tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16187839477633781822024-03-13T11:36:43.522-06:00CARG: Coronary Artery Rehabilitation Group BlogThis is the blog for <a href="http://carg.ca">CARG</a>, the Coronary Artery Rehabilitation Group, based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It will contain items of interest to CARG's own members and anybody else interested in the latest news about rehabilitation and heart-related matters. Canadian charitable number: 89675 0163 RR 0001 || e-mail: carg.ca@gmail.com || website: <a href="http://carg.ca">carg.ca</a> || <a href="http://carg.ca/blogdisclaimer.html">Blog disclaimer</a>CARG: Coronary Artery Rehabilitation Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468904349383644858noreply@blogger.comBlogger3190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-33476283783282886862013-11-26T03:41:00.002-07:002013-11-26T03:42:24.514-07:00Lengthy car, plane rides pose risk of clots<a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=175366"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTRGg770bSF3Fg4dMvCuf-MB3k1eBOntylhF0XW7y8OvrIQ-e995g" alt="Lengthy car, plane rides pose risk of clots" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="" height="" align="left"></a>Traveling long distances in cars and planes could put you at risk for <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=175366">deep vein thrombosis</a> - potentially deadly blood clots in the deep veins of the lower legs and thighs, an expert says. Sitting for long periods of time in cramped spaces can limit circulation in the legs, resulting in the formation of a blood clot. The clot can travel through the blood stream and lodge in the lungs, brain, heart and other areas. This can lead to severe damage to organs and possibly death. However, it's easy to prevent deep vein thrombosis. "If you plan to travel overseas or cross country, make sure you get up and walk around at least every two hours, and try not to sleep more than four hours at a time," Dr. Alan Lumsden, chief of cardiovascular surgery at Houston Methodist Hospital's heart and vascular center, said in a hospital news release. "Drink plenty of water or juices, wear loose-fitting clothing, eat light meals and limit alcohol consumption," he added. Elderly people and those with circulation problems should wear compression stockings that help prevent clots from forming in the deep veins, Lumsden suggested. If you can't get up and move around every couple of hours, you can do the following exercises while sitting down:<br />
<br />
* Extend both legs and move both feet back and forth in a circular motion.<br />
* Move the knee up to the chest and hold the stretch for at least 15 seconds.<br />
* Put both feet on the floor and point them upward. Also, put both feet flat and lift both heels as high as possible.<br />
<br />
If you are pregnant or have a history of heart disease, cancer or blood clots, you should always consult with your doctor before going on a long trip, Lumsden advised. About 2 million Americans develop deep vein thrombosis every year, and nearly 200,000 die. "It's a very serious condition that can simply be avoided by getting up and moving around," Lumsden said. "Symptoms include pain and tenderness, swelling, redness and increased warmth in one leg," Lumsden said. "In some cases, a physician might suggest that a patient go on blood thinners or simply take an aspirin before and during a long trip to avoid deep vein thrombosis."<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-65617467956625177692013-11-26T03:10:00.000-07:002013-11-26T03:10:14.032-07:00Exercise in later life is beneficial: study<a href="http://topnews.net.nz/content/231075-exercise-later-life-beneficial-study"><img src="http://topnews.net.nz/data/Exercise-at-elderly-age.jpg" alt="Exercise in later life is beneficial: study" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="320" height="213" align="right"></a>The <b>British Journal of Sports Medicine</b> published study has unveiled that doing <a href="http://topnews.net.nz/content/231075-exercise-later-life-beneficial-study">exercise at elderly age</a> make them stay healthy. <br />
The study has found that those who have been doing exercise in their later life are three times more likely to stay fit in comparison to their inactive peers. In order to reach at the above given result, study researchers from the Montreal Heart Institute at Concordia University has monitored the health of 3,500 people. Average age of these people was 64 and they were tracked for more than eight years. Not only they were tracked, but their medical records were also assessed. Moreover, three categories were made, inactive, moderate activity and vigorous activity. These categories were made on the basis of frequency and intensity of exercises performed by the participants. "Sustained physical activity was prospectively associated with improved healthy ageing - absence of disease, freedom from disability, high cognitive and physical functioning, good-mental health", said study researchers. Doireann Maddock from the British Heart Foundation was of the view the view that it is vital to remain active. Remaining physically active will help in keeping a number of health complications at bay like heart disease. Therefore, taking up exercise is beneficial in later life also<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-6719882159015302452013-11-25T12:36:00.001-07:002013-11-25T12:36:45.978-07:00CARG Newsletter - December 2013The <a href="http://carg.ca/CARGDecember2013Newsletter.pdf">CARG Newsletter - December 2013</a> is now available online<br />
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<iframe src="http://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarg.ca%2FCARGDecember2013Newsletter.pdf&embedded=true" width="600" height="780" style="border: none;"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-38194884884403931102013-11-25T03:40:00.000-07:002013-11-25T03:41:55.239-07:00CARG Collection Coordinator required<a href=""><img src="http://kpolsson.com/novelty/bill009.jpg" alt="CARG Collection Coordinator required" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="200" height="97" align="left"></a>Mary Green, CARG board member writes: <i>Job vacancy: Collection Coordinator. Duties are to organize volunteers to help collect walking fees every month and membership fees once a year and for all new members. Is responsible for a float for change with the volunteers and the therapists. Will check the therapist collection box for fees and coordinate with the treasurer the receipts and monies collected. Look after the red shirt and support shirt inventory. Look after the white hearts and distribution of said hearts. Other duties as assigned. Attend board meetings. For more information please contact Mary Green at bmgreen@sasktel.net or phone 306 343 6552</i><br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-68072919539177352092013-11-25T03:20:00.000-07:002013-11-25T08:18:26.609-07:00CARG Christmas Parties 2013<a href=""><img src="http://carg.ca/xmas2008photos/3358.jpg" alt="CARG Christmas Parties 2013" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="256" height="170" align="right"></a>The CARG Christmas Parties for 2013 will be held again at both the Field House and the Shaw Centre:<br />
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<b>Field House:</b> Friday December 13 in room 2 (upstairs) from 9:30am to 11:30am<br />
<b>Shaw Centre:</b> Wednesday December 11 in the main meeting room (main floor) from 9:00am to 11:30am<br />
<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-81812723526702132532013-11-18T05:37:00.001-07:002013-11-18T05:38:07.576-07:00Johns Hopkins heart researchers develop formula to more accurately calculate 'bad' cholesterol in individual patients<a href="http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/610352/?sc=rsmn&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NewswiseMednews+%28Newswise%3A+MedNews%29"><img src="https://edc2.healthtap.com/ht-staging/user_answer/avatars/917199/large/open-uri20130309-20029-f52byj.jpeg?1362837041" alt="Johns Hopkins heart researchers develop formula to more accurately calculate 'bad' cholesterol in individual patients" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="" height="" align="left"></a><a href="http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/610352/?sc=rsmn&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NewswiseMednews+%28Newswise%3A+MedNews%29">Johns Hopkins researchers</a> have developed a more accurate way to calculate low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the so-called "bad" form of blood fat that can lead to hardening of the arteries and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. If confirmed and adopted by medical laboratories that routinely calculate blood cholesterol for patients, the researchers say their formula would give patients and their doctors a much more accurate assessment of LDL cholesterol. "The standard formula that has been used for decades to calculate LDL cholesterol often underestimates LDL where accuracy matters most - in the range considered desirable for patients at high risk for heart attack and stroke," says Seth S. Martin, M.D., a cardiology fellow at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease. Martin is first author of the study detailed in a November 19, 2013 article in the <b>Journal of the American Medical Association</b><br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-37863263465163887422013-11-15T03:49:00.002-07:002013-11-15T03:49:48.100-07:00Texts may help people with diabetes manage care (USA)<a href="http://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2013/11/12/texts-may-help-people-with-diabetes-manage-care/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+stanford%2Fscope+%28SCOPE%29"><img src="http://scopeblog.stanford.edu/files/2013/11/flipphone.jpg" alt="Texts may help people with diabetes manage care (USA)" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="" height="" align="right"></a>What if a doctor's orders were as simple as two text messages a day to keep the ER at bay? A recent study published in <b>Annals of Emergency Medicine</b> used an automated mobile health (mHealth) program to reach low-income inner-city patients with <a href="http://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2013/11/12/texts-may-help-people-with-diabetes-manage-care/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+stanford%2Fscope+%28SCOPE%29">type 2 diabetes</a> and engage them in their own health and disease management outside of emergency facilities. Researchers recruited 128 participants who had sought care for diabetes at the Los Angeles County Hospital of the University of Southern California ED. The study reported that the largest safety-net hospital in the county's public care system annually serves 170,000 patients, 70 percent of them Latino. Study participants could choose English or Spanish versions of the messages, which offered tips on healthy behavior and disease management and did not require a smartphone to receive<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-50365732789817491802013-11-15T03:18:00.000-07:002013-11-15T03:18:08.075-07:00Leading Canadian health organizations release a Vascular Declaration calling for urgent action on vascular disease<a href="http://www.heartandstroke.sk.ca/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=inKMILNlEmG&b=3658009&ct=13374757"><img src="http://www.heartandstroke.com/atf/cf/%7B99452D8B-E7F1-4BD6-A57D-B136CE6C95BF%7D/VascularDeclaration_ENG-tn.jpg" alt="Leading Canadian health organizations release a Vascular Declaration calling for urgent action on vascular disease" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="" height="" align="left"></a>Ninety per cent of Canadians are facing an unacceptable risk of developing vascular disease and we have to act now to reduce its increasing burden, say leading health experts at the Vascular 2013 Congress in Montreal recently. To galvanize action, leading Canadian experts working in the field of vascular health have signed and committed to a Vascular Declaration, a collective approach to reducing vascular disease in Canada. "This Declaration calls for urgent action and outlines a comprehensive approach that can vastly decrease the impact of vascular disease on Canadians," says Dr. Duncan Stewart, the scientific chair of Vascular 2013. "The health sector cannot solve this problem alone." Vascular diseases are a result of disorders in the blood vessels (large and small) throughout the entire human body. Diabetes, stroke, hypertension, heart disease, dementia, kidney diseases, certain lung and eye conditions are all vascular diseases. Five unhealthy behaviors - unhealthy diet, smoking, lack of physical activity, excess alcohol intake and stress - are well-established risks for more than 50 diseases including these. The declaration, called <a href="http://www.heartandstroke.sk.ca/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=inKMILNlEmG&b=3658009&ct=13374757">Making the Connection: A Call to Action on Vascular Health</a>, calls for an integrated, multifaceted approach to address the prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and end-of-life care for people with vascular disease. It is a landmark approach to an urgent and debilitating health issue<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-85082572670708953552013-11-11T09:09:00.000-07:002013-11-11T09:09:02.141-07:00Horrible bosses really ARE bad for your health: Chronic stress can lead to heart disease and diabetes, experts warn<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2488278/Horrible-bosses-really-ARE-bad-health-Chronic-stress-cause-lead-heart-disease-diabetes-experts-warn.html"><img src="http://whatteensneedtoknow.com/Money_files/shapeimage_4.jpg" alt="Horrible bosses really ARE bad for your health: Chronic stress can lead to heart disease and diabetes, experts warn" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="" height="" align="right"></a>Working for a <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2488278/Horrible-bosses-really-ARE-bad-health-Chronic-stress-cause-lead-heart-disease-diabetes-experts-warn.html">difficult boss</a> can come with stress, long hours and a poor office atmosphere. But new research has found it can also be bad for your health. The stress of working for a bad boss over a long period of time can cause serious harm to employees, the study found. The researchers found that chronic stress causes changes in the gene activity in immune cells. These changes cause the cells to be primed to fight an infection that doesn't exist. This leads to inflammation in the body which is associated with many health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. Scientists at Ohio State University made this discovery while studying mice. Their colleagues at other institutions also tested blood samples from people living in poor areas and found that similarly primed immune cells were present in these chronically stressed people. "The cells share many of the same characteristics in terms of their response to stress," said Dr John Sheridan, associate director of Ohio State University's Institute for Behavioural Medicine Research, and co-lead author of the study. The research is published in the journal <b>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</b><br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-29812695432125044782013-11-11T04:42:00.000-07:002013-11-11T05:01:25.845-07:00Scan can predict heart attacks (UK)<a href="http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/scan-can-predict-heart-attacks-29743320.html"><img src="http://www.hoax-slayer.com/images/heart-attack.jpg" alt="Scan can predict heart attacks (UK)" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="212" height="141" align="left"></a> Scientists have devised a way to scan for fatty deposits that cause <a href="http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/scan-can-predict-heart-attacks-29743320.html">heart attacks</a>, bringing accurate prediction of risk one step closer. The breakthrough allows doctors to identify "ticking time bomb" patients by detecting fatty deposits in arteries and administering drugs before an attack takes place. It has been described by experts as a major step towards accurately predicting heart attacks and relies on technology used in cancer diagnosis which is already found in many hospitals. The discovery was made in a study researching whether a scanner could pick up the outlines of fatty "plaques" in arteries. The results are published in <b>'The Lancet'</b> recently. Scientists tested two groups of patients - 40 people who had just suffered heart attacks and 40 others who had angina - and found the scans picked up affected areas. Problem points in blood vessels were highlighted on images of 90% of those scanned who recently suffered a heart attack. Close to half of the scans of patients with angina also successfully detected the fatty build-ups. The study is significant because there is no current way to find those people at highest risk from heart attacks. "We have developed what we hope is a way to 'light up' plaques on the brink of rupturing and causing a heart attack," explained researcher Dr Marc Dweck<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-88144889705493186452013-11-08T04:09:00.001-07:002013-11-08T04:09:56.693-07:00The Stroke Survivors' Declaration (UK)<a href="http://www.stroke.org.uk/get-involved/stroke-survivors-declarations"><img src="http://www.stroke.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/SS%20declaration.png" alt="The Stroke Survivors' Declaration (UK)" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="182" height="251" align="right"></a>At the heart of the work of the Campaigns and Policy team is the <a href="http://www.stroke.org.uk/get-involved/stroke-survivors-declarations">Stroke Survivors' declaration</a>. Written by over 120 stroke survivors, it sets out what levels of care and support should be provided when survivors come out of hospital after a stroke, keen to get on with getting back to their best possible quality of life. The declaration builds on existing policy and best practice - and so does not require those who plan or provide health and social care to find extra resources, merely to ensure that they "get the basics right more of the time". The declaration covers issues such as ensuring stroke survivors' needs are regularly assessed, ensuring carers are not left to fend on their own (without support) and ensuring the benefits systems are truly aware of the financial impact of stroke and their role in supporting people through this difficult time. Given the fact that health and social care are devolved issues, namely decided in each of the 4 nations of the UK, there are separate versions for each of the nations<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-30568951555762059132013-11-02T16:33:00.003-06:002013-11-02T16:34:13.755-06:00Study says soda tax would cut obesity rates by 1.3 per cent in UK, W. Europe's fattest country<a href="http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Study+says+soda+would+obesity+rates+cent/9109736/story.html"><img src="http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/cms/binary/9112037.jpg" alt="" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="320" height="242" align="left"></a>Slapping a 20 per cent tax on soda in Britain could cut the number of <a href="http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Study+says+soda+would+obesity+rates+cent/9109736/story.html">obese adults</a> by about 180,000, according to a new study. Though the number works out to a modest drop of 1.3 per cent in obesity, scientists say that reduction would still be worthwhile in the U.K., which has a population of about 63 million and is the fattest country in Western Europe. About one in four Britons is obese. Researchers at Oxford University and the University of Reading estimated a 20 per cent tax on soft drinks would reduce sales by 15 per cent and that people would buy beverages like orange juice, milk and diet drinks instead. They said the tax would have the biggest impact on people under 30, who drink more sugary drinks than anyone else. No funding was provided by any advocacy or industry groups for the study, published online Thursday in the journal, <b>BMJ</b>. "Every possible alternative that people would buy is going to be better than a sugary drink," said Mike Rayner of Oxford, one of the study authors. "(The tax) is not a panacea, but it's part of the solution."<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-84363120360851448612013-10-30T12:49:00.000-06:002013-10-30T12:49:39.100-06:00How hiking is good for body and mind<a href="http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/hiking-body-mind?src=RSS_PUBLIC"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTRy04l9bZPkZ-jOZDXAUlJXPgLWKSRmN5n-Ne7Q93AMtYHLHFoAQ" alt="How hiking is good for body and mind" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="" height="" align="right"></a><a href="http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/hiking-body-mind?src=RSS_PUBLIC">Hiking</a> outdoors comes with a bounty of perks: nice views, fresh air, and the sounds and smells of nature. Hiking is a powerful cardio workout that boasts all the health benefits of walking, including less risk of heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, and colon cancer, as well as better blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Because hiking is a weight-bearing exercise - you're moving against gravity while staying upright - it boosts bone density and helps combat osteoporosis (thinning bones). Hiking is also good for muscle strength. The activity targets your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors, and lower leg muscles. It works your shoulders, strengthens your core, and improves balance. And hiking can help you control your weight. It's also a powerful mood booster. "Research shows that hiking has a positive impact on combating the symptoms of stress and anxiety," says Gregory A. Miller, PhD, president of the <b>American Hiking Society</b>. "Being in nature is ingrained in our DNA, and we sometimes forget that."<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-62423347068773016582013-10-30T12:30:00.000-06:002013-10-30T12:30:06.071-06:00Gardening, home improvements help reduce heart/stroke risk (Sweden)<a href="http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2013/10/29/Gardening-home-improvements-help-reduce-heartstroke-risk/UPI-10661383073249/"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XFv58YaCe5Q/SqcEqQdgf2I/AAAAAAAACHE/sbjDWtr4VOw/s400/OldLadyGardener.jpg" alt="Gardening, home improvements help reduce heart/stroke risk (Sweden)" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="222" height="266" align="left"></a><a href="http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2013/10/29/Gardening-home-improvements-help-reduce-heartstroke-risk/UPI-10661383073249/">Gardening and home do-it-yourself projects</a> can reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke by 30 percent in those age 60 and older, researchers in Sweden say. Elin Ekblom-Bak of Karolinska University Hospital, Bjorn Ekblom of the The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Max Vikstrom of the Institute of Environmental Medicine at the Karolinska University Hospital and colleagues based their findings on almost 4,000 60-year-olds in Stockholm, whose cardiovascular health was tracked for about 12.5 years. At the start of the study, participants took part in a health check, which included information on lifestyle, such as diet, smoking, and alcohol intake and how physically active they were. The study participants were asked how often they had included a range of daily life activities, such as gardening, DIY, car maintenance and blackberry picking in the previous 12 months, as well as any formal exercise. Their cardiovascular health was assessed by lab tests and physical examinations and check for blood fats, blood sugars and blood clotting factor - high levels of which are linked to a raised heart attack and stroke risk. The study, published in the <b>British Journal of Sports Medicine</b>, found the highest level of daily physical activity was associated with a 27 percent lower risk of a heart attack or stroke and a 30 percent reduced risk of death from all causes, compared with the lowest level of activity, irrespective of how much regular formal exercise was taken in addition<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-76818447888113851272013-10-30T09:20:00.000-06:002013-10-30T09:20:27.568-06:00Cancer and cardiovascular organizations team up to improve the health of Canadians<a href="http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ikIQLcMWJtE&b=3485819&ct=13375945"><img src="http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_EngFre_Web2.jpg" alt="Cancer and cardiovascular organizations team up to improve the health of Canadians" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="" height="" align="right"></a>The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and the Heart and Stroke Foundation have announced a <a href="http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ikIQLcMWJtE&b=3485819&ct=13375945">$16 million investment</a> in a first of its kind partnership between the cancer and cardiovascular research communities that will strengthen our understanding of chronic disease. The Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds, with $14 million from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and $2 million from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, will build on the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project, a pan-Canadian research platform, by expanding efforts to identify the early root causes that lead to chronic diseases of the brain, the heart and the cardiovascular system. "Nearly two-thirds of deaths in Canada are due to chronic diseases," said Dr. Heather Bryant, VP of Cancer Control at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. "The data collected through the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project will help researchers better understand why some people develop these diseases while others don't. Ultimately the research will make a difference in the lives of future generations." This new investment will gather detailed information from about 10,000 Canadian participants on their environments, lifestyle and behaviours that could affect their cardiovascular health. Participants will also be assessed by magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain, blood vessels, heart and liver. Adding this to the health and biological information assembled over many years within CPTP will allow researchers to explore how these factors contribute to the development of chronic disease leading to heart failure and dementia<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-68249241976065740642013-10-30T09:02:00.001-06:002013-10-30T09:06:22.178-06:00The D2d Study (USA)<a href="http://www.d2dstudy.org/"><img src="http://www.d2dstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/USA_Map_D2d_study_Sites.jpg" alt="" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="320" height="215" align="left"></a>The goal of the <a href="http://www.d2dstudy.org/">Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes (D2d) study</a> is to determine whether vitamin D supplementation is safe and effective in delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes in people at risk for the disease and to gain a better understanding of how vitamin D affects glucose metabolism. There are over 79 million Americans who are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating, exercise and weight loss, can decrease the chances of developing diabetes. However, many people still develop diabetes despite efforts at changing their lifestyle. Therefore, there is a continued need for the identification of modifiable risk factors and interventions that are safe, inexpensive and easy to implement to prevent type 2 diabetes and decrease disease burden. Based on recently published studies, vitamin D has emerged as a potential determinant of type 2 diabetes risk. However, according to reports by the Institute of Medicine and the Endocrine Society, the evidence to support vitamin D supplementation for prevention of diabetes is inconclusive and there is a need for definite studies in this area, such as the D2d study. The D2d study is a large multi-center clinical trial conducted in twenty cities around the United States. The D2d study will enroll approximately 2,400 participants who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either vitamin D or placebo and be followed for up to 4 years for development of diabetes. The D2d study is expected to define the role of vitamin D supplementation in modifying diabetes risk in people at risk for the disease<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-48501918056092393682013-10-25T16:39:00.000-06:002013-10-25T16:39:02.948-06:00Making the business case for cardiac rehab programs<a href="http://www.heartandstroke.sk.ca/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=inKMILNlEmG&b=8849267&ct=13374469"><img src="http://www.heartcarecanada.com/images/exercise.jpg" alt="Making the business case for cardiac rehab programs" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="" height="" align="right"></a>You know the saying: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When it comes to <a href="http://www.heartandstroke.sk.ca/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=inKMILNlEmG&b=8849267&ct=13374469">cardiac rehabilitation</a>, a study presented recently at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress has the numbers to prove it. "We found that cardiac rehabilitation programs have a financial 'return on investment' of about seven per cent," says author Dr. Dennis Humen, a professor of medicine at Western University. "Not only is cardiac rehab the pillar of preventing a second cardiac event; it also makes good business sense." The study also revealed that, for patients, the "return on investment" for participating in these programs also makes good heart sense: cardiac rehab leads to a 31 per cent reduction in hospital readmission and a 26 per cent drop in cardiovascular mortality. "There are more than 60,000 hospitalizations for heart attacks in Canada each year and another 160,000 due to coronary heart disease," says Dr. Humen. "This opens a huge window of potential: if we could provide intensive cardiac rehab services to just 60,000 individuals, there could be a reduction in healthcare costs for this group of about $8.5 million per year." If CR reduces cardiac events, mortality and hospital readmission rates, why isn't it funded more broadly? Governments often cite high costs as a barrier to funding comprehensive CR, which combines regular exercise with intensive education around lifestyle changes. Yet the Western University study shows that on a financial basis the investment is more than offset by the ensuing cost savings<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-79266736377643531722013-10-25T16:25:00.001-06:002013-10-25T16:26:41.525-06:00'Hungry gene' discovery may help solve the obesity problem<a href="http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Hungry+gene+discovery+help+solve+obesity+problem/9083605/story.html"><img src="http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/cms/binary/9083648.jpg" alt="'Hungry gene' discovery may help solve the obesity problem" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="310" height="200" align="left"></a>Scientists have discovered a <a href="http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Hungry+gene+discovery+help+solve+obesity+problem/9083605/story.html">"hungry gene"</a> which they believe could cause obesity. A study has identified a possible genetic root to the insatiable appetite and slow metabolism in some people. Looking at 2,101 patients who were severely obese, they found those with mutations of a gene called KSR2 were hungrier and burned fewer calories than people with a normal copy of the gene. Dr Sadaf Farooqi, of Cambridge University, said: "Changes in diet and levels of physical activity underlie the recent increase in obesity. However, some people gain weight more easily than others. This variation between people is largely influenced by genetic factors. "The discovery of a new obesity gene, <b>KSR2</b>, demonstrates that genes can contribute to obesity by reducing the metabolic rate - how well the body burns calories." Dr Farooqi said the discovery could provide clues as to how obesity develops and help develop new drugs to treat the condition as well as type-2 diabetes, which is linked with it. The study was published in the journal <b>Cell</b><br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-88432757376415482922013-10-25T04:32:00.000-06:002013-10-25T04:33:09.314-06:00Text messages are saving Swedes from cardiac arrest<a href="http://mashable.com/2013/10/24/text-message-cardiac-arrest/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPy7mJagOHUx-DN-tV-e4lI3ZeWgmLDkjwP-hg4km2MzquVc9F" alt="Text messages are saving Swedes from cardiac arrest" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="" height="" align="right"></a><a href="http://mashable.com/2013/10/24/text-message-cardiac-arrest/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link">Sweden</a> has found a faster way to treat people experiencing cardiac emergencies through a text message and a few thousand volunteers. A program called SMSlivräddare - or SMSLifesaver - solicits people who have been trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). When a Stockholm resident dials 112 for emergency services, a text message is sent to all volunteers within 500 meters of the person in need. The volunteer then arrives at the location within the crucial first minutes to perform lifesaving CPR. The odds for surviving cardiac arrest drop 10% for every minute it takes first responders to arrive. "The traditional emergency services, especially the ambulance - they have problems in the Stockholm area," said Dr. Mårten Rosenqvist, a professor of cardiology and spokesman for the group. "First there are not so many, second there is heavy traffic in Stockholm, and third, they are usually occupied by doing other things: transporting patients to the emergency room, or transporting patients between hospitals." With ambulance resources stretched thin, the average response time is some eight minutes, allowing SMSlivräddare volunteers to reach victims before ambulances in 54% of cases<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-19293644417663288362013-10-23T09:38:00.000-06:002013-10-23T09:38:20.210-06:00CARG Newsletter - November 2013The <a href="http://carg.ca/CARGNovember2013Newsletter.pdf">CARG Newsletter - November 2013</a> is now available online<br />
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CARG: Coronary Artery Rehabilitation Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468904349383644858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-34481722928333033062013-10-23T04:16:00.000-06:002013-10-23T04:16:07.346-06:00Flu shot halves risk of heart attack or stroke in people with history of heart attack<a href="http://www.newswise.com/articles/flu-shot-halves-risk-of-heart-attack-or-stroke-in-people-with-history-of-heart-attack-study-finds"><img src="http://www.wwrl1600.com/image/wwrl1/UserFiles/Image/flu-shot.jpg" alt="Flu shot halves risk of heart attack or stroke in people with history of heart attack" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="256" height="244" align="right"></a>The <a href="http://www.newswise.com/articles/flu-shot-halves-risk-of-heart-attack-or-stroke-in-people-with-history-of-heart-attack-study-finds">flu vaccine</a> may not only ward off serious complications from influenza, it may also reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke by more than 50 per cent among those who have had a heart attack, according to new research led by Dr. Jacob Udell, a cardiologist at Women's College Hospital and clinician-scientist at the University of Toronto. What's more, the vaccine's heart protective effects may be even greater among those who receive a more potent vaccine. "Our study provides solid evidence that the flu shot helps prevent heart disease in vulnerable patients - with the best protection in the highest risk patients," Dr. Udell said. "These findings are extraordinary given the potential for this vaccine to serve as yearly preventative therapy for patients with heart disease, the leading cause of death among men and women in North America." Published recently in the <b>Journal of the American Medical Association</b>, the study reviewed six clinical trials on heart health in people who received the flu vaccine. The studies included more than 6,700 patients with a history of heart disease<br clear="all">CARG: Coronary Artery Rehabilitation Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468904349383644858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-20229006239022238812013-10-21T07:24:00.000-06:002013-10-21T07:24:12.072-06:00Heart failure operation first in UK<a href="http://www.healthcare-today.co.uk/news/heart-failure-op-first-in-uk/24709/"><img src="http://www.healthcare-today.co.uk/images/medium/27042006_operating_room.jpg" alt="Heart failure operation first in UK" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="" height="" align="left"></a>Surgeons at King's College Hospital have used a pioneering procedure which can improve the function of failing hearts. The operation, a form of <a href="http://www.healthcare-today.co.uk/news/heart-failure-op-first-in-uk/24709/">"cardiac sewing"</a>, is the first of its kind in the UK and involves removing scar tissue whilst the heart is still beating, reducing the size of the heart so that it can pump more efficiently. Patients with heart failure struggle to pump blood around the body, which can leave them breathless during make mild exercise and day-to-day tasks. Sevket Gocer, 58, was the first patient to be treated in the UK. His heart function is said to have "improved significantly" after the operation. Mr Olaf Wendler, a professor of cardiac surgery at King's College Hospital, commented: "In the technique we have now used for the first time in the UK, one does not need to stop the heart, one does not even necessarily need to place the patient on a heart-lung machine. "It's a less traumatic and less invasive type of procedure." The procedure is also being trialled by other hospitals across Europe<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-83782132157386314382013-10-19T13:32:00.000-06:002013-10-21T06:15:30.651-06:00Some blood pressure medications may reduce Alzheimer's risk<a href="http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2013/10/19/Some-blood-pressure-medications-may-reduce-Alzheimers-risk/UPI-78921382161881/"><img src="http://www.info-on-high-blood-pressure.com/images/high-blood-pressure-medications.jpg" alt="Some blood pressure medications may reduce Alzheimer's risk" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="246" height="167" align="right"></a>Certain <a href="http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2013/10/19/Some-blood-pressure-medications-may-reduce-Alzheimers-risk/UPI-78921382161881/">blood pressure medications</a> may reduce the risk of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease, U.S. researchers say. Dr. Sevil Yasar, an assistant professor at the <b>Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine</b> in Baltimore, found about 3,000 people age 75 and older with normal cognition who used diuretics, angiotensin-1 receptor blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors showed a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease dementia by at least 50 percent. "Our study was able to replicate previous findings, however, we were also able to show that the beneficial effect of these blood pressure medications are maybe in addition to blood pressure control, and could help clinicians in selecting an anti-hypertensive medication based not only on blood pressure control, but also on additional benefits." In addition, diuretics were associated with 50 percent reduced risk in those in the group with mild cognitive impairment. Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers did not show a link to reduced risk, the scientists said. "Identifying new pharmacological treatments to prevent or delay the onset of AD dementia is critical given the dearth of effective interventions to date," Yasar said<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-88244367645700110812013-10-19T13:13:00.000-06:002013-10-19T13:14:27.382-06:00Making exercise a prescription for diabetes (Canada)<a href="http://howtoavoiddiabetes.blogspot.ca/2013/10/canadian-diabetes-association-news_18.html"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSqY9Ok2tstqwPLHy4cAZ4hYznV9s1R6faiMDVZM7mdo7_OlIr3" alt="Making exercise a prescription for diabetes (Canada)" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="" height="" align="left"></a>Most Canadians would agree that physical activity and exercise plays an important role in preventing or managing the devastating effects of chronic diseases, including diabetes. But what we say and what we do can be very different. In fact, the majority of Canadians do not meet the physical activity guideline recommendations established by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology and the Canadian Diabetes Association. A unique team of health care and exercise professionals representing medicine, physiotherapy, dietetics, kinesiology, and psychology, comprising the <a href="http://howtoavoiddiabetes.blogspot.ca/2013/10/canadian-diabetes-association-news_18.html">Exercise is Medicine® Canada National Task Force</a>, is aiming to change this reality by bringing physical activity and exercise into mainstream patient care. Dr. Jan Hux, Chief Scientific Advisor for the Canadian Diabetes Association, says the Canadian Diabetes Association's 2013 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada (Guidelines) recommends all individuals with diabetes participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise each week, and encourages resistance training three times a week. "Providing diabetes care providers with practical and effective strategies for incorporating physical activity into a management plan is extremely valuable for people living with diabetes," she says<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1618783947763378182.post-2920082967348851672013-10-17T06:45:00.000-06:002013-10-17T06:45:12.053-06:00Saskatoon Council on Aging - "Help us make our web site better"<a href="http://www.scoa.ca/getinvolved/"><img src="http://www.scoa.ca/images/SCOAlogoCMYK.gif" alt="Saskatoon Council on Aging - "Help us make our web site better"" hspace="4" vspace="4" border="0" width="" height="" align="right"></a>Virginia Dakiniewich, Advancement Officer Saskatoon Council on Aging Inc. writes: <i>The <a href="http://www.scoa.ca/getinvolved/">Saskatoon Council on Aging</a> is looking for seniors to participate in our web site project. All levels of experience are welcome. We are hoping to get advice from seniors themselves on how we could make our web site easier to use and to find information they need. For more information or to register, please visit us online at http://www.scoa.ca/getinvolved or call tel:306-652-2255"</i><br clear="all">CARG: Coronary Artery Rehabilitation Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05468904349383644858noreply@blogger.com0