Healthy Heart New Year Resolutions!

Here we are at the end of another year!  And this year was a focus on recovering from open heart by-pass surgery!  What should be the focus for 2012?  Found this article as a guide:

6 New Year's Resolutions to Boost Heart Health

What are the 6 suggestions?

1 - Reduce Stress

2 - Get More Exercise

3 - Watch My Blood Pressure

4 - Heart Health Family History

5 - Know My Cholesterol

6 - Eat Right for Heart Health

I have been trying to focus on these this year, so it should not be a stretch.  So, here we go - BRING ON 2012!!!!!!!!

Friends Help Heal Heart!

There are many ways to recovery from a major surgery!  One way is to have friends that make living a lot of fun!  And their support and prayers in times of family problems are awesome!  Tonight we had our traditional diner and time together for our "Neighborhood New Year Celebration"  This Tradition started about 29 years ago when most of us moved in the neighborhood.  So, from young families, to new grandparents, from weddings to graduations, our "OLD" neighborhood has stayed in touch, even though most have moved into new neighborhoods!

So, Happy New Year to.........

Dave & Cindy

Jim & Sue

Mike & Anne

Chet & Debbie

Chris & Deb

We have shared much together, but most of all we have shared a friendship that has lasted almost 30 years!  Friends are there in good times as well as bad times!  And Sue & I have been blessed with GREAT FRIENDS!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO OUR FRIENDS!

Smart Heart Living - Part III

Today I went back to the website that I discovered a few days back:

Smart Heat Living

The section I looked at today was on books to read focusing on a healthy heart.  Take a look at some of the books - they look interesting!

Mayo Clinic - Heart Book
Thriving with Heart Disease
How Your Heart Works
The Cardiac Recovery Handbook
Women's Health
Women's Complete Guide to Walking
Fit to Live
The World's Healthiest Foods
Fix It and Forget It
Heart Smart

Looks like I need to take a trip to Barnes & Noble!

Christmas Vacation

Spending 35 years in education and being a student for another 16, one always looks forward to the time between Christmas & New Years.  What is on your list of things to door this week?  Here is what we are doing:

1 - Spending time with family - this is something we always do and this year is special having Jared(our oldest son) and his wife Erliza.  Spending time together, went to the movies together, to church together, out to eat together, or just a movie on TV!

2 - Watching football together!  Both sons have been over to watch football, a BIG family tradition!  All the bowl games(and there are many) and the final games for the NFL!

3 - Sleeping late - the dogs are even letting us sleep till 7 AM!!!!

4 - Reading books!  Usually for Christmas my wife & I get books for each other.  The one I am reading now is "Killing Lincoln".  A great read!  I love history & I am discovering more details about the Civil War & the assassination of Lincoln.

5 - Taking back gist that did not fit or using gift cards we got for Christmas!  Today I dropped off Sue and parked about a mile away!  Waited in the card, she called when she was done(Thank God for cell phones!)

6 - An of course New Year Eve & New Years Day.  New Years Eve at Willow Valley where Sue works with the residents & usually time with our old neighborhood.  And of course New Years Day Football & Pork & Sauerkraut!

What are you doing this week!

Exercise and PVC's

For the past 2-3 weeks I have exercised and ignored my PVC's (Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are premature heartbeats originating from the ventricles of the heart. Premature ventricular contractions are premature because they occur before the regular heartbeat.)


Today I put my heart rate monitor on and went for my 50 minute walk.  I felt good throughout the walk, but the PVC's are still there.  The good news is they are occurring at a higher heart rate (100-105).  Of course this usually happens on the uphill section of my walks.  When my heart rate goes below 100, the PVC's go away.


My next doctors appointment is the second week of January.  I will give him a full report & see what he will suggest.


So, one year after heart surgery, I feel good, but still have the PVC's.  They do not slow me down, I just make sure I do not keep my heart rate about the 100 level.


Found this interesting article on PVC's:


Exercise Induced PVCs - Dangerous or Not??