Cleveland Clinic - Heart Meds

Again, one of my favorite sites!  The Cleveland Clinic, rated the top "Heart" Hospital in the country!

The article - Cleveland Clinic - The "Big Six" Heart Medicines

They are:

Statins
Aspirin
Clopidogrel
Warfarin
Beta-Blockers
ACE Inhibitors

I'm on 4 of the 6!  - Statins, Clopidogrel, Beta-Blockers, & Aspirin!

Best Heart Healthy Diets

US News & World Report ranked "Heart Healthy Diets".  Take a look at:

Best Heart Healthy Diets

There are some that I have not researched.  The Ornish Diet is:

Meat, poultry, and fish aren’t recommended. The only dairy allowed is fat-free yogurt, milk, fat free cheeses, and egg whites.

Foods not allowed are; all fats, oils, nuts, seeds, avocados, refined carbohydrates (including sugar, white rice, and white flour).

Other than these ‘banned’ foods, the diet allows you to eat all you want without any weighting or measuring. What’s left is predominantly fruit and vegetables, and grains.

The Ornish Diet is not my choice - I can do without meat, but poultry & fish - don't think so!

The other new one was the "Volumetrics Diet".  

The Volumetric Diet's principles are based on sensible eating choices, and this plan is meant to be employed with a regimen of healthy moderate exercise. When using the Volumetric Diet, you should pay attention to the number of calories per gram of food. Foods with a low number of calories per gram usually include a lot of water and fiber. The Volumetric Diet also calls for an increase in the consumption of water, suggesting 48 to 60 oz. of water per day, which amounts to 8 to 10 six-oz. glasses of water.

 So the "Volumetrics Diet" tries to make you feel FULL!

Take a look at the article and see what you think!

Managing Side Effects in Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation

What is Atrial Fibrilation?

Atrial fibrillation (AF or A-fib) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heart beat). It may cause no symptoms, but it is often associated with palpitations, fainting, chest pain, or congestive heart failure. However, in some people atrial fibrillation is caused by otherwise idiopathic or benign conditions.

How does this relate to my issues?  PVC's?

Simply put, the heart is made up of 4 chambers, the 2 on the top, the atria, and the 2 on the bottom , the ventricles. PVcs originate from the bottom. PVC's are single beats, wide complex on ecg. Atrial fib is a narrow(on ecg), usually fast , irregular rythym originating from the top chambers.

For a great look at Atrial Fibrilation check out - Managing Side Effects in Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation

Medicines Taking 20 months after Open Heart Surgery

Here is my list of meds that I am taking 20 months after Open Heart Surgery:

Aspirin - 81 mg
Atorvastatin - 40 mg (generic lipitor) - (was on 10 mg before surgery)
Montelukast - 10 mg (generic Singulair) (for my allergies & asthma)
Aciphex - 20 mg (for my stomach)
Amlodipine - 5 mg (after heart surgery)
Clopidogrel - 75 mg - (generic plavix) - (after heart surgery)
Metoprolol - 25 mg -(after heart surgery)
Omega 3 - Fish Oil - 1000 mg

Before my open heart surgery I was taking:


Aspirin - 81 mg
Atorvastatin - 40 mg (generic lipitor) - (was on 10 mg before surgery)
Singulair - 10 mg (generic Singulair) (for my allergies & asthma)
Aciphex - 20 mg (for my stomach)

The generic lipitor dosage was only 10 mg before surgery.  This month will be my first month on Montelukast.  This means I am using only one medicine that is NOT generic - Aciphex.  I am a BIG believer in my asthma & stomach meds!  They have been life changing for me!  The Montelukast (generic Singulair) has been great for my allergies & asthma!  My asthma was always bad this time of year.  I would have trouble breathing, walking or running, sleeping, etc.  I have always had a "bad stomach"!  The Aciphex allows me to eat anything without acid reflux! 

After surgery medicines:

Amlodipine - 5 mg (after heart surgery)
Clopidogrel - 75 mg - (generic plavix) - (after heart surgery)
Metoprolol - 25 mg -(after heart surgery)
Omega 3 - Fish Oil - 1000 mg


So far, so good!  I seem to suffer no side effects from any of my medicines.  My PVC's after heart surgery seem to be under control.

Next cardiologist appointment is January 2013!!!

Laughter is the Best Medicine

As I mentioned in my earlier blogs, laughter is great medicine!  So, try this............

Heart Surgeon vs. Mechanic

Submitted By: | Current Rating: 

In a car garage, where a famous heart surgeon was waiting for the service manager to take a look at his Mercedes, there was a loud mouthed mechanic who was removing the cylinder heads from the motor of a car. He saw the surgeon waiting and lured him into an argument. 

He asked the doc after straightening up and wiping his hands on a rag, "Look at this car i'm working on. I also open hearts, take valves out, grind them, put in new parts, and when I finish this baby will purr like a kitten. So how come you get the big bucks, when you and I are doing basically the same work?" 

The surgeon very calmly leaned over and whispered to the loudmouth mechanic, "Try doing it with the engine running."

Check out more laughs at: Medical Humor - Cardiology

Heart Medicine - Grand Daughter Visits!

Great medicine for the heart!  And it's free!  Well, not really!

5 Heart Healthy Foods

It is always good to reinforce diet!  Here is an article of some foods I've been eating:

5 Heart Healthy Foods

OK - some of my favorites!!!!

Blueberries
Salmon
Soy Protein
Oatmeal
Spinach

The only one I do not eat a lot of is the Soy Protein - here are some ways to get it!

1. Pack a soy protein bar or a bag of soy nuts for a quick snack during the day.
2. Edamame (the Japanese name for green soybeans) are snacks even kids will love! Find these nutritious nuggets in the freezer section at your supermarket. Boil them, then serve warm in the pod. Pop them out of the pod to eat plain or with a low-fat dip.
3. Tofu, made of soy beans, takes on the flavor of spices and foods you cook with it. Saute cubed tofu with green and red peppers, sliced garlic, and a dash or two of curry powder. Or add tofu to soups for a healthy dose of fat-free protein.


Web MD is one of my favorite web sites.  What do you think? I need to look for some Edamame & Soy Protein Bars!!!