A new study says that defibrillators may not work as well for women as they do for men. In fact, women have not been tested on the product as much as men, either. As we know, men and women are different, and testing needs to be done on each equally. Too often men are the ones that try out new health products or procedures, only to find later that they don’t work as well on women.

New research says that “implantable defibrillators to protect against deadly heart rhythms do not prevent deaths in women with advanced heart failure.” …read more

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. As a result, many people are trying to quit smoking, watch what they eat, etc. But an interesting new study found that just doing one or two heart-healthy acts doesn’t make that much of an impact. The real result comes from doing at least four desirable factors. In fact, with four or more factors people could cut their heart disease risk in half.

What this study shows is that while it’s still good to quit smoking, exercise, eat right, and drink moderately, the real lifetime impact comes …read more

We as women have to take better care of ourselves! I know there is so much to do and take care of, besides you, but it is so important. Just look at what the numbers are saying… I am just as guilty as the next women, I take care of everyone first and then forget about me but as I grow older I am realizing how important this is.
The trend among women was more alarming, with hypertension rates in the 1990s reversing and beginning to increase, researchers said. Between the early 1990s and early 2000s, the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension …read more

… he has identified how two different kinds of Chlamydia can cause both coronary artery disease and miscarriages. Solving one mystery gave him clues that he needed to figure out the other. By focusing on the immune system mechanisms in Chlamydia infections, Azenabor has identified an important link in seemingly unrelated health problems. The result could be new treatments and prevention strategies for both heart disease and infertility. Chlamydia pneumoniae is a microbe that normally causes pneumonia and bronchitis, but it has long been associated with atherosclerosis, a cardiovascular disease also called “hardening of the arteries.”
Huh? Chlamydia? Yes, when the …read more

Top 10 Hearty Trivia Facts
1. Author of Frankenstein Mary Shelley kept her dead husband’s, poet Percy Shelley, heart wrapped in silk until she died. Imagine how that smelled!
2. You can purchase the largest model of a human heart for a small price of $5795.95 US dollars. Um huh, I said five thousand. It is 8 times the size of an anatomical heart at 100×90×70 cm. Wow, that is a lot of money!
3. The smallest person believed to ever have open heart surgery was just over 25 weeks gestation and about 1.4 lbs. This was back in 2002 and …read more

I was watching How to Look Good Naked- that Carsin Palmer show on Lifetime… Have you seen it? They take women that have low self esteem and have inner issues with themselves and work with them to believe in themselves and look good naked. I love it- it makes me look at myself different as well. I guess I can love the stretch marks that gave me 3 beautiful little girls!
Anyway- there was a thirty something year old women that had issues with herself due to scares from many heart operations. She was born with a very rare type of …read more

Being that half of my workplace and fellow bloggers are doing WW- wanted to share this inspiring story again…
We all know that an essential part of heart health is weight control, nutrition and an active lifestyle. With this being said, I want to share a story of success with you. Weight Watchers runs a yearly contest for the most inspiring weight loss story. There are many, many, many… did I say many, applicants every single year. But this year’s winner has a tremendous hearty story to boot!
Carrie sample, 33, from Indianapolis, Indiana has been selected as one of the 2007 …read more

In keeping with the Cancer theme today- great fact that will put your light out for sure!!
Here is further proof to stop smoking…Women who quit smoking significantly reduce their risk of dying from heart disease and cancers very soon after.
There was a 47% reduction in risk for coronary heart disease within the first five years of quitting and a 21%  reduction in lung cancer death within the first five years.
via IrishHealth.com 

Here is a feel good story…
A young Michigan teen, 17 year old Danielle, was given the gift of life today. At a little past 2 AM, the young lady– who had been diagnosed with CHF earlier this Spring received her second heart transplant. Her first was when she was 5 weeks old.
Good luck to this Port Huron teen and her family! Thoughts and prayers are with you.

13 out of the top 20 feeds on my cardiac news reader were all pointing at one topic. And I mean all of them…
Depression, women and heart disease.  I have written about this so many times in the past. Our emotional and physical self all works as one. Never be too proud to admit when it is time to seek help for depression.
Symptoms of depression include:

Loss of interest in normal daily activities
Feeling sad or down
Feeling hopeless
Crying spells for no apparent reason
Problems sleeping
Trouble focusing or concentrating
Difficulty making decisions
Unintentional weight gain or loss
Irritability
Restlessness
Being easily annoyed
Feeling fatigued or weak
Feeling worthless
Loss of interest in …read more