Cardiologist Check Up

It is two years after open heart surgery and my yearly cardiologist check up!

Here is the good news!

1 - Still breathing!  I feel pretty good & I am able to do almost anything I want to do - golf, walk & exercise, travel, etc.

2 - Blood Pressure today 115/75 - great!  Happy with that!

3 - Total Cholesterol - Total 175  Not Bad, remember my high 10 years ago - 300!!

4 - Almost all other levels are great!

Bad news?

1 - Total Cholesterol is 175 which is OK, but HDL is 31, needs to be above 40 & LDL is 100, Doctor wants it 75 or below!

2 - Liver results not good - AST (SGOT) at 67, should be between (13-40) & ALT (SGPT) is at
122, should be between (7-52).  So, diet change!

3 - Still getting PVC's -seem to still be exercise induced as the heart rate gets to 110-120.
Game Plan?

Go back in two months!

Eat better - veggies & fruits!!!
Lose weight - At 195, try to get to 180!

Will have another Stress Test in March & wear a Holter Monitor to check PVC's!

Let the FUN begin!!!

25 Months After Open Heart By-pass Surgery!!!

Here we are, a little more than two years after open heart by-pass surgery!  This is doctor week - Tuesday meeting with cardiologist & Thursday a physical with my family doctor!  Got my blood tests and I have a few "flags"!  This week I will focus on the areas I need to improve!

First RED FLAG - Triglycerides!  The normal reading is 60 - 150 and mine was 221.

To review Triglycerides I went to:

Triglycerides and How to Lower Them

What I need to do?

• Moderate exercise on five or more days each week can help lower triglyceride levels.
• Losing 5%-10% of your weight can lower triglycerides. People with a healthy weight are more likely to have normal triglyceride levels. Belly fat is associated with higher levels.
• Reducing saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol in your diet can improve triglyceride levels and help manage cholesterol. Eating less carbohydrates in your diet will also help lower triglyceride levels.
• Drinking alcohol can raise triglyceride levels. Some studies show that drinking more than one drink a day for women or two for men can raise triglyceride levels by a lot. Some people with high triglycerides may need to cut out alcohol entirely.
• Eating more fish high in omega-3s can lower triglyceride levels. Fish like mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon are high in omega-3s. It may be hard to get enough omega-3s from food to help lower your triglycerides. Your doctor may recommend a supplement or prescription omega-3s.

Aspirin Use and Vision Loss

It seems that every day I read the newspaper or internet articles I fing that something I am taking is BAD for you!  Now it is Aspirin!  Here is the latest!

Long-Term Aspirin Use Linked With Vision Loss: Study

I also just read that aspirin could help fight cancer! Take a look!

Aspirin could be prescribed to cut cancer cases

Well, something is going to get you!  But, I will keep taking my 81 mg of aspirin for the heart!!  And keep getting new glasses to see what meds I'm taking!!!

Clinical Trials at the Cleveland Clinic

One thing that may be advantageous for medical issues are clinical trials.  Lucky for me, my heart issues did not need a trial!  But, at times this may be great to look at depending on your medical condition!

Take a look at one of my favorite websites at the Cleveland Clinic!

Clinical Trials: Advancing Medicine, Improving Lives

The website allows you to search for trials that interest you at:

Search Clinical Trials

New Year Heart Healthy Resolutions

Here we go, another year!  This will be year 60 for me!  58 on the old heart & 2 on the new!!!

6 New Year's Resolutions to Boost Heart Health

New Year's Resolution: Vow to Reduce Stress

• Identify your stressors so you can deal with them head-on.
• Take control, and change the things you can.
• Use tried-and-true stress-reducers such as exercise, deep breathing, and focused imagery to let out your emotion

New Year's Resolution: Vow to Get More Exercise

• Find an aerobic activity you enjoy, such as walking, swimming, or cycling. These aerobic activities are rhythmic and repetitive, so they get your heart beating and your big muscles moving.
• Work out at the same time every day so it can more easily become part of your daily life.
• Exercise enough to break a sweat and increase your heart rate. But remember you don't need to be out of breath.

New Year's Resolution: Vow to Watch Your Blood Pressure

To keep track of your blood pressure levels, especially if they’re high or borderline-high, consider buying a home blood pressure monitor. Then record your levels in a book. Keeping track of your blood pressure daily or weekly is a healthy habit that can help you and your doctor get your numbers under control.

New Year's Resolution: Vow to Learn Your Heart Health Family History

• Is there any family history of heart disease, stroke, or heart attack?
• Is there any family history of high blood pressure, especially at an early age?
• Most importantly, is there any history of a heart attack in a male before age 50 or a female before age 60?

New Year's Resolution: Vow to Know Your Cholesterol

• Total cholesterol of less than 200 mg/dL
• LDL "bad" cholesterol of less than 130 mg/dL
• HDL "good" cholesterol of 60 mg/dL or higher

New Year's Resolution: Vow to Eat Right for Better Heart Health

• Substitute red meat with proteins such as fish and chicken several times every week.
• Include a combined seven servings of fruits and vegetables into your diet every day.
• Switch to whole grains instead of processed grains as much as possible.
• Limit cholesterol from egg yolks to once a week if your cholesterol is normal, and eliminate them altogether if your cholesterol is high.

What do you think?  Can I do it?  Yep!  Some will be more difficult then others!!!

Happy New Year 2013!

It has been a little over two years after open heart by-pass surgery!  So, as last year.......

Happy New Year 2013!!

What are my New Year resolutions?  Same as last!

Grow in faith!

Focus on Family!

Be smart with my heart - Exercise & Nutrition!

And enjoy EVERY day!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Remember the "Reason" for the "Season"!