Cardiovascular - March 2014 Archives

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Added sugar: Don't get sabotaged by sweeteners Added sugar can contribute unwanted calories and aggravate health concerns. See where it may be lurking in your diet and how to cut back. Telehealth: When health care meets cyberspace From researching treatment options to emailing your doctor, see how technology can help you better manage your health. EXPERT ANSWERS White whole-wheat bread: Is it nutritious? White whole-wheat bread may make it easier to add whole grains to your diet. Can vitamins help prevent a heart attack? There's mixed evidence on whether vitamins can prevent heart disease. Find out more. HEALTHY RECIPES Asparagus, tomato and red pepper French bread pizza Broccoli cheddar bake English cucumber salad with balsamic vinaigrette Poached pears HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Prevent night leg cramps Nighttime leg cramps often strike just as you're falling asleep or waking up. To prevent these involuntary contractions of your leg muscles, usually in the back of your lower leg, stretch your legs before you climb under the covers. Wear shoes with proper support. Untuck the covers at the foot of your bed. And drink plenty of fluids during the day. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSC4zIjJpmU American College of Cardiology Washington — March 29, 2014 — Patients who attended cardiac rehabilitation and used a smartphone-based app to record daily measurements such as weight and blood pressure had greater improvements in those cardiovascular risk factors; they also were less likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 90 days of discharge, compared with patients who only attended cardiac rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic researchers found. Journalists: Soundbites and b-roll with Dr. Widmer are available in the downloads. Only 20 percent of the patients who attended cardiac rehab and used the app were readmitted to the hospital or visited the emergency department within 90 days, compared with 60 percent of those in the control group, researchers discovered.

All Justin ever wanted to do was play drums in a rock and roll band, but a serious heart problem, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, silenced his music. With doubts ...

  Eat less, move more, quit smoking and get more sleep! These are just some of the common sense solutions we often hear that would help us live a healthier lifestyle. So, WHY does it seem so difficult to put it all together? Join us for our next program Saturday, March 22, at 9 a.m. CDT, when we speak with Donald Hensrud, M.D., medical director for the new Healthy Living Program at Mayo Clinic. The Healthy Living Program focuses on the pillars of wellness: physical activity, nutrition and resiliency. We'll take a peek inside what makes this program work and how you can put it to use for a healthier you! Join us. Myth or Matter of Fact: When it comes to losing weight, what you think is more important than what you eat. To hear the program LIVE on Saturday, click here. Follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions. Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeart Radio. Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines: News Segment March 22, 2014 (right click MP3) 

Future of Health Care for Heart Patients is a Click Away Check out the interactive Mayo myCare program, giving heart patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery the opportunity to be an integral part of their recovery. Future of Health Care at Mayo Clinic John Noseworthy, M.D., CEO and president at Mayo Clinic, shares his vision for the future of health care in America with Dale Kurschner, editor in chief of the Twin Cities Business. Individualized Medicine and the Future of Health Care William Rupp, M.D., vice-president at Mayo Clinic, explains how the Individualized Medicine Clinic in Florida ushers in a new era in medicine where teams of physicians and scientists leverage exciting new technologies like whole genome sequencing to personalize treatment for patients.

Laser-guided Malaria Detectors Smart Socks that Predict Heart Attacks Mouse Avatars to Study Ovarian Cancer These are just three of the joint projects now underway ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Oral health: Brush up on dental care basics Your smile depends on simple dental care habits, such as brushing and flossing. But are you using the right techniques? Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity Exercise can improve your mood, stamina and sex life. How many more reasons do you need to get moving? EXPERT ANSWERS Cervical cysts: Can they be cancerous? Most cervical cysts are noncancerous, cause no signs or symptoms and require no treatment. Walking pneumonia: What does it mean? Walking pneumonia is a general term for relatively mild cases of pneumonia. HEALTHY RECIPES Split pea soup Beef stew with fennel and shallots Garlic mashed potatoes Green smoothie HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Fit in more fruit Getting in at least three servings of fruit a day is easier than you may think. But if you're tired of the same old fruit options, try these two variations. 1. Blend it. In a blender, add 2 fresh or frozen bananas, 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries and 1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt. Blend until smooth. 2. Grill it. Cut apples, pears or peaches into chunks, brush lightly with canola oil and sprinkle with cinnamon. Place on skewers or wrap in foil. Grill on low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MkoFI5lBvY Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Cerhan are available in the downloads. ROCHESTER, Minn. — March 12, 2014 — Having a big belly has consequences beyond trouble squeezing into your pants. It’s detrimental to your health, even if you have a healthy body mass index (BMI), a new international collaborative study led by a Mayo Clinic researcher found. Men and women with large waist circumferences were more likely to die younger, and were more likely to die from illnesses such as heart disease, respiratory problems, and cancer after accounting for body mass index, smoking, alcohol use and physical activity. The study is published in the March edition of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The researchers pooled data from 11 different cohort studies, including more than 600,000 people from around the world. They found that men with waists 43 inches or greater in circumference had a 50 percent higher mortality risk than men with waists less than 35 inches, and this translated to about a three-year lower life expectancy after age 40. Women with a waist circumference of 37 inches or greater had about an 80 percent higher mortality risk than women with a waist circumference of 27 inches or less, and this translated to about a five-year lower life expectancy after age 40.  

ROCHESTER, Minn. — March 11, 2014 — People who develop diabetes and high blood pressure in middle age are more likely to have brain cell loss and other damage to the brain, as well as problems with memory and thinking skills, than people who never have diabetes or high blood pressure or who develop it in old age, according to a new study published in the March 19, 2014, online issue of Neurology. Middle age was defined as age 40 to 64 and old age as age 65 and older. “Potentially, if we can prevent or control diabetes and high blood pressure in middle age, we can prevent or delay the brain damage that occurs decades later and leads to memory and thinking problems and dementia,” says study author and Mayo Clinic epidemiologist Rosebud Roberts M.B., Ch.B. For the study, the thinking and memory skills of 1,437 people with an average age of 80 were evaluated. The participants had either no thinking or memory problems or mild memory and thinking problems called mild cognitive impairment. They then had brain scans to look for markers of brain damage that can be a precursor to dementia. Participants’ medical records were reviewed to determine whether they had been diagnosed with diabetes or high blood pressure in middle age or later.

At age 14, life's all about school, sports and hanging out with friends. But for the teen you're about to meet, it's also about enduring ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Hearing aids: How to choose the right one Many types of hearing aids exist. So which is best for you? Colon cancer screening: At what age can you stop? Colon cancer screening may have an upper age limit of effectiveness. What is it? Heart healthy for life: Avoiding heart disease Preventing heart disease begins with small steps. Find out more about maintaining a healthy heart. HEALTHY RECIPES Italian flags (tomato and mozzarella salad) Barley and roasted tomato risotto Tossed greens with pasta, fruit and balsamic vinaigrette Berries marinated in balsamic vinegar HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Do you need sunscreen in the winter? You bet! It's as easy to get sunburned in winter as in summer. Snow reflects the sun's rays, so sunburn is possible even if you're cold. When you're outdoors in the winter, wear sunscreen on any exposed areas. Use lip balm that contains sunscreen, too. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.