How About Some Heart Stories from England

While surfing the internet I found a great site for stories of other heart patients & support resources.  The name of the site is Heart2Hearts - A Support Group.

The fisrt this I did was read some of the stories people shared about their heart issues.  My plan is to send my story & see if the publish it!  There are also other resources, checkout the categories:

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Some great stories to read and a chance to learn more about people & their personal experiences.

The "C' Word!

I haven't discussed cholesterol lately.  How about foods?  I found a good article about certain foods & let's have a look.  Here are some quotes followed by my input in RED.

These Foods Can Help Lower Cholesterol

* Enjoy oatmeal and other fiber-rich foods. Oat bran and rice bran have been shown to moderately reduce cholesterol levels. But results require a healthy helping each and every day (approximately 3 packets of instant oatmeal) to see marked results. Still, fiber is good for the body in other ways, and every little bit helps in the fight against cholesterol. (3 packets!  I'm only doing one per day, if I eat 3 I'll be ready for the Kentucky Derby!)
* Consume five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants, which in general are good for fending off diseases in the body. Filling up on healthy foods may also fend off cravings for less healthy foods that may be high in saturated fat -- a contributor to cholesterol. (I'm doing a pretty good job here, bananas, apples, salads, green beans, broccoli, and other green stuff)
* Choose legumes several times a week. Replace the animal protein in your diet (meat and poultry) with plant protein. Beans are a good source of protein and fiber and can make for filling meals. Soy products are also effective for keeping cholesterol in check. Try replacing a few foods here and there with soy-based products. (Need to work on this one)
* Go for garlic. Research indicates that compounds in garlic help to staunch production of cholesterol in the liver. It works in much the same way as some of the prescription cholesterol-lowering drugs. Raw and cooked garlic have similar effects. So choose garlic to flavor foods for an added health benefit. (Wife does not like garlic & will not kiss me - forget that!)
* Get the benefits of blueberries. Studies show that a compound in blueberries (pterostilbene) may help lower cholesterol as effectively as commercial drugs, with fewer side effects.  (Love blueberries!)
* Factor in good fats. Not all fats out there are bad. Omega-3 essential fatty acids can help raise levels of "good" cholesterol, or HDL. Good fat foods include olive oil, avocados, olives, and some nuts. (Have been eating nuts & love olive oil)
* Pour a glass of pomegranate juice. This tart treat is full of antioxidants and has been touted for years as a sound choice for improving health. A National Academy of Sciences study showed that pomegranate juice reduces cholesterol plaque buildup by increasing nitric oxide production. (Tried this months ago and like it)
* Grab some yogurt with live active cultures. There is research that indicates that yogurt with active cultures (probiotics) can do more than just settle your stomach ailments. Yogurt may help to prevent reabsorption of cholesterol back into the blood stream. (We do yogurt)
* Look for supplemented foods. Stanol esters and plant sterols are plant-produced compounds that block the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. Some foods and margarines are adding plant sterols to help fight high cholesterol.(need to look at this)

There you go, happy eating!

How About Some "Doctor" Humor!

 Found this at - Work Joke - Profession Jokes

"Doctor, please hurry. My son swallowed a razor-blade."
"Don't panic, I'm coming immediately. Have you done anything yet ?"
"Yea, I shaved with the electric razor."

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"Doctor, Doctor, You've got to help me - I just can't stop my hands shaking!"
"Do you drink a lot?"
"Not really - I spill most of it!"

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A man speaks frantically into the phone, "My wife is pregnant, and her contractions are only two minutes apart!"
"Is this her first child?" the doctor queries.
"No, you idiot!" the man shouts. "This is her husband!"

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Doctor: I have some bad news and some very bad news.
Patient: Well, might as well give me the bad news first.
Doctor: The lab called with your test results. They said you have 24 hours to live.
Patient: 24 HOURS! Thats terrible!! WHAT could be WORSE? What's the very bad news?
Doctor: I've been trying to reach you since yesterday.

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A man walks into a doctor's office. He has a cucumber up his nose, a carrot in his left ear and a banana in his right ear.
"What's the matter with me?" he asks the doctor.
The doctor replies, "You're not eating properly."

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A young woman went to her doctor complaining of pain.
"Where are you hurting?" asked the doctor.
"You have to help me, I hurt all over", said the woman.
"What do you mean, all over?" asked the doctor, "be a little more specific."

The woman touched her right knee with her index finger and yelled, "Ow, that hurts." Then she touched her left cheek and again yelled, "Ouch! That hurts, too." Then she touched her right earlobe, "Ow, even THAT hurts", she cried.

The doctor checked her thoughtfully for a moment and told her his diagnosis, "You have a broken finger."

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A baseball manager who had an ulcer was in his physician office for a checkup. "Remember," the doctor said, "don't get excited, don't get mad, and forget about baseball when you're off the field." Then he added, "By the way, how come you let the pitcher bat yesterday with the tying run on second and two men out in the ninth?"

Mark Wachs, The funniest jokes and how to tell them

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A man went to see his doctor because he was suffering from a miserable cold. His doctor prescribed some pills, but they didn't help. On his next visit the doctor gave him a shot, but that didn't do any good.
On his third visit the doctor told the man, "Go home and take a hot bath. As soon as you finish bathing throw open all the windows and stand in the draft."
"But doc," protested the patient, "if I do that, I'll get pneumonia."
"I know," said the doctor, "I can cure pneumonia."

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A guy walks into work, and both of his ears are all bandaged up. The boss says, "What happened to your ears?"
He says, "Yesterday I was ironing a shirt when the phone rang and shhh! I accidentally answered the iron."
The boss says, "Well, that explains one ear, but what happened to your other ear?"
He says, "Well, jeez, I had to call the doctor!"

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A SHORT HISTORY OF MEDICINE: "Doctor, I have an ear ache."
2000 B.C. - "Here, eat this root."
1000 B.C. - "That root is heathen, say this prayer."
1850 A.D. - "That prayer is superstition, drink this potion."
1940 A.D. - "That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill."
1985 A.D. - "That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic."
2000 A.D. - "That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root!"

Good Weather - Good Workout

Another better day without my friends the PVC's!  Took my alternate route this morning that has a hill early & a severe hill in the middle of the walk.  Got the Heart Rate to 99 & the monitor remained calm!  Also, carried water bottle & hydrated throughout the walk.  Total workout was 52 minutes.

My plan is to continue the same workouts till next Monday & see where I stand.  The timing of my medications, hydrating, & cooler temperatures seems to be working.  I will still stay away from the 90 degree temps & 90% humidity days.



Another goal is improving my HDL.  Found this article that has some good ideas:
Raising Your HDL Levels

How can We Increase Our HDL Levels?

Aerobic exercise. (Working on this)Lose weight. (Working on this)
Stop smoking. (Never smoked!  Had a cigar on special occasions!)
Cut out the trans fatty acids. (Working on this)
Alcohol. (With my meds I do not drink)With apologies to the American Heart Association, which discourages doctors from telling their patients about the advantages of alcohol: one or two drinks per day can significantly increase HDL levels. More than one or two drinks per day, one hastens to add, can lead to substantial health problems including heart failure -- and there are individuals who will develop such problems even when limiting their alcohol intake to one or two drinks per day. 
Increase the monounsaturated fats in your diet. Monounsaturated fats such as canola oil, avocado oil, or olive oil and in the fats found in peanut butter can increase HDL cholesterol levels without increasing the total cholesterol.
Add soluble fiber to your diet. Soluble fibers are found in oats, fruits, vegetables, and legumes, and result in both a reduction in LDL cholesterol and an increase HDL cholesterol. For best results, at least two servings a day should be used.

Other dietary means to increasing HDL. Cranberry juice has been shown to increase HDL levels. Fish and other foods containing omega-3 fatty acids can also increase HDL levels. In postmenopausal women (but not, apparently, in men or pre-menopausal women) calcium supplementation can increase HDL levels. 

Some good ideas!

Workouts Going Better!

The heat & humidity is gone and the workouts are going better!  My Polar FT1 has not been going crazy & registering a bunch of PVC's!  And I feel better on the up hill walks.  The past two days I have the heart rate up to 95 and the regular walking (flat & downhill) around 85 for a heart rate.  I have stopped my 30 second jogs for now (this will make my little sister happy!)

Back in June my 22 hour heart monitor registered the following:

For 22 hour period, my heart had 87,121 heart beats, and during that same time I had 1,621 PVC's!!!!

The PVC's again are something a lot of people live with & at times do not even know they have them!  I may have had them before my operation.  I read one blog where the person had 20,000 in one day!

The issue again is a "run" of PVC's.  This is still my concern.  Remember back in cardiac rehab I was kicked out twice for a run of 4-5 in a row.  The common factor is exercise induced & they stop when the heart rate drops.  All the meds seem to do were to lower the heart rate when they started.

So the experiment continues.  The next big set of tests are in September with Dr. Worley the ectrical specialist for the heart.  My goal is to lower my weight (to 170-175) & get in the best shape I can for the September testing.

PVC's Under Control?

Today was a good day for my PVC's.  It looks like I have figured out the best exercise routine.

1 - Do not push when we hit 90-90! (90% humidity & 90 degrees)
2 - Drink, drink & drink (Not beer)  I drink before exercise, during & after!
3 - Take my meds at least 1 hour before exercise.

Today in my 50 minute morning walk I registered no PVC's on my monitor & felt good during the walk.  I will continue to check the temperature & humidity before I do my morning & evening workouts.