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Page 1: GRAND STRAND MENDED HEARTS CHAPTER€¦  · Web viewBariatric surgery does more than help patients lose weight, based on a recent paper that highlights the many cardiovascular benefits

Beach Beat

G R A N D S T R A N D M E N D E D H E A R T S C H A P T E R 1 1 7

Issue 168 March 2018

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577

“It’s great to be alive – and to help others!”President: Dan Dallaire (704) 796-0628Pres. Emeritus: Roger Brewster (843) 281-9808Vice President: Ruth Keilen (843) 685-3378Hospital Liaison: Jamie Herman (843) 692-1885Secretary: Sunday Reiser (843) 685-7680 Treasurer: Bob May (843) 742-5085Sunshine Committee: Angela Pride (803) 341-2811Visiting Captain: Dennis Tummino (843) 236-7369 Greeter: Bob Kilby (864) 542- 4487Speaker Scheduler: Allen Migliaccio (843) 390-4272Newsletter Editor: Mary Lou O’Brien (843) 742-5085

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Inspiring hope and improving the quality of life for heart patients and their families

through ongoing peer-to-peer support

*If you have information of interest to our members for our next newsletter, you can call me at (843)

742-5085 or email me at [email protected]

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Monthly Visits at GSMC for February:

Patients: 80, Families: 36, Days Missed: 0 (TAVR patients: 2)

Mended Hearts Meetings for March and April

Mon. March 12, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. Mon. April 9, 2018 at 11:30 a.m.

at Mercy Care - from GSMC go east on 82nd, R. on Nigels, L. on Devon Ct.

Our President’s Letter for March 2018

Mended Hearts Member Birthdays

March 3/7 – Mary Talman 3/22 – Dana Polatschek 3/25 –

Thomas Lipinski

April4/11 – Bonnie Lauterbach 4/18 – Angela Pride 4/19 – Ken Valencic 4/21 – Jean Preas 4/23 – Bob Kilby 4/27 – Brenda Brewster

Dear Mended Hearts members:

Wow, here we are finishing February and the weather acts like the end of March. The plants are in bloom and the grass will soon be coming up. It’s that dreadful pollen season so please make sure you are stocked up on your allergy medications if you need them.

Still in need of a secretary to take notes at our meeting. Please jump in and support our Chapter.

Invite your friends and neighbors to our next meeting which will be Monday, March 12th at 11:30 at Mercy Care.

Our guest speaker will be Jeffrey Hodges, Directory of Respiratory Therapy at GSMC.

If you miss this meeting you can always attend our South County meeting at Tidelands Waccamaw Hospital Tuesday, March 27th at 12:00PM in the room across from the cafeteria.

“One Day we will realize that material things mean nothing and all that matters is the well being of the people in our life”

--Be human be kind.

Dan Dallaire, PresidentMended Hearts Chapter 117Myrtle Beach, SC

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South Strand/Georgetown Satellite of Mended Hearts Chapter 117

will hold its monthly meetings at 12 noon on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Tidelands Health

Waccamaw Hospital, Murrells Inlet (1st floor classroom). For more information contact Ruth

Keilen at (843) 685-3378 or by email at [email protected].

Contact Information for your Mended Hearts Mid-Atlantic RD and ARD:

Position Open at presentAssistant Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region

Bill CarterRegional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region2222 Cardigan Drive, Aiken, SC 29803

Tel: (803) [email protected]

The Horry County Literacy Council welcomes its new Director, Angel Parry and Program Coordinator, Erin Ortiz.  The Council has been hard at work creating a new web site.  As always, students remain on the waiting list for a volunteer to assist them with their reading, writing or math skills.  Low literacy costs the nation $1 billion to $2 billion just in the area of health and safety issues.  Please consider volunteering to help improve literacy in Horry County.  843-839-1695 or literacyhc@gmail for info.

MICHELLE BESSETT

Director of Development - Waccamaw Heart & Stroke Walk

1113 44th Avenue N Suite 200I Myrtle Beach SC 29577

[email protected]  I  www.heart.orgP 843-282-2903  I  F 843-626-2856

My dad is why

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Facts About the Human Body:

The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as an encyclopedia. Your brain uses 20% of the oxygen that enters your bloodstream, and is itself made up of 80% water. Though it interprets pain signals from the rest of the body, the brain itself cannot feel pain.  The tooth is the only part of the human body that can't repair itself.  Your eyes are always the same size from birth but your nose and ears never stop growing.  By 60 years of age, 60% of men and 40% of women will snore.

We are about 1 cm taller in the morning than in the evening, because during normal activities during the day, the cartilage in our knees and other areas slowly compress.  The brain operates on the same amount of power as 10-watt light bulb, even while you are sleeping. In fact, the brain is much more active at night than during the day.  Nerve impulses to and from the brain travel as fast as 170 miles per hour. Neurons continue to grow throughout human life. Information travels at different speeds within different types of neurons.  It is a fact that people who dream more often and more vividly, on an average have a higher Intelligence Quotient.

The fastest growing nail is on the middle finger. 

Facial hair grows faster than any other hair on the body. This is true for men as well as women.

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Fluctuation in Blood Pressure Associated with Increased Heart Risks

Keeping blood pressure consistently in the optimal range should be the goal for adults with hypertension.

Maintaining a consistent blood pressure is important for patients with hypertension (high blood pressure), based on a recent study that found fluctuation in blood pressure is associated with a twofold increase in risk

for heart events.Published in the European Heart Journal,

this study looked at how changes in blood pressure impact heart risks. Studies suggest that fluctuation in blood pressure may increase cardiovascular risk, especially in high-risk patients. However, evidence is limited, especially in patients with varying levels of cardiovascular risk.

To learn more, researchers analyzed data from the VALUE trial, which tested two blood pressure medications in more than 13,800 patients with hypertension. The study was conducted in the late 1990s and tracked participants’ blood pressure over an average of 4.2 years.

The average age of participants was 67, 42% of whom were female.

Over the study period, 11% of participants had a heart attack or stroke and 8% died. Researchers found that participants with the greatest fluctuation in blood pressure readings were twice as likely to experience heart events as those with the least amount of fluctuation between visits. Each 5 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure, which is the top number in a blood pressure reading, was also associated with a 10% increase in risk of death.

These associations existed even after taking into account participants’ cardiovascular risk and blood pressure treatment. Researchers also note that associations were strongest in young patients, suggesting that young adults are more sensitive to changes in blood pressure.

According to authors, findings confirm the increased risk associated with fluctuation in blood

pressure. They also highlight the importance of keeping blood pressure consistent, especially in patients with hypertension.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease, which affects an estimated one in three American adults. Unfortunately, only half of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control. Uncontrolled blood pressure—which can mean consistently high blood pressure or even fluctuating blood pressure levels—can be risky for patients with hypertension.

Findings suggest that all patients with hypertension should carefully monitor their blood pressure levels to ensure that their blood pressure is both low and consistent between readings.

Questions for You to Consider What is hypertension? Hypertension, often referred to as high blood

pressure, occurs when the force of blood against the artery walls is too high. High blood pressure is often referred to as the “silent killer,” because it often causes no symptoms and if left uncontrolled, increases risk for heart attack and stroke.

Who is at risk for high blood pressure? Risk for hypertension increases with age, and

most adults will eventually be affected by this condition at some time in their lives. However, diabetes, obesity, stress, high sodium intake, tobacco use and excessive alcohol use can greatly increase risk for high blood pressure.

Find this CardioSmart article and more cardiologist-reviewed news, patient tools, and videos at www.CardioSmart.org.

What to Do in an Eye Emergency

Specks in the Eye:-Don't rub the affected eye.-Flush the eye with lots of water.-See a doctor if the speck doesn't wash out.

Cuts, Punctures, and Foreign Objects in the Eye-Don't try to remove a foreign object stuck in the eye.-Seek immediate medical attention.

Chemical Burns

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-Immediately flush the eye with water or drinkable liquid. Open the eye as wide as possible. Continue flushing for at least 15 minutes, even on your way to seeking medical care.-If a contact lens is in the eye, begin flushing over the lens immediately. Flushing may dislodge the lens.-Seek immediate medical attention.

Blows to the Eye-Apply a cold compress without pressure, or tape crushed ice in a plastic bag to the forehead and allow it to rest gently on the injured eye.-Seek immediate medical attention if pain continues, if you have reduced vision, or if blood or discoloration appears in the eye.

Pages: March IssueFlu Season: How Bad Has it Been?

By mid-January, the flu season had already made a name for itself as the most widespread on record since officials began keeping track 13 years ago, according to the Washington Post.

Flu had a vigorous early start in October 2017 and, by January 2018, officials did not believe it had peeked. About 9,000 people had been hospitalized with the flu during that period.

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This year's flu had already caused more deaths in children than was typical by July, with 10 child deaths by Jan. 13.

Part of the reason for the relative nastiness of the season is the star of the show: the H3N2 version of the virus.

Centers for Disease Control flu expert Daniel Jernigan said that this 50-year-old strain is quick to mutate to defeat the body's immune system. "Of the viruses we hate, we hate H3N2 more than the other ones," Jernigan said.

The CDC estimates that flu has resulted in between 9.2 million and 35.6 million illnesses and 12,000 to 56,000 deaths each year in the United States since 2010.

The season could last well into March 2018 and possibly later.

Pages: March Issue

Cold or Flu, Take These Basic Steps

To stop the spread of cold or flu in the household, take these precautions:- Isolate toothbrushes from others. Replace the brush when the person is well.- Thoroughly clean humidifiers. You don't want them throwing around viruses.- Sleep separately and launder bedding frequently. Even if it is just the pillow cases, hot water washing prevents the spread of germs.- Clean television remotes. While the sick person binges on television all day for a few days, they are also leaving germs on the remotes. - Empty trash cans. A lot of sniffling and nose blowing goes on with flu and colds. Make sure tissues have their own trash can and the cans are emptied twice a day.

Study Highlights Additional Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery

Evidence shows that weight loss surgery improves diabetes management and heart

health.Bariatric

surgery does more than help patients lose weight, based on a recent paper

that highlights the many cardiovascular benefits of weight loss surgery in obese adults.

Published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, this paper summarized the latest evidence about weight loss surgery and heart health. Its purpose was to highlight potential benefits of bariatric surgery, many of which extend far beyond weight loss for obese adults.

Among the many findings, one of the most important was the effect of weight loss surgery on diabetes. According to authors, there is high-quality evidence that weight loss surgery is more successful than medication at helping obese patients achieve blood sugar control. Surgery has even been shown to help some obese patients reverse type 2 diabetes through weight loss and lifestyle changes. For this reason, current guidelines support weight loss surgery in adults with mild obesity and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, which occurs when the body doesn’t use blood sugar properly. It’s especially common in overweight and obese individuals and significantly increases risk for heart disease, among other complications.

In the recent paper, authors also note that weight loss surgery can improve blood pressure and cholesterol. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are known risk factors for heart disease. Keeping these levels in check can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk. However, authors note that additional research is needed to confirm the long-term effects of weight loss surgery on blood pressure and cholesterol.

Despite its many benefits, there are a few things every patient should know about weight loss surgery. First, not all obese patients are eligible for surgery. For some patients—like those with complex medical conditions or those who are morbidly obese—weight loss surgery may prove too risky.

Surgery is also not usually the first line of treatment for weight loss. Exercise, diet and medication, when necessary, can help many patients lose weight and improve their health. Surgery is usually offered as a potential treatment option only after these strategies have failed. Weight loss surgery does carry risks, although risk of death or serious complications from surgery are relatively low.

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Finally, it’s important to note that not all weight loss procedures are the same. There are many types of weight loss surgery, such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. While all promote weight loss, each works in different ways and has its own risks and benefits.

Ultimately, authors believe that weight loss surgery will become increasingly important for treating obesity and improving heart health. Worldwide obesity rates have more than doubled in the past few decades, and obesity now affects one in three U.S. adults. As such, weight loss surgery will likely serve as a lifeline for many patients struggling with obesity.

Read the full article in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Questions for You to Consider How does bariatric surgery work? Gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgeries

work by changing your digestive system to limit how much you can eat, by reducing the absorption of nutrients, or both. Weight-loss surgeries are used when standard weight-loss therapies such as diet and exercise have failed to work.

Am I eligible for weight-loss surgery? Weight-loss surgery is often an option for obese

individuals who have not seen results with diet and exercise. However, not all patients are eligible for surgery if they have other risk factors that could complicate the procedure. If you are interested in surgery, discuss your concerns and weight-loss options with your healthcare provider.

Find this CardioSmart article and more cardiologist-reviewed news, patient tools, and videos at www.CardioSmart.org

The Diet with Time for Eating

All the diets in all the world more or less come down to a simple philosophy: Eat less.

Where those diets go after that makes all the difference. But what if you could eat what you want, but just not at any time?

That's the idea behind Time Restricted Feeding. You eat what you want (within

reason) for 12 hours per day and you don't eat for 12 hours. The key is a 12-hour period without eating.

So, if you go to bed at 10 p.m., you would not eat again until 10 a.m., creating a 12-hour fast.

While the idea is not precisely new, the research is new and promising.

The findings, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, suggests that when people restrict their eating to a 10-hour window for 16 weeks, they lose about 4 percent of their weight.

In addition, the study authors say the subjects slept better and felt more energetic. The idea is that the body in fasting mode has time to repair cells, break down toxins and even repair damaged DNA in the skin and stomach.

One family medicine doctor told the Wall Street Journal that her TRF patients have been able to go off blood pressure medications and even reverse pre-diabetes.

TRF dieters should limit their daily food intake to a 12-hour window, ideally working up to a window of only eight to 10 hours. No-calorie drinks, water, and black coffee are allowed during fasting hours, but no food.

Pages: March Issue

Doctors Debate Value of Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

The breast cancer trifecta was once indisputable: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy.

This combination has led to great numbers of cancer survivors, but is it all necessary?

According to a 2015 paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a study of more than 10,000 women found very low rates of cancer recurrence in women who had early-stage breast cancer with no lymph node involvement and who were treated with hormonal therapy alone.

This study and others are leading oncologists to ask if, in early-stage treatment, chemotherapy is overprescribed.

Cancer mortality rates have been much improved since the 1980s, with a nearly 40 percent decrease in deaths, and credit for that win goes generally to chemotherapy. But chemo is a dramatic chemical attack that comes with its own

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problems. With new advances in genomic testing and tumor biology, some oncologists are asking if it is always necessary.

In fact, use of chemotherapy to treat early breast cancer has been declining. In a study of about 3,000 early-stage tumor patients, use of chemotherapy declined to 21 percent from 34 percent.

But cancer experts warn that withholding chemo is justified in only a fraction of cases.

Focusing on the bad side effects of chemotherapy misses the point, some doctors say. Chemotherapy has saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, they say.

Pages: March Issue

New Interest in Old Antibiotic

The frightening possibility of antibiotic resistance would make wounds deadly and surgery dramatically risky.

Australian scientists are part of the world-wide effort to find a solution to the problem and they are focusing on a class of drug called octapeptins.

Discovered in the 1970s, octapeptins were not selected for development because so many other promising antibiotics were being developed.

According to the journal Cell Chemical Biology, tests on this class have shown octapeptins are better antimicrobial agents than other antibiotics and are not toxic to the kidneys.

Pages: March Issue

An incredible 90+ year old gentleman that was in Special Forces in the South Pacific just sent this as an email:

"So with all the kindness I can muster, I give this one piece of advice to the next pop star who is asked to sing the national anthem at a sporting event: save the vocal gymnastics and the physical gyrations for your concerts. Just sing this song the way you were taught to sing it in kindergarten -

straight up, no styling. "Sing it with the constant awareness that there are soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines watching you from bases and outposts all over the world. Don't make them cringe with your self-centered ego gratification. Sing it as if you are standing before a row of 86-year-old WWII vets wearing their Purple Hearts, Silver Stars and flag pins on their cardigans and you want them to be proud of you for honoring them and the country they love - not because you want them to think you are a superstar musician. They could see that from your costume, makeup and your entourage. Sing 'The Star Spangled Banner' with the courtesy and humility that tells the audience that it is about America, not you. And please remember, not everything has to be sung as a Negro spiritual. We're getting a little weary of that. Francis Scott Key does not need any help." Semper Fi

PREACHER

An old country preacher had a teenage son, and it was getting time to where the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession. One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his study table four objects: 1. A Bible 2. A silver dollar 3. A bottle of whiskey  4. A Playboy magazine. "I'll just hide behind the door," the old preacher said to himself. "When he comes home from school today, I'll see which object he picks up and is interested in. If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like me, and what a blessing that would be! If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a business man and that would be okay, too. But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunken bum,and, Lord, what a shame that would be. And worst of all, if he picks up that magazine he's going to be a skirt-chasing womanizer." The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's footsteps as he entered the housewhistling and headed for his room. The boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leavethe room he spotted the objects on the table. With curiosity in his eyes, he walked over to inspect

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them. Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up the silver dollar and dropped it into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle and took a big drink, all the while admiring themagazine's centerfold. "Lord have mercy," the old preacher breathed to himself. "He's gonna run for Congress."

Seenager (Senior Teenager)

I just discovered my age group!  I am a Seenager (senior teenager).  I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 55-60 years later:

I don't have to go to school or work. I get an allowance every month. I have my own pad. I don't have a curfew. I have a driver's license and my own car. I have ID that gets me into bars and the wine store.  I like the wine store best. The people I hang around with are not scared of getting pregnant, they aren't scared of anything, they have been blessed to live this long, why be scared? And, I don't have acne.

Life is Good!  Also, you will feel much more intelligent after reading this, if you are a Seenager:

Brains of older people are slow because they know so much. People do not decline mentally with age; it just takes them longer to recall facts because they have more information in their brains. Scientists believe this also makes you hard of hearing as it puts pressure on your inner ear.

Also, older people often go to another room to get something and when they get there, they stand there wondering what they came for.  It is NOT a memory problem; it is nature's way of making older people do more exercise.

SO THERE!!I have more friends I should send this to, but right now I can't remember their names.So please forward this to your friends; they may be my friends, too.

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