If you have a heart-zapping defibrillator implanted in your chest, you’re not supposed to compete in sports any more intense than bowling or golf. Lots of patients ignore those guidelines, trying everything from school basketball teams and community tennis leagues to running marathons and rock climbing — although no one knows if the life-saving implants work as well under that kind of stress.

Many of these athletes will now take part in a nationwide registry to see once and for all if this is a validated risk. Do the athletes need more “shocks” to the heart than other persons that would watch from the sidelines? Can the implanted defibrillators withstand a direct hit to the chest? This registry will hopefully be able to give us more answers.

With more and more ICD’s being used to combat fatal heart beats in younger patients, I think that a registry is a welcome idea. In my opinion, this is pertinent information that needs to be examined further!

via Associated Press, SFGate.com

Post from: Blisstree

Registry for athletes with AICD’s

What do you think about this?  This follows new research that shows mouth to mouth is not necessary for survival of cardiac arrest.  This was studied due to the fact that when an average bystander witnesses someone go down from cardiac arrest, they are not super psyched about swapping spit with the unknown.

This was reported in the Harvard Women’s Heath Watch, which stressed the background and importance of the development: This new approach isn’t widely known or usually taught to the public because, up to now, there hasn’t been enough evidence to achieve broad endorsement.

Researchers are now insisting that there is ample evidence that shows the “new” approach to be superior from a neurological point of view and will help provide more volunteers that will assist in cardiac resuscitation now that mouth to mouth is eliminated.

They do warn not to forget your traditional CPR for drowning victims and such.  I personally carry a shield with me in my purse, so I can pop it over someones mouth if mouth to mouth is ever needed.  I learned my lesson the hard way.  After 10 minutes of administering CPR, the helpless bystander that I was resuscitating vomited in my mouth.  Yeah, it was so gross, but he lived!

via The Bulletin Philadelphia 

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CPR- no mouth needed!

Have you come across this? Have you heard anything first hand? Is your child’s blood pressure normal? Do you worry about heart disease among your children?

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Blood pressure trends among children

Healthbolt has inspired me to write once again about that taboo subject of sexual relations. When I think about it, my discharge teaching with an acute MI patient is focused on nutrition, exercise and lifestyle changes, but doesn’t touch on sex. Don’t you think that should be a valid thought? “When is it safe to have sex again?”

Well, lucky for ya’all, I have done my research on the horizontal hookie pookie.

Sexual intercourse is considered as mild to moderate exercise. It takes about as much energy as walking up a couple flights of stairs. Most people can safely resume sexual activity as soon as they leave the hospital. In some cases, your doctor may advise a delay until your strength improves.

Fear and anxiety about sex after a heart attack is to be expected. A few suggestions to help you on your lovin’ way…

Ask your doctor for his or her suggestions. Do not have sex right after a heavy meal. Try to have sex only when you feel rested. Focus on touching, sharing, and closeness by using sex play, mutual pleasuring (mutual masturbation), and self-pleasuring (masturbation) to orgasm.

What do I think is the most important component to getting back in the game? Talking! Share your concerns and worries with your partner. Let the experience be something that you share together and brings you closer. After all, sex is all about “togetherness”!

via Women’s Health Advisor

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When is it safe to have sex again?

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 

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Short fact about lung cancer and heart disease

This will take the place of open heart surgery for those that are too old and frail to undergo surgery. This will also help with cost and recovery time.

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Heart valve received through groin- wow!

The team first did ultrasound exams of the carotid arteries of 1,268 patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease because of multiple risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or known blockages in other blood vessels such as the coronary arteries. Then they concentrated on the 574 patients that showed the most plaque buildup.

What did they find?

Over a follow-up of slightly more than three years, the GSM levels decreased in 230 patients, or 40%, and increased in 344, or 60%. Those in the lowest GSM group, with the darkest plaque, were about 1.7 times more likely to have a cardiovascular event than those whose GSM went up the most, reflecting less dense plaque, during the follow-up. Those whose GSM declined the most had a 68% survival rate at three years, compared to a 78% survival for those whose GSM increased.

This is what one would expect but it is really cool to know that we can now actually ‘view’ this process in order to combat stroke and heart attacks. The researchers did state that this is not ready for the general population and more science is necessary.

via Web MD 

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Repeat US prove to benefit at risk individuals

However, it was also reported that no autopsy had been performed. No official determination has been released by the medical examiner’s office or filed with the Memphis health department, which issues death certificates.

via Perez Hilton and AP

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Music Man Isaac Hayes died of a stroke

Researchers found that 37 percent of Americans with diseases that affect the heart and vascular system had reached recommended levels of LDL-C (bad cholesterol), but only 17 percent were at recommended levels for all lipids – LDL-C, HDL-C (“good” cholesterol) and triglycerides. In contrast, 85 percent of those without cardiovascular diseases were at recommended LDL-C levels, while 67 percent were at recommended levels for all lipids. 

What do we need to do to decrease our risk levels? Control your weight, blood pressure and blood lipid levels through good lifestyle habits and minimal stress. I do not know what to say about stress because that gets tough and is hard to control but it is important to minimize- I should practice what I preach, haha.

via Science Daily 

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High cholesterol needs to be controlled better among patients with high blood pressure

Researchers and doctors feel that there is certain criteria that are very good predictors… as follows

The patient characteristics most predictive of in-hospital mortality were admission creatinine levels, systolic blood pressure and patient age. Increased risk was also associated with conditions such as liver disease, past cerebrovascular issues, vascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Diabetes, gender and coronary artery disease were not significant predictors of mortality.

There is hope that by monitoring these items there will be better clinical and longterm outcomes.

via SD 

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New heart failure tool for better clinical outcomes