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Western Diet lowers odds of "ideal aging"

Western Diet lowers odds of "ideal aging" | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
Background

The impact of diet on specific age-related diseases has been studied extensively, but few investigations have adopted a more holistic approach to determine the association of diet with overall health at older ages. We examined whether diet, assessed in midlife, using dietary patterns and adherence to the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), is associated with aging phenotypes, identified after a mean 16-year follow-up.

Methods

Data were drawn from the Whitehall II cohort study of 5350 adults (age 51.3±5.3 years, 29.4% women). Diet was assessed at baseline (1991-1993). Mortality, chronic diseases, and functioning were ascertained from hospital data, register linkage, and screenings every 5 years and were used to create 5 outcomes at follow-up: ideal aging (free of chronic conditions and high performance in physical, mental, and cognitive functioning tests; 4%), nonfatal cardiovascular event (7.3%), cardiovascular death (2.8%), noncardiovascular death (12.7%), and normal aging (73.2%).

Results

Low adherence to the AHEI was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death. In addition, participants with a “Western-type” diet (characterized by high intakes of fried and sweet food, processed food and red meat, refined grains, and high-fat dairy products) had lower odds of ideal aging (odds ratio for top vs bottom tertile: 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-0.94; P=.02), independently of other health behaviors.

Conclusions

By considering healthy aging as a composite of cardiovascular, metabolic, musculoskeletal, respiratory, mental, and cognitive function, the present study offers a new perspective on the impact of diet on aging phenotypes.

Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

"Western-type” diet (characterized by high intakes of fried and sweet food, processed food and red meat, refined grains, and high-fat dairy products) has been attributed to many disease of older age. This study characterizes ideal aging as avoidance of these disease. The additional life style strategies of exercise and smoking are strongly associated with favorable aging but diet is an independent predictor.  It makes common sense that the cumulative effect of daily diet over the middle third of life will have an impact on outcomes in the last third of life.

Cynthia Tait's comment, May 18, 1:24 AM
hmmm - this sounds all to plausible - not sure I am going to share this with my parents - as this will mean they have been on the right path all their lives - searching and reading and modifying their diets to suit the long lives they wish to live. Go Mum and Dad. <yeah, I still didn't share it with them - i can hear the 'i told you so' echoes through from the future> :)
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What to do about bridging with novel oral anticoagulants

What to do about bridging with novel oral anticoagulants | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
Sharing a rare moment of person-to-person time during the scientific sessions in San Francisco, Dr Seth Bilazarian asks Drs Samuel Goldhaber how he goes about bridging with dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban.
Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

All of the new blood thinners or novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC)  have a warning in their label about the hazard of stopping them. These agents have a short half life so within 1 - 2 days they are out of the system and there is no blood thinner protection from the hazard of atrial fibrillation (AF).  Should patients going for procedures receive "bridging" with intravenous (IV) blood thinners to protect them during the interval off these new agents.  Perspective from Sam Goldhaber of the Clot Blog on theheart.org.

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Only 1 in 5 Americans Gets Enough Exercise

Only 1 in 5 Americans Gets Enough Exercise | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it

The news was less disappointing for aerobic exercise, with 51.6% of adults getting the recommended amount, than it was for muscle-strengthening activities, with only 29.3% getting the recommended amount.

The overall exercise rates also varied widely by state, ranging from 13% in Tennessee and West Virginia to 27% in Colorado.

The report was published in the May 3 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a CDC publication.

"Exercise not only helps with weight management, it helps reduce anxiety and depression; boosts energy, immunity and brain power; and significantly lowers the risk for chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease," she said.

According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should get at least:

=>  two and a half hours a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as walkin

=>  or an hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, such as jogging.

In addition, adults should do muscle-strengthening activities, such as push-ups, sit-ups or activities using resistance bands or weights. These exercises should be done two or more days a week and work all major muscle groups, the guidelines suggested.

The highest proportion of adults meeting those guidelines were in the West (24 percent) and the Northeast (21 percent). Women, Hispanics and older and obese adults were less likely to meet the guidelines

"Simple steps to start moving include: enlisting a friend or family member to join you; taking a walk every evening after dinner; getting up and marching in place at every TV commercial; limiting TV and computer time; [and] scheduling your time to exercise in your daily calendar,

Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

The authors put a positive spin on this report but half of Americans are not exercising even at these modest recommendation levels (75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week).  The muscle strengthening data is even worse: 80% of Americans are not doing it.

Ellen Diane's curator insight, May 8, 8:33 AM

I actually thought the numbers were higher for those non- exercisers. Tis a pity- I can't imagine life without training..

 

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Thyroid Screening Neglected in Hypercholesterolemia - half of patients tested

Thyroid Screening Neglected in Hypercholesterolemia - half of patients tested | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

Just half of primary-care patients with hypercholesterolemia received recommended thyroid-function screening, a new retrospective study has found. 

Hypothyroidism is an important secondary cause of elevated total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. In overt hypothyroidism cases, thyroid hormone replacement treatment often normalizes the cholesterol levels. For that reason, guidelines from the AACE, American Thyroid Association, and National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommend testing for hypothyroidism.

Dr. Willard's study was designed to determine the rate of adherence to the guidelines by primary-care physicians. "The 50% rate of screening is a bit surprising. Although guidelines from the NCEP and [American College of Physicians] ACP state that thyroid dysfunction is [included in the] differential [diagnosis] for new-onset dyslipidemia, the practice of screening in standard clinical practice seems to often be overlooked."

Of the total 4349 patients who had TSH levels screened, 151 had TSH levels greater than 5 mIU/L and 74 had TSH levels over 10 mIU/L. Of these 225 patients (with TSH levels >5), 50.7% received levothyroxine treatment, Of those 114 patients treated with levothyroxine, 75.4% did not receive a lipid-lowering agent within 1 year, possibly because correction of their hypothyroidism resulted in improvement of their lipid panel and correction of the dyslipidemia.

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What to Know – and Do! – About Stroke

What to Know – and Do! – About Stroke | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
A stroke, sometimes called a “brain attack,” occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. When a stroke occurs, brain cells in the immediate area begin to die because they stop getting the oxygen and nutrients they need to function.
What are the symptoms of a stroke?—

The symptoms of stroke are distinctive because they happen quickly—thus the origin of the name "stroke."

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speechSudden trouble seeing in one or both eyesSudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordinationSudden severe headache with no known cause
Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

Good basic information from NIH MedlinePlus magazine everyone should know (called AHA "give me 5").  Knowing these stroke symptoms and seeking early treatment can be life saving.  Faster treatment reduces the likelihood and severity of disability after stroke.

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What to do about bridging with novel oral anticoagulants

What to do about bridging with novel oral anticoagulants | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it

Sharing a rare moment of person-to-person time during the scientific sessions in San Francisco, Dr Seth Bilazarian asks Dr. Samuel Goldhaber how he goes about bridging with "Novel oral anticoagulants" (NOACs) #dabigatran, #rivaroxaban, and #apixaban.

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Anti-smoking campaign: Is social smoking analogous to social farting?

Some says social smoking can be good. This is Ontario Ministry of Health answer. A farting one! WeWantAds shows you the most funny, creative and sexy ads all...
Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

Occasional social smoking is smoking.

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UpToDate mobile access shows Apple dominating Android in Physician use

UpToDate mobile access shows Apple dominating Android in Physician use | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
Data provided by UpToDate, one of the most popular tools used by Physicians, shows Apple dominating the Physician market when compared to Android.

Dr. Denise Basow, President of UpToDate, responded to my questions with some of the following data:

There are over 700,000 clinicians using UpToDate worldwide.25% of the usage of UpToDate is on mobile devices.At the end of 2012, there were over 75,000 iOS users and over 10,000 Android users.When using the UpToDate mobile app, 90% of the access is from iOS and 10% is from Android.
Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

I did the Blackberry vs. iPhone randomized trial early in the iPhone experience (n=1) and concluded that iPhone clearly had ease of use and screen clarity benefits. The Android is clearly superior to the Blackberry but the first mover advantage iPhone has with physician apps will be hard to supplant for Android. Check out my Vlog on the smartphone comparison: http://www.theheart.org/columns/private-practice/headtohead-rct-blackberry-vs-iphone-for-your-cardiology-practice.do?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+private-practice+%2528Private+Practice%2529  ;

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Walnut Consumption Is Associated with Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women

Walnut Consumption Is Associated with Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it

Walnuts are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and have been shown to improve various cardiometabolic risk factors.This trial investigated association between walnut intake & type 2 diabetes in the Nurses’ Health Study which followed 58,063 women aged 52–77 years old from 1998–2008 and
79,893 women aged 35–52 y in NHS II (1999–2009) without diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer at baseline.
Consumption of walnuts and other nuts was assessed every 4 years using food questionnaires. A total of 5930 new type 2 diabetes cases during 10 y of follow-up were detetected. Walnut consumption was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes for participants consuming 1–3 servings/mo (1 serving = 28 g), 1 serving/wk, and  >2 servings/wk of walnuts: were 0.93,  0.81 and 0.67 compared with women who never/rarely consumed walnuts. Further adjustment for updated BMI slightly attenuated the association and the HRs were 0.96, 0.87 & 0.76 , respectively.

The consumption of total nuts and other tree nuts was also inversely associated with risk of type 2 diabetes, and the associations were largely explained by BMI. Our results suggest that higher walnut consumption is associated with a significantly lower risk of type 2 diabetes in women.

Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

These results suggest higher walnut consumption is associated with a significantly lower risk of type 2 diabetes in women. Walnuts are rich in healthy fatty acids which have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body and protect against heart disease, cancer and arthritis. Whether walnuts stand alone among tree nuts is uncertain (peanuts are NOT tree nuts).  Practically the benefits from walnuts may be form the appetite filling aspects of eating nuts as a snack and the avoidance of less healthy snacks that are nutritionally poor options because of the high calories and salt intake (like chips).

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What's CPR? Should I allow it? Advance Care Planning Decisions

What's CPR? Should I allow it? Advance Care Planning Decisions | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it

A series of videos designed to educate and empower patients about advance care planning and their choices for medical care. Video decision tools effectively communicate and inform patients about their options for care. 

These videos are designed to shed light on the reality of aggressive end-of-life treatments, which are often portrayed on television as being more successful than they are.

Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

This is a well done video about CPR and can help patients make advance planning decsions.  The video does a good job introducing this complex subject and might help stuimulate a conversation between patients & their physicians . Many of my pateints choose a DNR (Do Not Recussitae) status because they believe that this will prevent the use of indefinite duration of life support if their medical circumstances are futile. These decisions are about whethtr tyo start these efforts not about when to stop them.

 

Most physicians and hospitals have a policy to NOT offer immediate, potentuially life saving angioplasty in the setting of a heart attack to patietns who have chosen to be DNR.  See my blog http://www.theheart.org/columns/private-practice/treating-the-acute-mi-patient-with-stemi-and-labeled-dnr.do

 

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NBA Players Have Heart

Chris Wilcox and Jeff Green of the Boson Celtics discuss their life threatening diagnosis (thoracic aortic aneurysm) and heart surgery at Cleveland Clinic.

Here's picture of Jeff Green hugging his surgeon Lars Svenson after buzzer beater over the Cavaliers 3/28/2013.

https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/317621724109750272/photo/1

 

Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

Open heart surgery recovery is a concern for all patients but for athletes performing at the highest level in the NBA the stress of high workload on the heart and the concern about injury to the central chest at the surgical site are significant.  These athletes great story serves as encouragement for patients who need cardiac surgery and the potential for recovery.  (Won't ensure you will be able to dunk).

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The Psychology of Effective Workout Music

The Psychology of Effective Workout Music | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
New research clarifies why music and exercise make such a good team, and how to create an optimal workout playlist

Selecting the most effective workout music is not as simple as queuing up a series of fast, high-energy songs. One should also consider the memories, emotions and associations that different songs evoke. For some people, the extent to which they identify with the singer's emotional state and viewpoint determines how motivated they feel. And, in some cases, the rhythms of the underlying melody may not be as important as the cadence of the lyrics. In recent years some researchers and companies have experimented with new ways to motivate exercisers through their ears, such as a smartphone app that guides the listener's escape from zombies in a postapocalyptic world and a device that selects songs based on a runner's heart rate

Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

Best line forom article:

The human brain may have evolved with the expectation that, wherever there is music, there is movement...Maybe the brain remembers it that way.

I personally think the distraction is a big contributor to the benefit listening provides to getting through a workout.  An audio-book serves this purpose and has no rhythm you can dance to.

 

.

Simranjot S. Josan's curator insight, March 26, 1:33 AM

After reading this article, I have thought about changing my workout music to more motivatoinal music such as rap or hip-hop when lifting and then house music or fast pased music when running. This could help push me when I am tired after a workout and I need to run. 

Rachel VanHorne's curator insight, April 10, 8:00 PM

There are many times that I don't feel like working out on certain days because I have too much to get done before I go to bed or I'm just feeling drowsy and not in the mood. But I find that music often encourages me to keep exercising for at least over 30 minutes. Music distracts the mind from pain or fatigue, and elevates the mood to continue muscle exertion. This article dives into the reasons for why music makes us feel so good when working out and also suggests types of music to listen to in order to increase the amount of time spend working out and the force exerted as well. It suggests high energy songs, as well as songs that evoke memories, emotions, and associations with the song. For some people, when they can relate to the singer's lyrics and emotional state, it helps pump them up and increase workout efficiencies. When I work out, I usually just play any song with a pumping beat, and don't pay attention very much to its lyrics. But I often get tired of the same type of beat over and over. So now I will experiment with songs with lyrics that I can emotionally connect with, which may inspire me to workout faster and longer.In recent years some researchers and companies have experimented with new ways to motivate exercisers through their ears, such as a smartphone app that guides the listener's escape from zombies in a postapocalyptic world and a device that selects songs based on a runner's heart rate. Checking out these new devices and apps will encourage my workouts to be more fun to look forward to and efficient. This way, I won't procrastinate as much as I used to on working out and will find it as an entertaining escape from the rest of my events in my life.

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No clear answers on whether to close a "hole in the heart" (PFO) after a stroke

No clear answers on whether to close a "hole in the heart" (PFO) after a stroke | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it

In approximately 30% of young survivors of stroke, no clear cause is identified despite a thorough evaluation. Patent foramen ovale ("hole in the heart") is found in about half of these patients, as compared with approximately 25% of the general population. Clinicians, then, often assume that the patent foramen ovale was the cause of the stroke, although it may be incidental in some patients. The most effective strategy for the prevention of stroke recurrence in such patients is uncertain, and some experts recommend closure of the patent foramen ovale to prevent future embolic events, although high-level data have been lacking.

Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

Key points

1.  Three trials: CLOSURE I, RESPECT  and PC Trial din not show a significantly lower rate of  stroke compared with medical therapy

2. Recurrent stroke rates in these trials were low in both mediacl and device arms and trended toward benefit of the device but did not reach stitistaical significance.

3.  These trials leave plenty for device skeptics and enthiuusiasts to continue to debate.

4. The device used in the RESPECT and PC Trial called Amplatzer had a good safety record.

5. RESPECT investigators are continuing to accrue data on the patients they enrolled and that other studies are ongoing.

6.  We are left for the moment to make decisions under conditions of uncertainty. Depending not only on the interpretation of the results, but also on the potential consequences of decisions.  The hard work of collaborative decision making between patients and the physicians that care for them will need to continue.

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Famous people with Atrial Fibrillation

Famous people with Atrial Fibrillation | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm). It increases with each decade of life. About 15% of people in their 80's have it. The rhythm causes the upper chamber to wiggle (Fibrillate) instead of contracting in synchrony with the lower chamber.

There are three main issues of Atrial Fibrillation:
1. a reduced cardiac output due to loss of atrial systole and transport
2. rapid heart rate and rhythm irregularity
3. risk of thromboembolism and Cerebrovascular accident in the range of 1.9% to 18.2% per year without anti-coagulation, based on a risk prediction score called CHADS2.

On the famous people list the only striking unanswered question is, why are the American politicians all Republicans?

Cynthia Tait's comment, May 18, 1:28 AM
so you are suggesting it is related to conservatism or that perhaps the person who curated these pics, well these are the ones they picked. Interested as I have just come out of CCU after having an ablation for a congenital 'electrical' problem.
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Dogs, Cats May Be Heart Healthy, AHA Says

Dogs, Cats May Be Heart Healthy, AHA Says | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it

People who own dogs or cats may have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease,.

 

Top Ten Things To Know Pet Ownership and Cardiovascular Risk
1. This AHA Scientific Statement critically assesses studies regarding the influence of pet ownership on the presence and reduction of CVD risk factors as a novel strategy in reducing the risk of CVD.
2. Pet ownership, particularly of dogs, is probably associated with decreased CVD risk (LOE B), and may have a causal role in reducing CVD risk (LOE B). Further investigation is needed to establish a causal relationship.
3. While pet ownership may be reasonable for the reduction in CVD risk (Class IIb, LOE B), pet adoption, rescue, or purchase should not be done for the primary purpose of reducing CVD risk (Class III, LOE C).
4. An association between pet ownership and lower blood pressure has been found in some, but not all, studies.
5. Of all pets, dogs seem most likely to positively influence physical activity, especially with owners who regularly walk their dogs.
6. Pets also play an important role in providing social support, which is one of the most significant predictors of adherence to behavior change over time.
7. Companion animals may strengthen engagement in a weight loss program.
8. A positive relationship between pet ownership and autonomic function or cardiovascular reactivity to stress has been reported in most published studies. People with pets tend to have lower baseline heart rates, lower blood pressures, and significantly reduced increases in heart rate and blood pressure in response to stress. Recovery time from a stressful event is also markedly improved.
9. Further investigation is warranted regarding the influence of pet ownership on reducing CVD risk, including those on risk factor modification, primary prevention, and use of pet acquisition as a part of a strategy for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
10. Minimal data are available to make an association between hyperlipidemia and pet ownership, as well as survival in people without established cardiovascular disease and pet ownership.

 

COMPLETE INFO at

Levine GN, et al; on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Clinical Cardiology and Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing. Pet ownership and cardiovascular risk: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2013:


http://circ.ahajournals.org/lookup/doi/10.1161/CIR.0b013e31829201e1

Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

DISCLOSURE - I'm a dog lover.  I have given patient's prescriptions to get a dog and walk the dog twice daily.  I've also told patients to walk the dog every day whether they have a dog or not.

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Subclinical Hyperthyroidism Linked to Heart-Failure Deaths

Subclinical Hyperthyroidism Linked to Heart-Failure Deaths | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it

Subclinical hyperthyroidism is associated with a 20% increased risk for cardiovascular mortality, primarily driven by heart-failure deaths, according to a large study in more than half a million individuals from general practice in Denmark, reported at the 2013 European Congress on Endocrinology.

"The main finding is a 20% increased risk of mortality in all levels of hyperthyroidism, including overt and subclinical but also high-normal, euthyroid patients, those lying in the lower range of the normal thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH],"

"The take-home message is that if a person has a family history with any thyroid problem or has any signs of thyroid problems, they should go for a checkup. Their family doctors need to be aware that any sign of thyroid abnormality can affect cardiovascular health, and they should act accordingly."

 The link between overt hyperthyroidism and cardiovascular mortality is quite well established, he said, but the finding of an association with subclinical hyperthyroid disease is much more novel.

Of 574,595 included individuals (mean age, 48.7 years; 39.1% male), 95.9% were euthyroid, 1603 (0.3%) had overt hypothyroidism, 11,834 (2.1%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, 3967 (0.7%) had overt hyperthyroidism, and 6264 (1.1%) had subclinical hyperthyroidism.

Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism are not evident in patients who have sub-clinical hyperthyroidism.  The levels are abnormal but their are no symptoms.  In this very large study, the risk of death was 20% higher.  testing the thyroid level is very simple and is performed on a non fasting blood test.

Dr. KGM BIYABANI's comment, May 3, 9:45 AM
THANK YOU DR. BILAZARIAN FOR THE INSIGHT..
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Mediterranean Diet Might Help Stave Off Dementia

Mediterranean Diet Might Help Stave Off Dementia | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it

 Eating fish, chicken, olive oil and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids while staying away from meats and dairy -- the so-called Mediterranean diet -- may help older adults keep their memory and thinking skills sharp, a large new U.S. study suggests.

Using data from participants enrolled in a nationwide study on stroke, the researchers gleaned diet information from more than 17,000 white and black men and women whose average age was 64.

The participants also took tests that measured their memory and thinking (cognitive) skills. During the four years of the study, 7 percent of the individuals developed problems with these skills, the researchers reported.

"Greater adherence to Mediterranean diet was associated with lower risk of incident cognitive impairment in this large population-based study," said lead researcher Dr. Georgios Tsivgoulis, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham as well as the University of Athens, in Greece.

Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

This makes reasonable biological sense since brain and cognitive health is so dependent on vascular health.  Strategies that improve vascular health and function of many years will reduce the likelihood of declining mental function.

Ellen Diane's comment, May 8, 8:33 AM
I am a follower- have been for years.
Ellen Diane's curator insight, May 8, 8:34 AM

been a follower for years

Ellen Diane's comment, May 8, 8:34 AM
you have some excellent articles;) thank you
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FDA Device Surveillance to Tap App

FDA Device Surveillance to Tap App | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
The FDA is creating a largely automated surveillance system to monitor safety of high-risk medical devices, and has authorized a cellphone app for doctors to simplify reporting deaths and injuries to the agency.
Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

"There's an app for that."  Physicians are often criticized for not doing a better job reporting adverse events and this is largely because the method for reporting to the FDA has been burdensome and difficult. An easy to use reporting strategy from a smartphone will increase my reporting dramatically.  The speed of reporting and analysis by FDA for actionable items should be significantly shortened.

Seth Bilazarian, MD's comment, April 24, 4:27 PM
#app, medical app, #chealth, #mHealth, FDA, adverse event reporting, Bilazarian
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Heart Health in Future Foretold in Teens

Heart Health in Future Foretold in Teens | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
Many U.S. adolescents are already on their way to increased cardiovascular risk in adulthood, researchers found.

Roughly half of about 5,000 study participants ages 12 to 19 (54.7% of males and 50.5% of females) met "ideal" standards for fewer than five of the seven variables developed by the American Heart Association to define cardiovascular health, according to Christina Shay, PhD, of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, and colleagues.

And 0% met all seven variables including not smoking and having low total cholesterol, the researchers reported online in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

Will this be the first generation that has worse health than the prior generation?  It is amazing that 0% of the surveyed teens met all the ideal seven variables:

Cardiovascular health among adolescents is defined using the ideal state of seven variables:

Smoking status (never smoked)Body mass index (BMI below the 85th percentile)Dietary intake (consumption of healthy levels of at least four of the following: vegetables, fish, whole grains, sodium, and added sugar in sugar-sweetened beverages)Physical activity (at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day)Blood pressure (below the 90th percentile)Blood glucose (less than 100 mg/dLTotal cholesterol (less than 170 mg/dL)

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Weigh More, Pay More on Samoa Air

Weigh More, Pay More on Samoa Air | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
A tiny South Pacific airline is charging passengers based on their weight, at a time when other carriers have only ventured to seek payment for luggage and meals.

Customers flying Samoan upstart carrier Samoa Air Ltd. on short international hops to neighboring American Samoa are set to pay US$0.92 per kilogram, or $0.42 a pound, for each flight.

Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

Hard to beleive that Americans could ever tolerate this.  Paying $20 more for being 50 pounds over weight or $40 for being 100 pounds overweight does not seem like much of an incentive but the "weigh in" at the airport counter might encourage weight loss for some.

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Whatever happened to “bedside manners”?

Whatever happened to “bedside manners”? | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
Stewart Hamilton, Chief Medical Officer at Medical Travel Commission looks at the soft side of delivering services to the medical traveller. What really makes a difference in terms of patient satisfaction?
Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

This is not an excuse, but an outcome of the interactions between physicians and the payers.  "If its not documented its not done".  The regulatory issues for documentation for coding and reimbursement and other regulatory and defensive medicine burdens have accelerated so much in the last several years that the time spent with patients is being stolen.  Check out the scoop on the burden of regulation: http://sco.lt/4ks7iT   Patients AND physicians would both be more satisfied with nmore time spent in direct interaction "at the bedside".

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Best & Worst Restaurants for Healthy Kids’ Meals

Best & Worst Restaurants for Healthy Kids’ Meals | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
Subway's menu fared best in a new evaluation of nutrition in kids' meals

 Nine restaurants, including McDonald’s (MCD), Carl’s Jr., and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (AFCE), had zero options that met standards.

“Restaurants just aren’t making significant changes to the kids menu yet.” Many meals come with soda or deep fried foods.

Subway, which already markets itself as a diet-friendly chain, emerged as the winner: All of its kids’ meals met both CSPI and NRA standards.  Other chains that fared above average: IHOP (DIN), Red Lobster (DRI),Burger King (BKW), Arby’s, Chick-fil-A, Denny’s (DENN), Bob Evans (BOBE), and LongHorn Steakhouse (DRI).

Of the 50 chains, Olive Garden (DRI) had the greatest number of possible kids’ meal combinations, with a whopping 780, including different variations of pastas, sauces, toppings, and sides. About 1 percent of these, or 10 different meal combos met CSPI standards.

Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

Apple slices do not a healthy kids’ meal make, especially if they come with fried chicken and a soda. In an analysis of children’s meals at 50 large chain restaurants, the Center for Science in the Public Interest found that 97 percent of the possible kids’ meal combos failed to meet its nutrition standards for children’s meals;

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5 fad diets we wish would go away forever

5 fad diets we wish would go away forever | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
Spring is around the corner and so will be a new crop of fad diets eager to help you get into shape. Be on the lookout for a return of these repackaged crazy f
Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

FIve diets that have no research support and make little common sense but have had significant popularity.  Eat what you enjoy, but stay lean: avoid what you don't love and continually reasses what you can do without.

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Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence; Lawrence General Hospital - first in New England

Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence; Lawrence General Hospital - first in New England | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it

Lawrence General Hospital cardiac catheterization laboratory today achieved Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence for catheterization and PCI (angioplasty and stenting).  The first in New England.

• ACE accreditation is a professional review of an organization’s structure, internal processes, patient safety practices, and clinical outcomes to determine if it meets the standards established by experts in cardiac and endovascular care.
• ACE is sponsored by The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and American College of Cardiology, the two leading professional cardiovascular organizations, jointly representing over 40,000 practitioners.
• The extensive consultative and educational Accreditation recognizes committment to providing high quality care for patients. With ACE certification patients and providers in the community served can be certian that  the catheterizatuion laboratory is meeting or exceeding the standards set by experts in cardiac and endovascular care.

Lawrence Genral is committed to achieving the highest standards.

ACE accreditation/CQI also

provides a standard of care for patients comparing one facility to anothercertifies to insurers that beneficiaries are getting the best possible care provides independent, unbiased, outcome-based evidence to patients & families that they are receiving the highest quality carevalidates LGH's position, voice, and influence in government policy-making circlesreduces costs by supporting a more effective and efficient operation based on uniform standardsminimizes complications, which in turn benefits payors, patients, and society by reducing costs.
Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

Congratulations to the administration, physicians, nurses, techs and staff at Lawrence General Hospital for achieving this first in the region accreditation for the cardiac catheterization laboratory. The larger impact is that this recognizes the excellent quality of care patients recieve for treatment of cardiac conditions and coroanary artery disease.

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A Guide to Healthcare Buzzwords and What They Mean: Part One (A through L) - Manage My Practice

A Guide to Healthcare Buzzwords and What They Mean: Part One (A through L) - Manage My Practice | Heart and Vascular Health | Scoop.it
New healthcare buzzwords are introduced almost daily - can you keep them straight?
Seth Bilazarian, MD's insight:

Excellent glossary of health care and regulatory terms in the healthcare delivery space.  Blog 1 is A - L and blog 2 is M - Z.

http://www.managemypractice.com/a-guide-to-healthcare-buzzwords-and-what-they-mean-part-two-m-through-z/

 

Learn what an ACO is and work your way down to Value based Purchasing (not quite to the letter Z).   There's allot!

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