the driveway, are admitted to the hospital with CHF, MI, STEMI’s, angina, ACS and high lipids, I have to revisit the whole chicken or the egg thing. Did the cardiac disease process interrupt life? Or was life always sedentary, which led to the cardiac syndrome?

I know it could go either way, and in no way am I suggesting that there is only one right answer. What I am suggesting is that we each take a long hard look at our own lifestyles and make conscious efforts to better ourselves and bodies.

We only get one go around, better make it good!

Post from: Blisstree

What Came First, The Chicken Or The Egg?

Finally a cardiologist walks in. He talks very loud, and asks me questions, but interrupts me before I can answer. He looks at my EKG readout and says, Anyone looking at this would think you had a heart attack, but I think its just the way your heart sets in your chest. I am not lying. This is what the doctor said.

Deb was eventually released from the hospital but felt “abused, used, and very confused.” I’m sure she’s not alone in feeling this way after a visit to the emergency room. May she not have to make a trip there again anytime soon.

Post from: Blisstree

Heart-To-Heart #2: I am still here…