Heart Education For Kids - The American Heart Association

I have not visited the website for the American Heart Association lately.  Today I found some great lesson plans for elementary & middle school age kids.  Have a look at:

The American Heart Association - For the Classroom

So parent, teachers, or just for you!  Take a look at some of the lesson plans and teach somebody something!!

Exercise at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area

How about a little fresh air and wildlife to inspire a workout!  The 1.4 mile loop around Middle Creek is an awesome workout and a great way to enjoy wildlife!

The day was brisk and clear, but a great day for February!!!

The water fowl were plentiful and the noise was amazing!  Nothing like thousands of geese communicating with each other!  I wonder what they were saying!

So, if you need a great workout and want to enjoy wildlife, take a walk around MiddleCreek!

Cardio Exercise Tips for Seniors

Found a good article that gives ideas for senior workouts:


Cardio ExerciseTips for Seniors

Some of the highlights are:

1. Know your safety limits and the warning signs. 
If you are new to cardio (aerobic) exercise, have been inactive for awhile, or have any medical conditions that could be affected by exercise, it’s very important that your health care provider clear you for exercise before you start.


I find wearing a heart rate monitor a great idea!


2. Have a plan. 
Although you certainly can pick one cardio activity you enjoy and “just do it,” you may see better results and stay motivated longer if you make a plan first.


Also, keep a diary!


3. Be creative and have fun! 
There’s no rule that says your cardio exercise plan must include walking, jogging, biking or swimming. While those activities are popular and provide great workouts, the best way to stick to your plan is to pick activities that you actually enjoy doing. 


I find shopping with my wife a great cardio workout!

Cardio Workout & Your iPod!

OK, you are about to go for a run, walk, or long bike ride.  And to enjoy the workout even more, you grab your iPod to listen to your favorite workout music.  What is your music workout play list?  Here is what I listened to today on my five mile walk!

Jim's Workout Playlist
Erin Shore - by The Corrs
Forgiven Not Forgotten - by The Corrs
Higher Place - Journey
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Brave New World - Styx
Renegade - Styx
Show Me The Way - Styx
The Best of Times - Styx
We Will Rock You - Queen
We Are The Champions - Queen
If I Had $1,000,000 - Bare Naked Ladies
Cotton Mouth- Doobie Brothers
Jesus is Just Alright - Doobie Brothers
Barracuda - Heart
Oye Como Va - Santana
It's Not Over - Daughtry
Home - Daughtry
Crashed - Daughtry
You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
Angel - Josh Albright
Fighting Time - Josh Albright

Of course my favorite is the last two songs!  And I need to get a plug in for Josh!  His new CD is coming out at the end of March, early April!  Visit the website below!

Josh Albright Music website!
http://joshalbrightmusic.com/

The Cleveland Clinic

One of my favorite web sites since my Heart Surgery has been the Cleveland Clinic Website!

Here is a sample of info about treating PVC's:

How are PVCs treated?

For individuals who experience occasional PVCs with no other symptoms and no underlying heart disease or structural problems, no treatment is necessary. You can help control your PVCs by reducing or eliminating your caffeine, tobacco and alcohol intake and reducing stress and anxiety. If medication you take routinely is causing your PVCs, discuss a possible change in medication with your physician. When PVCs are due to some form or heart disease or structural abnormality, treating that problem often causes the PVCs to go away.

A beta blocker medication may be prescribed for patients with PVCs who have heart failure or who have had a heart attack. Beta blockers are safe and effective drugs that are often used to treat heart arrhythmias. Other drugs that may be used to treat frequent PVCs include calcium channel blockers and other more potent heart rhythm medications.

Ablation is another treatment option for some patients with frequent or prolonged PVCs. In ablation therapy, radiofrequency waves are used to vaporize tiny amounts of tissue in the area of the heart where the extra beat originates. This is a minimally invasive procedure that is reserved for patients who cannot tolerate beat blockers, in whom medication is ineffective or who cannot comply with long-term drug therapy. Cleveland Clinic interventional cardiologists are experts in radiofrequency ablation, performing more than 1200 ablations annually to treat a variety of arrhythmias.

For patients with heart disease who have frequent PVCs or increased PVCs during exercise, angioplasty or bypass surgery may be appropriate.

Great information for Heart patients & other medical info!  Top ranked Heart Hospital? The......

Cleveland Clinic!!!!!

Exercise and PVC's

It has been almost 14 months after my open heart surgery (quintuple by-pass) and I have not discussed my PVC issues lately!  I have done that on purpose!  After my cardiologist checkup in January, things seemed to be good.  My meds were fine, my energy level was fine, my chest has healed, and the PVC's were stabilizing.  So, the doctor said, see you next January!

Today I wore my heart rate monitor on my 50 minute walk, and here are the results:

Beginning heart rate - 78
Heart rate on flat ground & downhill - 86-95
Heart rate up uphill - 95-105
And NO PVC's!

For new viewers of my blog, here is a quick history:

Open Heart surgery - quintuple by-pass on Dec 13th, 2010
Started my cardiac rehab January 2011
Kicked out of cardiac rehab after a run of 4 PVC's
Doctor said - let heart heal, do not change meds - go back to rehab
Continued rehab & kept heart rate at 95-100
February I decided to test the heart in rehab & had another run of PVC's at - 110
Kicked out of rehab for the send time
Had another heart cath & stress test
Wore a halter monitor for 24 hours
All looked good for the by-passes & had a run of PVC's on the stress test at 120
Changed meds - Metoprolol went from 50 mg - 100 mg per day
Back to rehab & finished rehab
Back to work
Still had PVC's at around 90-95 heart rate
Talked doctor to take Metoprolol down top 50 mg per day in June 2011
Still had PVC's at around 100-105
Had another stress test & had run of PVC's at heart rate of 129
Another doctor visit in September - October
Wore a halter monitor for 24 hours
Lowered Metoprolol to 25 mg daily

So, I still have PVC's, but I seem to be having fewer!  And the Metoprolol (a beta blocker) seemed to just lower the heart rate that I had them!  So today was nice - NO PVC's.  I will continue to experiment with heart rate & monitor the PVC's at least once a week for the next few months.  The PVC's seem to be exercise induced!

8 Surprisingly Bad Foods for Your Heart

This is a good article on foods to watch!  Take a look & see what you think!

Med Help - 8 Surprisingly Bad Foods for Your Heart

White bread  - is usually something I have been trying to stay away from.  Eating my sandwiches on whole wheat or Tortillas!

Canned Soup - usually stay a way from the canned soup & eat fresh soup from the deli or homemade!

Soda - try to avoid completely!

Pop corn - microwave popcorn is great, but some are high in trans fats - READ THE LABELS!

Pretzels - have cut back, they suggest almonds & I love almonds!

I usually try to avoid many of these that are on the list.  It is always nice to read articles that reinforce your healthy selections!