Hula found to be a promising cardiac rehabilitation therapy

For the first time ever, researchers have determined the metabolic equivalent for hula in a study that shows the Native Hawaiian dance form can be an effective and engaging cardiac rehabilitation therapy. Researchers from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu presented preliminary findings to the participants of the study on August 28, 2012. The Hula Empowering Lifestyle Adaptations study followed 60 participants, all of whom had suffered heart attack, heart failure or undergone heart surgery within two to 12 weeks before the study five-year research project began

Intense workouts may be safe for heart patients: study

Moderate levels of exercise are often prescribed for people recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery, but a new study finds that pumping up workouts to high intensity levels might be a safe option too. Among 4,800 Norwegian heart patients, who racked up a combined total of over 170,000 hours of aerobic exercise, researchers found three cardiac arrests occurred during workouts and only one was fatal. The number was too small to say for sure that high impact workouts are just as safe as moderate ones, but they show the overall risk of exercise bringing on cardiac arrest is fairly low, according to the authors. "I think we're on the right track, but before we make it a standard recommendation, let's get our safety data," said Dr. Steven Keteyian, the director of preventive cardiology at Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan, who was not involved in the study

A millimeter-scale, wirelessly powered cardiac device (USA)

A team of engineers at Stanford has demonstrated the feasibility of a super-small, implantable cardiac device that gets its power not from batteries, but from radio waves transmitted from outside the body. The implanted device is contained in a cube just eight-tenths of a millimeter in radius. It could fit on the head of pin

Australian doctor pioneered full rehabilitation of heart attack patients

Alan Goble was the first Australian cardiologist to recognise the importance of cardiac rehabilitation programs and the need for funding to support them. He was the founder and initial chairman of the Heart Research Centre after it moved out of the National Heart Foundation in 1993 to be a stand-alone organisation; in 1989, he and Marian Worcester had set up the Centre for Social and Preventive Cardiology as part of the NHF (now the Heart Foundation). Alan James Goble was born on July 7, 1925, in Folkestone, Kent, second of three sons of one of the founders of the RAAF, Air Vice-Marshal Stanley Goble, and his wife, Kathleen (nee Wodehouse). He went to Trinity Grammar, Kew, before arriving at Trinity College, Melbourne University. He graduated in 1948 with an MBBS with honours, earned his MD in 1952, and gained his FRACP in 1960 and his FRCP in 1977. Goble's career in cardiology began at the Royal Melbourne Hospital with his appointment to the cardiac clinic in 1956. In 1961, he was appointed honorary cardiologist - the first such appointment at a major public hospital

Sudden cardiac death less likely after exercise, study says

People whose hearts stop functioning during or shortly after exercising are three times more likely to survive than those who have cardiac arrest unrelated to working out, researchers said. The Amsterdam Resuscitation Study looked at 2,517 cardiac- arrest cases in the Dutch capital's greater metropolitan area over a three-year period. Scientists found 145 of the patients were exercising during or within one hour of cardiac arrest and were mostly biking, playing tennis, working out at a gym or swimming, according to the research presented today at the European Society of Cardiology conference in Munich

Active pensioners 'add six years'

Being active and living a healthy lifestyle into your seventies can make a huge difference to your life expectancy, a Swedish study suggests. Academics at Sweden's Karolinska Institute analysed the lifestyles of 1,810 people over 75. The findings, on the British Medical Journal website, said men with the healthiest lifestyles lived six years longer, women had five extra years. Experts said it was never too late to start looking after your health. Being sedentary, overweight, a smoker or heavy drinker is bad for health and shortens life expectancy. The researchers said they did not know how big the effect would be after 75, so they followed a group of people for 18 years

Less chronic disease in store for fit 50-year-olds: study (USA)

Fit 50-year-olds are less likely to get chronic diseases as they age, according to a U.S. study that sheds new light on the link between exercise and healthy aging. "It has been known for decades that if you are more fit, you live longer," Dr. Jarett Berry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, told Reuters Health. "But it has not been clear that you have a higher quality of life, that you age better." It's possible that fit people just delay the onset of chronic illness, for instance, and end up being sick just as long as their weaker peers. But that doesn't appear to be the case, according to the new research, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. "We see truly reduced chronic disease, rather than just delaying the inevitable," said Berry, who led the study. He and his colleagues studied more than 18,600 healthy men and women who had undergone a treadmill test sometime around age 50 to measure their cardiorespiratory fitness

CARG Newsletter - September 2012

The CARG Newsletter - September 2012 is now available online

U of S and Saskatchewan Blue Cross announce $1-million investment to launch childhood obesity prevention program

The University of Saskatchewan has announced an exciting partnership with Saskatchewan Blue Cross to curb childhood obesity in the province. Enabled by the generous $1-million investment of Saskatchewan Blue Cross, the College of Kinesiology will launch the Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It (MEND) program in Saskatchewan this September.

"The corporate social responsibility vision of Saskatchewan Blue Cross is the improved health and wellness of Saskatchewan residents. We care about Saskatchewan people and feel a strong responsibility to address the pressing health issue of childhood obesity, as our children's health will determine the future health of our province," stated Arnie Arnott, president and CEO of Saskatchewan Blue Cross.

"We are very pleased to be the lead partner of MEND in Saskatchewan, creating a breakthrough pathway for young people to connect with a new obesity prevention program," Arnott continued. "We are tackling the issue of childhood obesity by committing $1-million in start-up funding for a MEND program to be delivered at the University of Saskatchewan, the first of its kind in our province."

MEND inspires children and families to lead and sustain fitter, healthier and happier lives by changing behaviours that cause obesity. Presently in Canada, more than a quarter of children ages two to17 are overweight or obese. In Saskatchewan the problem is even more pronounced with a rate of over 29 per cent.

"The College of Kinesiology is particularly committed to this program. Promoting a healthy lifestyle and highlighting the importance of increased levels of physical activity are key components in reversing this trend," said Carol Rodgers, dean of the College of Kinesiology.

"It is also a wonderful opportunity for students and faculty across the Colleges of Kinesiology, Nursing, Medicine and Pharmacy and Nutrition to work together in an inter-professional model of wellness program delivery," she added.

MEND is a program that has evolved into one of the most successful and internationally recognized obesity prevention initiatives in the past decade with programs in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Australia, New Zealand and Denmark.

In Saskatchewan, the program will begin as a three-year project, starting with Saskatoon in the first year and expanding to Prince Albert and northern communities in year two. In its third year, it will expand throughout the province to include Regina and southern regions. The programs are provided free of charge through the support of donors like lead partner Saskatchewan Blue Cross, and will offer three streams, focusing on children aged two to four, five to seven and seven to 13.

Together with their parents, children learn about topics that range from nutrition and portion size to motivation and goal setting. Additionally, children participate in group physical activity while parents discuss ways to improve the overall health of their families.

The leadership Saskatchewan Blue Cross exemplifies in supporting the MEND program is in line with its vision of improving the health and wellness of Saskatchewan residents

2012 Saskatoon Heartbeat Run

Start planning for the 2012 Saskatoon Heartbeat Run in support of the Royal University Hospital Foundation!

Come out on September 16, 2012 and participate in the 10km run, 5km Run/Walk, or the 1km Fun Run!

This scenic course starts and finishes at the Mendel Riverbank, just East of the Kinsmen Park. Don't miss out on a great fall day where you will overlook the North Saskatchewan River and the breath-taking views of trees turning colour and leaves falling.

General Information: Event Director at 1-(306)-667-3828

Volunteer Coordinator Information: 1-(306)-667-3828

Craving Change(TM) - changing your relationship with food

Craving Change(TM) - changing your relationship with food - presented free of charge by LiveWell Dietitians

Understand why you eat the way you do:
Comfort yourself without food - Change your thinking - Change your eating - Most beneficial to attend all 4 sessions

West Winds Primary Health Centre:
Wednesday, September 19 2:00 to 4:00pm
Wednesday, September 26 2:00 to 4:00pm
Wednesday, October 10 2:00 to 4:00pm
Wednesday, October 24 2:00 to 4:00pm
Please call 655-LIVE or 655-5483 to register

CARG patient responsibilities at the Saskatoon Field House

Health Issues:

- Inform the staff if you have been ill and are returning to the program so that they can update your medical chart
- Always exercise at your own pace; don't compete with others or make up for lost time
- For your safety, attend only at designated times as this is part of our agreement with the Saskatoon Field House
- If you have been prescribed Nitroglycerine carry it with you at all times
- Tell the staff immediately if you feel: dizzy or light-headed; nauseated; chest discomfort; any other type of discomfort; tired after a workout; more short of breath; sweat more than usual, notice any unusual heart beats; generally unwell
- Inform the staff if you leave the track during your workout
- Tell the staff if you have any pre-existing muscle or bone problems i.e. arthritis, back problems
- Let the staff know if you are going away for any period of time
- If you feel ill, do not exercise as this will do little good and is potentially dangerous
- Avoid drinking alcohol before attending the program
- Avoid wearing perfume or other scented products, as some participants have allergies to these substances

Track Safety:

- Wear comfortable clothes
- Be sure to step off the track if you stop to talk to someone, or check your pulse
- Follow the lane directions
- Be sure to check both ways before going onto and coming off the track
- Abusive or threatening behavior will not be tolerated
- If you have a problem: address all questions, concerns, and problems related to the program to Elaine Tyerman (655-1859) or the C.A.R.G. Group executive members. DO NOT go to the Field House staff, maintenance, or front desk staff

CARG Pillow Stuffing Bee

Darlene Urban writes: "The next Pillow Stuffing Bee will be sometime mid September to mid October. Watch for posting of dates on bulletin board"

The 2012 CARG Volunteer BBQ

A contribution from Cathy Matlock: The CARG BBQ was held on June 22, 2012 on the most beautiful afternoon and early evening. Vic Zapf picked another awesome day. There are quite a few people who made this day run smoothly and we thank them.

To Darlene Urban, Dolores Perras and Cathy Matlock who went grocery shopping. We try very hard to get it just right.

To Carol-Lynne Zapf who made the coffee and brought a salad, and to Darlene Urban who also brought salads. They were delicious!

To Dolores Perras, Carole-Lynne Zapf, Darlene Urban and Mary Green who served up the food so efficiently. Good job ladies.

To Eva Shabits for the delicious rhubarb punch and rhubarb relish...yum.

To Arlene Block and Sharon Schmnidt who cut up and served the "CARG Volunteer Cakes". Well Done.

To Lloyd and Bonnie Wudrick who organized the "Bean Bag Baseball" game. The winning team has bragging rights until the next game. Thank you so much.

To Lloyd Wudrick and Vic Zapf for cooking up the burgers so efficiently - a job well done.

To Gordon Urban who must have made many K's running with the food and to Paul Matlock who also made many trips on the golf cart delivering what was needed.

What a nice surprise when we heard music wafting through the campground, courtesy of Fay Buettner - what a nice touch. Thank you Fay.

To Vi Remenda, who each morning at the Field House, made sure the reply box was put out. Thank you to the staff member who put it away each day.

To Rolly, Vic, Gordon, Paul, Dolores, Carol-Lynne, Darlene who set up tables, and then put them away afterwards...thank you.

And we won't ever forget the ladies who always insist on doing the dishes - Dolores, Carol-Lynne, Darlene, and Marty - thank you too.

To Pat Auperle and Ritva Steuwe who cleaned off the tables - thank you

Vic Zapf and Cathy Matlock thank you for attending this event. Please spread the news that if you volunteer within the next twelve months you will be invited to attend the next CARG Volunteer BBQ.

Volunteers needed for CARG fee collections

Mary Green writes: Volunteers needed for CARG fee collections

When: The first Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the month
Time: Starting at 6:30 a.m. going until 10:30 a.m. 1 hour long shifts
Number of Volunteers: Four per shift would be nice
Please contact Mary Green at bmgreen@sasktel.net or 343-6552 or sign the list on the notice board at the field house

Don Campbell inducted into the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame

Everyone in CARG would like to congratulate Don Campbell on his induction into the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame (builder category). The induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 15th at the Riverside Country Club in Saskatoon. Tickets for the event will be $75.00 and are available for purchase from the Golf Saskatchewan website. Don was previously inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame in 2003

Diabetes on Track - do you have a question regarding your diabetes? (Fall 2012)

Marlene Matiko, Diabetes Nurse Educator, and Rochelle Anthony, Dietitian, will be in the track area to answer your questions on:

Field House:
Wednesday, September 26: 8:30am - 10:30am
Tuesday, October 23: 8:30am - 10:30am
Monday, November 5: 8:30am - 10:30am
Tuesday, December 4: 8:30am - 10:30am

Shaw Centre:
Wednesday, October 24: @ 8:30am - 10:30am

Please bring your logbook and blood sugar meter. No appointments required but you may book a time. Speak to your exercise therapist about this

Benefits of CARG by Larry Mullen and Anne Smart

Larry Mullen writes: In June of 2002 I suffered a heart attack, and entered the C.A.R.G. program that September. My condition was such that stents, angioplasties and/or other surgery were not advised. Weight loss was paramount. Six months after my heart attack I had lost fifty pounds and was attending C.A.R.G. programs regularly. (Forty of those pounds have stayed off to this day). Over the years many people in the program have commented to me that the support system provided by C.A.R.G. has been crucial in helping them maintain an exercise program to stay healthy. I seriously doubt I could have maintained a healthy routine on my own. Not only is the regular exercise program necessary but also the educational sessions provided in the yellow shirt program were critical in pointing out the hows and whys of a sound and proper program for survival. We are fortunate in Saskatoon to have one of the best cardiac rehab programs in Canada.

Anne Smart (Larry's wife) responds: I first joined C.A.R.G. as Larry's support person, wearing a white shirt in the Field House and wielding a knife in the kitchen. We had to chop up an endless number of vegetables to comply with the advice that he cut butter, cheese, eggs, red meat and salt out of his diet. How do you feed a guy without those staples? And how do you get out the door to exercise when it's thirty below? We learned to do it and it paid off. Larry hasn't had an angina attack since he was first hospitalized. A few years later it was my turn. After complaining of shortness of breath I had a nuclear scan, following a stress test, which showed significant blockages to some of my arteries. No other symptoms but not a surprise. Cardiovascular disease is endemic in my family. Since I was already plugged into the exercise and diet routine I needed only to add medication to stabilize my condition. My family doctor has told me the C.A.R.G. program has made a "huge difference to my health, just a huge difference". Before all this happened I used to watch in awe the large number of red shirts marching around the track. I called "them" the "walking wounded" - for the red colour and the fact that all of "them" had had a heart "event". Now I'm one of "them" I've discovered a whole community of very strong and friendly souls who keep me going. Thanks to you all for your smiles

Exercising later in life can ward off heart problems (UK)

Leisurely exercise for two and a half hours a week could help those approaching their 50s avoid heart disease by controlling inflammation. Researchers found those who carry out physical activities such as brisk walking, cycling or home maintenance for a decade had healthier hearts. The results could help encourage the middle-aged to make lifestyle changes even if they rarely exercised in their younger years. Dr Mark Hamer, associate professor of epidemiology and public health at University College London (UCL), said: "It's not just vigorous exercise and sports that are important. "These leisure-time activities represent moderate intensity exercise that is important to health. It is especially important for older people to be physically active because it contributes to successful ageing." The findings were published in the journal Circulation

Angina medicine could protect from carbon monoxide poisoning

Scientists funded by The British Heart Foundation have found that a commonly-used drug for treating angina could help protect the heart from damage caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is difficult for people to detect - it can be produced by faulty gas appliances such as heaters. Poisoning from the gas causes 1.6 million deaths worldwide every year - it causes many people to develop heart rhythm problems called arrhythmias which, if left untreated, can be fatal. The team, made up of scientists from around the world but led by the University of Leeds, looked at how carbon monoxide triggers these arrhythmias. The researchers have improved our understanding of the damage that occurs in the heart's cells after breathing in carbon monoxide. This is vital if we are to develop effective treatments

Pfizer pays $60 million to settle government allegations of bribing doctors overseas

Pfizer has agreed to pay the US federal government $60 million to settle allegations that its employees bribed doctors and other foreign officials in Europe and Asia to win business and boost sales. The Securities and Exchange Commission said Tuesday that Pfizer's overseas subsidiaries made illegal payments to health care workers in China, Italy, Russia, Croatia and other Eastern European countries. As early as 2001, Pfizer sales representatives tried to conceal the bribes by recording them as legitimate business expenses for travel, entertainment and marketing purposes, the agency said. Pfizer develops and produces medicines and vaccines for a wide range of conditions including in the areas of immunology and inflammation, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neuroscience and pain - King 5.com

Nursery rhyme helps conduct CPR

The children's nursery rhyme "Row, row, row your boat" provides the right beat for chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a U.S. expert says. Dr. Ahamed Idris of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in conjunction with the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium, said one administering CPR should perform between 100 and 120 chest compressions per minute for the best chance to restore a pulse. Compressions to the chest performed to the repeatable beat of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" [Gently down the stream, Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream] fall right in that crucial range, Idris said. "More or less compressions have a substantially lower chance of restoring a heartbeat," Idris, an emergency medicine expert, said in a statement. Idris said three steps can significantly improve the chance of saving the life of someone who suffers cardiac arrest -call 9-1-1; use both palms to press hard on the center of the chest, and repeatedly hum the "row, row, row your boat" tune while maintaining the compressions; do not stop until first responders arrive. The findings were published in the journal Circulation

Unnecessary Stent Lawyers announce website for cardiac patients (USA)

The attorneys at Morgan and Morgan have announced that a website has been launched for patients who have undergone a cardiac catheterization or stent procedure. The site was developed in light of reports that some doctors and hospitals may be unnecessarily ordering these procedures in an attempt to increase their own revenue. On the site, patients can learn more about these allegations and find out how they can determine whether their cardiac stent procedure was necessary. Visit the website at unnecessarystentlawyers.com

Scientists reveal how to mend a broken heart (with a stem cell)

Stem cell therapies offer the promise of radical new treatments for everything from Parkinson's to heart disease. However, researchers have so far struggled to control the cells, the master cells of the body which can be turned into any other cell. A US team now believes have have made a major step towards potential treatments for cardiac disease with the discovery of a molecule than can turn a stem cell into a heart cell. Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, the Human BioMolecular Research Institute, and ChemRegen, Inc. have been searching for molecules that convert stem cells to heart cells for about eight years - and now they've found one. The researchers use a robot to sift through a large collection of drug-like chemicals and uncovered ITD-1, a molecule that can be used to generate unlimited numbers of new heart cells from stem cells. 'Heart disease is the leading cause of death in this country,' said Mark Mercola, director of Sanford-Burnham's Muscle Development and Regeneration Program and senior author of the study - Daily Mail

Minimally invasive approach during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is safe and effective

New research shows that a minimally invasive approach used during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is safe and effective, despite previous studies that linked endoscopic vein harvesting to a higher mortality rate. The research, published in the August 1, 2012 edition of The Journal of the American Medical Association, was an observational study of more than 235,000 patients included in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Database who underwent CABG surgery at 934 participating surgical centers. Investigators compared the three-year outcomes of patients undergoing EVH to the outcomes of patients undergoing the more invasive open vein harvesting (OVH) procedure and found no difference in mortality rates. "This study should alleviate concerns of patients and surgeons raised by past studies, and confirms the superiority of the EVH technique in terms of infection and wound complication rates that makes the minimally invasive approach the preferred method," said senior author Peter K. Smith, MD, Professor and Chief of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Duke University in Durham, N.C.

U of S professor named 2012 Saskatchewan Medical Association Physician of the Year

Dr. Peter Kapusta, assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine, has been named the Saskatchewan Medical Association's Physician of the Year for 2012, receiving the award at the SMA Representative Assembly dinner held May 4 in Regina. "Dr. Kapusta has made outstanding contributions to the medical profession in our province for more than 30 years, including a substantial commitment to Saskatchewan's medical students and residents," says Dr. Janet Shannon, SMA president. "He is well-regarded for his compassion and professionalism, regularly going the extra mile to provide outstanding service and care to his patients and community." The Saskatchewan Medical Association first presented the SMA Physician of the Year Award in 2002 to pay tribute to the outstanding community contributions made by Saskatchewan physicians

Double-blind study tests heart-rhythm drugs (USA)

In the next three years, about 400 people on the brink of death will be part of a study for which they did not volunteer. In Clackamas and Washington counties in Oregon, and Clark County in Washington state, paramedics responding to unconscious people in cardiac arrest will administer CPR, then shock with a defibrillator. That's standard procedure, but if that doesn't work, a paramedic will pull open a mystery packet of unlabeled syringes for injection. Inside will be either one of two heart-rhythm medications, or a simple saline solution - saltwater. Neither paramedics nor doctors will be told what the syringes contained. Researchers later will use bar codes on the syringe to see if survival rates differ between them

Exercise may ease depression in heart failure patients

Heart failure can take a heavy psychological toll, with many patients developing symptoms of depression. But a new study suggests that an exercise plan can ease the melancholy, creating improvements in mood that are comparable to the effects seen with medication. For roughly a year, researchers followed more than 2,000 people treated for congestive heart failure at 82 medical centers in the United States, France and Canada. Those who were assigned to a moderate aerobic exercise program - about 90 to 120 minutes a week - saw greater reductions in symptoms of depression than those who were not enrolled in such a program. "I think this shows that for patients who have heart failure, exercise is certainly an excellent treatment," said Dr. James A. Blumenthal, a professor of medical psychology at Duke University Medical Center and the lead author of the study, which was published in The Journal of the American Medical Association. "It's something that most patients can engage in. It results in improved cardiorespiratory fitness, they have more stamina, and now we see that not only do they derive these physical benefits, but they also derive psychological benefits as well."

Cardiac arrest survival improving in U.S. hospitals: study

More people hospitalized for cardiac arrest are surviving compared with a decade ago, according to a U.S. study, possibly because of changes in hospital treatment and the way bystanders respond when somebody collapses. The study, which appeared in the journal Circulation, found that in 2008, the death rate among U.S. residents hospitalized after cardiac arrest was just under 58 percent - down from almost 70 percent in 2001. Researchers, led by Alejandro Rabinstein of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, based their findings on a national hospital discharge database that included nearly 1.2 million people hospitalized for cardiac arrest. They stressed that the numbers accounted only for cardiac arrest victims who survive long enough to be admitted to the hospital. Many people die before then

Brown fat fuels fight against obesity

Experts may have found a new method for assessing adipose tissue function that could be used in the fight against obesity. Thermal imaging of the head, neck, and shoulder area on exposure to a "cool challenge" can indicate the site and position of brown adipose tissue (BAT), the tissue that expends more heat energy than any other type in the body. "Potentially, the more brown fat you have or the more active your brown fat is you produce more heat and as a result you might be less likely to lay down excess energy or food as white fat," explained lead author Michael Symonds (Nottingham University, UK) in a press statement. Currently, the main methods of assessing BAT include positron-emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT) scanning, and/or tissue scanning, but these techniques are expensive and require either the administration of radiopharmaceuticals or tissue sampling, explains the team

Building a 'heart patch' (UK)

The British Heart Foundation has awarded two new grants from its Mending Broken Hearts Appeal fund, at a combined cost of more than £500,000. Each funded project holds promise of helping find a way to repair hearts damaged by a heart attack. The two sets of scientists - one at the University of Cambridge, and the other at University College London - are both trying to develop a 'heart patch' to fix to a damaged heart. A 'patch' with the right layout of heart muscle cells, held together by proteins and supporting cells, could form part of a future treatment for some people with heart failure. But making a patch is not easy, because heart muscle has a much more complex structure than many other types of tissue. Different types of cells and supporting structures have to be positioned and connected in precisely the right way to form healthy working tissue