CARG Newsletter - October 2013 now available

The CARG Newsletter - October 2013 is now available online

Cardiac Education Classes for Fall 2013

1 week Cardiac Education Classes for Fall 2013 - Saskatoon Field House - sessions lead by Nurses, Dieticians, and Pharmacists! Topics include emotional adjustment, heart healthy food choices, cardiac medications, smoking cessation, stress, risk factors for heart disease, and importance of regular exercise!

October Class - October 7-11, 2013
November Class - November 4-8, 2013
December Class - December 9-13, 2013

New at the SHAW Center this Fall! EXPRESS EDUCATION Sessions!

Quick 20 minute sessions on the track on a variety of health related topics! (including, exercise, food choices, sugar control, medications).
Watch for dates and times - to be announced
Ask your Exercise Therapist about upcoming sessions.

Questions? Ashley Cheveldayoff - phone 306-655-2148

Cardiac Nurse track visits for Fall 2013

Have questions about medications, or how your heart is feeling? How are you feeling emotionally? Bring your questions or concerns to the track at the below dates:

No track visits for the month of October
Field House - Wednesday, November 13, 2013 (8am-10am)
SHAW Center - Wednesday, November 27, 2013 (8am-10am)
Field House - Friday, December 6, 2013 (8am-10am)
SHAW Center - Wednesday, December 18, (8am-10am)

Questions? Phone Ashley Cheveldayoff 306-655-2148

CARG need volunteers

Mohindar Sachdev, Chair Nominations Committee, writes: CARG is a non-profit organization that provides facilities and assistance to people who are concerned with the health of their hearts. The facilities include exercise programs aimed at rehabilitating their cardiac systems, education on topical issues and fellowship with colleagues with similar concerns. The cost of providing the facilities and services by CARG is the lowest in Canada. A large number of volunteers spending countless hours in organizing the programs and making sure that they function properly achieve this. These volunteers are not paid any remuneration and, therefore, the administrative cost of the program is minimal.

The last fiscal year of CARG ended on August 31, 2013 and the Annual General Meeting will be held in late October or early November. At that meeting, a Board of Directors will be elected. It is likely that two or three members of the present Board of Directors will not be available for serving on the Board next year.

A Nominating Committee was formed at the Board of Directors meeting held on August 15, 2013; this Committee consists of Board Members Mohindar Sachdev (Chair), Blake Adamson, Mary Green and Jim McKay. The Committee is looking for volunteers who would be willing to serve on the Board in the next fiscal year. The responsibilities of these volunteers would include the following tasks:

Treasurer of CARG: The Treasurer would be expected to perform the following duties:

Keep all records of the incoming and outgoing funds of CARG including receiving all monies, issuing cheques for payment of expenditures and issuing receipts for all donations received;

Report the state of the Group's finances at the Board meetings that are usually held on the last Thursday of each month;

Prepare and submit Registered Charity Information Return to the Canada Revenue Agency;

Prepare a budget for presenting at the Annual General Meeting and present it to the Board for approval.

Other duties assigned by the President.

The Treasurer should be familiar with keeping accounts using the accounting software "Quick Books".

Member-at-Large (1) who would be responsible for the following tasks:

Receive the fees collected at the Field House each month and deposit them in the CARG Account at the Affinity Credit Union.

Record details of fees paid by individual members in a spreadsheet every month and reconcile the details with the collected monies.

Provide a copy-file of the month's collection on about the 15th day of each month for preparing the month-end consolidated statement for use during the following month's fee collection activity.

This member should be familiar with using software like the Microsoft Excel for keeping details of the fees paid by individual members.

Member-at-Large (2) who would be responsible for the following tasks:

Record details of fees paid by individual members in a spreadsheet every month and reconcile with the records kept by Member-at-Large (1).

Prepare a consolidated list showing the fees paid in the month and fees paid in advance for the following month.

Keep records of names and addresses of members of CARG.

Assign Membership Number to all new members.

Prepare month-end statement of fees collected during the month and prepaid fees for the upcoming month for use during the following month's fee collection activities.

Prepare an up-to-date member list for use during the following month's fee collection activities and keeping membership information.

This member should be familiar with using software like the Microsoft Excel for keeping details of the fees paid by individual members.

Please convey your consent or nomination of a friend to Mohindar Sachdev (Telephone: 306-261-5252), Blake Adamson (Telephone: 306-382-6594), Mary Green (Telephone: 306-343-6552) or James McKay (Telephone: 306-373-9798) along with half a page of the nominee's past experience.

Influenza Immunization Program to begin Monday, October 21, 2013 - Saskatoon

All ages benefit from annual influenza vaccine but it is important those considered at high risk be immunized.

People at high risk of complications or hospitalization:

* People 65 years of age or older
* Pregnant women in all trimesters
* Children 6 months up to and including 59 months of age (younger than 5 years old)
* People who are severely obese
* People of any age who are residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities
* Anyone with chronic health conditions

Household and close contacts:

* Of any of the categories listed above
* Of infants less than 6 months of age
* Households expecting a newborn before March 31, 2013

Other groups:

* Healthcare providers, students and registered volunteers
* Physicians and medical office staff
* People providing regular child care to children less than 5 years of age, whether in or out of the home
* People employed in the poultry and hog industry

(Phone 306-655-7500 for more details, or ask your health professional)

Heart attacks in young women - not all have chest pain (Canada)

Chest pain is recognized as a symptom of heart troubles, but one out of five women aged 55 years or less having a heart attack do not experience this symptom, according to a study led by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. The research findings, gathered from partner institutions across Canada including the University of British Columbia, are the first to describe this phenomenon in young women. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, has implications for emergency room healthcare professionals and for at-risk individuals, as seconds matter when it comes to the accurate diagnosis and treatment of heart attack. "We need to move away from the image of an older man clutching his chest, when we think about acute coronary syndrome (ACS - the umbrella term referring to heart attacks and angina), says senior author of the study, Dr. Louise Pilote, director of the Division of General Internal Medicine at the MUHC and McGill University and professor of medicine at McGill University. "The reality is that chest pain, age and gender are no longer the definers of a heart attack. Our study demonstrates that young people and women who come into the emergency without chest pain, but other telltale ACS symptoms such as weakness, shortness of breath and/or rapid heartbeats, are in crisis. We need to be able to recognize this and adapt to new standard assessments in previously unrecognized groups such as young women."

Diabetes on Track - Field House Fall Dates

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

Tuesday, October 22: 8:30am - 10:30am
Monday, November 4: 8:30am - 10:30am
Tuesday, December 17: 8:30am - 10:30am

Please bring your logbook and blood sugar meter. Appointments not required.

Also, Nutrition Tips - have a question for Rochelle Anthony, LiveWell CDM Dietitian?

Wednesday, October 9: 9:00am - 11:00am
Tuesday, November 19: 9:00am - 11:00am
Monday, December 9: 9:00am - 11:00am

Smart phone strategy: reminder call helps control blood pressure (USA)

Better blood pressure control may be as simple as an automated telephone call. In a study published in the September issue of The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, researchers from Kaiser Permanente Southern California made automated phone calls to hypertensive patients reminding them to visit their doctor's office to have their blood pressure checked. Patients who received the calls controlled their blood pressure significantly better than the control group who received no calls (32.5 percent vs. 23.7 percent). Kaiser Permanente Southern California is a health delivery system that provides care to more than 3.5 million people. "This study provides new information about how an automated telephone message can lead to improved BP [blood pressure] control among patients with hypertension," said the study's lead author, Teresa Harrison, SM, in a press release. "We found that this simple outreach program can improve blood pressure control, especially among patients with multiple chronic conditions."

Restarting hearts: new machine could make big difference for London cardiac patients (UK)

Middlesex-London EMS crews are already among the best in the country at saving cardiac-arrest victims, but new equipment they're testing could see that success rate climb. The national average for survival of cardiac arrest is a terrifying 10%. Middlesex-London paramedics, however, boast a 30% survival rate, superintendent of education Jay Loosley said. "We're seeing the highest rates of survival from cardiac arrest that we've ever seen," he said. Loosley said paramedics have been striving to minimize the crucial few seconds between shocking the patient with a defibrillator and the resumption of CPR. "The longer you're off the chest doing something, the more the chance of survival goes down," said. "We're trying to focus on hands off the chest, shock him, and hands back on the chest. Some of our medics are doing it in about one or two seconds, which is amazing." Upping the odds is a machine that performs CPR automatically, freeing the paramedic to offer more treatment to the patient. Crews are in the midst of a three-month trial with the machine. "It provides mechanical chest compressions to cardiac arrest victims," Loosley said. "The benefit is it can allow paramedics to have their hands free. They don't need to be on the chest and it's always perfect.” Currently, three of them are being tested, but the cost is prohibitive at $12,000 apiece. Loosley's a fan, though. "When you stop CPR to do anything, even for a few seconds, that's when you see your (chance of) survival go down," he said. "With this, someone is always on the chest."

HealthLine (Saskatchewan)

HealthLine is a confidential, 24-hour health information and support telephone line, staffed by Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses and Social Workers. The professionals who work at HealthLine are experienced and specially trained to help you make decisions about your health care options. They can help you decide whether to treat your own symptoms, go to a clinic, see your primary health care provider, or access emergency medical care, if necessary. HealthLine is available to anyone in Saskatchewan, free of charge. HealthLine is not for emergency situations. Call 9-1-1 if you are experiencing a medical emergency. When you call HealthLine, you have the option to speak with a Registered Nurse or a mental health and addictions professional. If you choose to speak with a Registered Nurse, the nurse will assess your symptoms and provide you with the most appropriate health support or information. If you choose to speak to a mental health and addictions professional, you will be able to discuss your concerns in a safe, caring, and confidential manner with a Registered Psychiatric Nurse or Social Worker. They may help you with crisis counseling, strategies to help you manage your situation, or provide information about resources in your community. HealthLine is here to support you and your health care team. It is not designed to replace the advice of your primary care provider, eliminate the need for regular check-ups, or provide a diagnosis. HealthLine services are offered in English, with translation available in over 100 languages. TTY access for the hearing impaired is available at 1-888-425-4444. HealthLine is a Saskatchewan Government program, with service provided by Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region. For more information, call:
Roberta Wiest - Director, HealthLine 306-766-6000
Tami Denomie - Director, Health Promotion, Ministry of Health 306-787-7110

Spine injuries raise risk of heart attack or stroke

Canadian researchers say patients with spinal cord injuries have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, similar to that of smokers, diabetics and the obese. The risk of cardiovascular disease was nearly 3 times higher for spinal cord patients, according to a study published in the journal Neurology. The risk of stroke was almost 4 times higher. "To put these values into context, the heightened odds ratios reported here are similar in magnitude to the estimated odds ratios in the general population for the relationship between smoking and myocardial infarction (heart attack)," wrote lead author Jacquelyn Cragg of the University of British Columbia. Cragg and her colleagues studied health data from over 60,000 people who participated in the 2010 Canadian Community Health Survey. From that sample, they identified 354 people who reported having both a spinal cord injury and a stroke, and 356 people who had a spinal cord injury and cardiovascular disease. While the research did not establish a cause for the higher risk profile, the authors noted that spine injuries can increase several risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as physical inactivity, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammation

Phone support boost to COPD patients (IAustralia)

Researchers from Australia have found that even brief phone contact from medical professionals can provide benefits to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But a structured telephone-delivered mentoring program over 12 months provided additional advantages with regard to self-management capacity and disease knowledge. The team randomly assigned 31 general practices in Tasmania to intervention or control, with 74 and 80 COPD patients subsequently assigned to the respective groups completing the study. Patients in the intervention group received a median of 9.5 30-minute telephone calls from community nurses trained as health mentors. They provided cognitive behavioral-based support, including psychoeducation, self-management skills, cognitive coping skills training, communication skills, and self-efficacy promotion. Meanwhile patients in the control group received usual care as well as a median of nine phone calls, lasting on average 1 minute, from a research nurse. Reporting in BMJ Open, the team found that patients in the mentored group experienced significantly greater improvements in chronic disease self-management scores, according to the Partners in Health scale

Positive attitude linked to longer life in heart patients (Denmark)

Heart disease patients with an upbeat outlook are likely to live longer than those with a negative attitude, a new study says. Researchers used a questionnaire to assess the moods of 600 coronary artery disease patients in a Denmark hospital and conducted a follow-up five years later. The study found that the death rate for those with the most positive attitudes was 42 percent lower than for those with negative attitudes, about 10 percent versus 16.5 percent. Positive mood and exercise was also linked to a reduced risk of heart-related hospitalizations, according to the study published September 10 in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. The differences in death rates between optimistic and low-spirited heart patients weren't as large when both groups exercised, the investigators found. However, information on the types and amounts of exercise was not available. "We should focus not only on increasing positive attitude in cardiac rehabilitation, but also make sure that patients perform exercise on a regular basis, as exercise is associated with both increased levels of optimism and better health," researcher Susanne Pedersen said in a news release from the American Heart Association

Bypass surgery a safer option than stents for diabetics with clogged arteries

A new study suggests that bypass surgery is a better option for opening blocked cardiac arteries than inserting a stent if the patient is a diabetic. The study found that diabetics who had bypass surgery were about 33 per cent more likely to be alive five years later than those who underwent a procedure to have the blockage opened with a stent. In recent years, the number of cardiac bypass surgeries has declined as doctors have opted for the less invasive stenting procedure, where a tiny tube is threaded into place in the artery from a small incision in the patient's groin. But questions have remained about whether stents are a good option for diabetics, who often have more blockages than other patients. This study, which was led by doctors at Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital, pooled data from eight clinical trials to try to answer the question. The authors say the substantial survival advantage of bypass surgery suggests it should be strongly considered for diabetics needing artery-opening procedures. "It is a pretty significant effect. And it is kind of startling to think that there's still some debate about this when results like these kinds of significant differences are coming out," said Dr. David Latter, a cardiac surgeon and one of the authors of the study

Night owls have higher risk of being overweight and at heart risk

People who keep late hours may elevate their risk of obesity and heart attack, a U.S. researcher says. Giovanni Cizza of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., says many in the United States don't get enough sleep and weigh more than they should. A study indicates people who stay up late, sleep too little and are obese also have signs that raise concern about potential heart attack risk. Cizza analyzed data on 119 people who fit the categories of staying up late, sleeping too little and weighing more than they should. The study, published in the journal Plos One, found those who stayed up late and lost sleep had higher resting heart rates and higher stress hormone levels. "If you are an evening person, you tend to eat more, you tend to eat more fat than carbohydrate, and eat more often after 8 p.m," Cizza said

Study: Caregivers in Canada, 2012

In 2012, about 8.1 million individuals, or 28% of Canadians aged 15 years and older, provided care to a family member or friend with a long-term health condition, disability or aging needs. New data from the 2012 General Social Survey showed that women represented the slight majority of caregivers at 54%. The survey also found that caregiving responsibilities most often fell to those aged 45 to 64, with 44% of caregivers in this age category. Ailing parents were the most common recipients of care, with 39% of caregivers looking after the needs of their own parents and another 9% doing so for their parents-in-law. The least common were spouses, at 8%, and children, at 5%. For the first time, the survey looked at the types of health conditions requiring care. Age-related needs topped the list, with 28% of caregivers providing care for these needs. Cancer was next at 11%, followed by cardio-vascular disease at 9%, and mental illness at 7%

200,000 heart disease deaths preventable (USA)

While cardiovascular disease causes nearly one-third of deaths in the U.S. every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in its September issue of Vital Signs that at least 200,000 of these deaths can be prevented through lifestyle changes. As the Affordable Care Act improves access to preventive health care, providers should play a key role in encouraging preventive efforts, the agency argued. Among the steps they can take are:

Use electronic health records to determine which patients smoke or have other risk factors such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure and support them.
Undertake efforts to make clinical improvements, such as implementing patient care teams, by using national quality indicators.
Encourage patients to make lifestyle changes and monitor their efforts.
Make anti-hypertensive and cholesterol-lowering medications more affordable by lowering or eliminating co-payments.
Offer patients information about available community resources that will, for example, help them quit smoking or monitor their blood pressure.
Help patients get information about where to get affordable health insurance.

Pioneering heart attack stem cell trial treats 1st patient (Canada)

The first patient has been treated in a groundbreaking medical trial in Ottawa that could lead to a new way to repair damaged tissues following a heart attack. Researchers recently announced that a Cornwall, Ontario, woman who suffered a severe heart attack in July was their first test subject. The woman's heart had stopped beating before she was resuscitated, causing major damage to her cardiac muscle. The hope is that a new form of combined gene and stem cell therapy will be able to better repair her heart and those of potentially millions of other heart attack patients. The therapy involves injecting a patient's own stem cells into their heart to help fix areas that become damaged in a heart attack. Stem cells are a fertile regenerative tissue that can replicate into millions of new, healthy cells. But the Ottawa study, led by cardiologist Duncan Stewart of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, takes the technique one step further, combining the stem-cell treatment with gene therapy - which the researchers say is novel. "Stem cells are stimulating the repair. That's what they're there to do," Stewart said in an interview. "But what we've learned is that the regenerative activity of the stem cells in these patients with heart disease is very low, compared to younger, healthy patients"

Clearing more arteries works in angioplasty trial

Heart attack patients who undergo angioplasty for a clogged artery that caused the attack may do better if other clogged arteries are done at the same time, new research suggests. Patients who had multiple coronary arteries opened with angioplasty techniques during emergency surgery were 65 percent less likely to die, have a repeat heart attack or chest pains known as angina during the follow-up period than those who only had the so-called "culprit artery" opened. The randomized trial of 465 patients in Britain was halted early, in January 2013, when the results in the group in which multiple arteries were opened became evident, the researchers reported. The study was published online September 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation of the results at the European Society of Cardiology 2013 Congress in Amsterdam