Sun, 20 May 2012 03:27:02 -0800WeeblySun, 20 May 2012 18:38:19 -0800http://cprnorthwest.com/3/post/2012/05/is-obesity-an-issue-in-your-house.htmlDid you know that one-third of all American children are overweight and 17 percent are obese? And the number of overweight adolescents has doubled over the past three decades? What about your child? Follow these steps and help your kids avoid our nation’s unhealthy trend.

Step 1: Know your child’s Body Mass Index (BMI) number. All you need is your child’s height and weight and a calculator!

• For children and teens ages 2 to 19, visit the CDC's
• BMI calculator for children.
• If your child’s BMI is above the 85th percentile he or she is likely overweight If above the 95th percentile then he or she is considered obese. Talk with your family doctor about the next steps to take.

Step 2: It’s time for a metabolism makeover: Convert unhealthy food choices to a sensible eating plan!

• Change your frame of mind. “Diets” are all about rules, requirements and limitations. Instead of focusing on what you “shouldn’t” or “can’t” do, emphasize what you CAN do, like choosing to eat healthy foods and increase your physical activity level.
• The simplest changes count. Just skipping one or two cookies a day and adding 30 extra minutes of play time can make a difference.
• Visit heart.org/nutrition for healthy eating tips and recipes the whole family will love.  

Step 3: Make it a family affair. When the whole family is involved in making healthy changes you boost your odds in the battle against childhood obesity. 

• Studies have shown that children whose families eat dinner together are less likely to be obese. Also, kids who get adequate sleep and limit TV time to two hours a day are less likely to be obese. 
• Be a sensible role model for your children; they will do what they see you do. Learn more about how tohelp your child develop healthy habits.
• Practice what you preach; avoid that cookie and join your kids in their play time.
• Take a family walk after dinner, go to a local park and spend an hour playing with your kids, or go swimming at a local pool!

Step 4: Don’t make it hard for kids to make healthy decisions! 

• Build a healthy environment at home. Keep fruits and vegetables within arm’s reach. Leave the junk food behind on the supermarket shelves.
• Weight can be a touchy topic between children and parents. Avoid criticizing their eating habits. Instead, educate them about being healthy and benefits that come with it. Make sure to praise them for making healthy choices too!

Keep these tips in mind when making your family grocery list or planning a family vacation! Soon these steps will be part of your routine. For more information, see Addressing Your Child’s Weight at the Doctor.

]]>Sat, 12 May 2012 18:54:46 -0800http://cprnorthwest.com/3/post/2012/05/addressing-your-childs-weight-at-the-doctor.htmlThe discussion of weight is never comfortable, especially when it pertains to your child. Here are some tips on how to make the conversation less daunting:   Come prepared with your concerns. Write down all your questions and concerns about your child’s weight on a piece of paper before you visit the doctor. Be sure to ask for clarification if there is anything you don’t understand. By having your questions prepared and handy, you will be less likely to forget things and ease the comfort of the conversation.   If you are uncomfortable discussing the topic of weight in front of your child, ask the doctor for  a time when you can ask your questions over the phone or even step briefly into another room to discuss your concerns.   Just because your doctor does not bring up the topic of your child’s weight, doesn’t mean there isn’t an issue. If you have a concern, be sure to voice it. Your doctor may be just as uncomfortable approaching the topic, so make certain you address any worries you have before you leave.  If you are having the discussion in front of you child, begin to discuss aspects of healthy living before the visit so he/she doesn’t feel attacked. In the week before the appointment, have conversations about what they think it means to be physically active or to eat healthy. By making the overall topic familiar with your child, they will be less likely to feel overwhelmed when you address it again at the doctor.   Ask the doctor for recommendations and resources. If there is an issue with your child’s weight, ask what the next steps should be. There are many resources on our website as well, but your physician will be able to give you the best starting point for your child.   Make it a family issue – talking about the health and habits of the entire family will keep individual children from feeling targeted and the motivation of making changes together as a team will help everyone achieve their health goals.   By working through the discomfort of the topic and addressing potential issues, you are investing in your child’s health and future. Take the time to ask your questions and seek out the answers, your child will thank you.   Visit our resources on How to Make a Healthy Home for tips to get your family on the right track today. ]]>Sun, 06 May 2012 22:38:18 -0800http://cprnorthwest.com/3/post/2012/05/heart-failure.html

All of us lose some blood-pumping ability in our hearts as we age, but heart failure results from the added stress of health conditions that either damage the heart or make it work too hard. All of the lifestyle factors that increase your risk of heart attack and stroke – smoking, being overweight, eating foods high in fat and cholesterol and physical inactivity – can also contribute to heart failure. Learn more about what you can do to reduce your risk for heart failure by making lifestyle changes that last.

Conditions that may lead to heart failure

If you have heart failure, chances are you have (or had) one or more of the conditions listed below. Some of these can be present without you knowing it. Typically these conditions cause the "wear and tear" that leads to heart failure. Having more than one of these factors dramatically increases your risk.

Conditions that may lead to heart failure Coronary artery disease When cholesterol and fatty deposits build up in the heart's arteries, less blood can reach the heart muscle. This build-up is known as atherosclerosis. The result may be chest pain (angina) or, if blood flow becomes totally obstructed, a heart attack. Coronary artery disease can also contribute to having high blood pressure which, over time, may lead to heart failure.

Past heart attack (myocardial infarction) A heart attack occurs when an artery that supplies blood to the heart muscle gets blocked. The loss of oxygen and nutrients damages the heart's muscle tissue – part of it essentially "dies." The damaged heart tissue does not contract as well which weakens the heart’s ability to pump blood.


High blood pressure (hypertension) Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of developing heart failure by two to three times. When pressure in the blood vessels is too high, the heart has to pump harder than normal to keep the blood circulating. This takes a toll on the heart, and over time the chambers get larger and weaker.

Abnormal heart valves Heart valve problems can result from disease, infection (endocarditis) or a defect present at birth. When the valves don't open or close completely during each heartbeat, the heart muscle has to pump harder to keep the blood moving. If the workload becomes too great, heart failure results.

Heart muscle disease (dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) or inflammation (myocarditis) Any damage to the heart muscle — whether because of drug or alcohol use, viral infections or unknown reasons — increases the risk of heart failure. 

Heart defects present at birth (congenital heart disease) If the heart and its chambers don't form correctly, the healthy parts have to work harder to make up for it. Learn more about congenital heart disease.

Severe lung disease When the lungs don't work properly, the heart has to work harder to get available oxygen to the rest of the body.

Diabetes Diabetes increases the risk for developing heart failure. People with diabetes tend to develop hypertensionand atherosclerosis from elevated lipid levels in the blood — both of which have been linked to heart failure. Learn more about diabetes and heart disease.

Sleep Apnea Sleep Apnea is a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder in which tissues in the throat collapse and block the airway. Pauses in breathing can contribute to severe fatigue during the day, increase your safety risks, and make it difficult to perform tasks that require alertness. Sleep apnea is also a risk factor for such medical problems as high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes and stroke.

Other Conditions Less commonly, an otherwise healthy heart may become temporarily unable to keep up with the body's needs. This can happen in people who have:  

• Low red blood cell count (severe anemia)
  When there aren't enough red blood cells to carry oxygen, the heart tries to move the small number of cells at a faster heart rate. It can become overtaxed from the effort.
• An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)This condition causes the body to work at a faster pace, and the heart can be overworked trying to keep up.
• Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia or dysrhythmia)When the heart beats too fast, too slow or irregularly, it may not be able to pump enough blood to meet all the body's needs. Learn more at our Arrhythmia website.Learn more about normal heart rate.

In these cases, the person may experience heart failure symptoms until the underlying problem is identified and treated.
]]>Sat, 05 May 2012 19:17:31 -0800http://cprnorthwest.com/3/post/2012/05/dealing-with-stress.html

• Positive self-talk
• Emergency stress stoppers
• Finding pleasure
• Daily relaxation

Tips for Dealing with Stress from John Hammarley 

 Positive Self-Talk Self-talk is one way to deal with stress. We all talk to ourselves; sometimes we talk out loud but usually we keep self-talk in our heads. Self-talk can be positive ("I can do this" or "Things will work out") or negative ("I'll never get well" or "I'm so stupid").

Negative self-talk increases stress. Positive self-talk helps you calm down and control stress. With practice, you can learn to turn negative thoughts into positive ones. For example:


Negative Positive "I can't do this." "I'll do the best I can." "Everything is going wrong." "I can handle things if I take one step at a time." "I hate it when this happens." "I know how to deal with this; I've done it before."

To help you feel better, practice positive self-talk every day — in the car, at your desk, before you go to bed or whenever you notice negative thoughts.

Having trouble getting started? Try positive statements such as these:

• "I can get help if I need it."
• "We can work it out."
• "I won't let this problem get me down."
• "Things could be worse."
• "I'm human, and we all make mistakes."
• "Some day I'll laugh about this."
• "I can deal with this situation when I feel better."

Remember: Positive self-talk helps you relieve stress and deal with the situations that cause you stress.

Emergency Stress Stoppers

There are many stressful situations — at work, at home, on the road and in public places. We may feel stress because of poor communication, too much work and everyday hassles like standing in line. Emergency stress stoppers help you deal with stress on the spot.

Try these emergency stress stoppers. You may need different stress stoppers for different situations and sometimes it helps to combine them.

• Count to 10 before you speak.
• Take three to five deep breaths.
• Walk away from the stressful situation, and say you'll handle it later.
• Go for a walk.
• Don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry" if you make a mistake.
• Set your watch five to 10 minutes ahead to avoid the stress of being late.
• Break down big problems into smaller parts. For example, answer one letter or phone call per day, instead of dealing with everything at once.
• Drive in the slow lane or avoid busy roads to help you stay calm while driving.
• Smell a rose, hug a loved one or smile at your neighbor.

Health reporter John Hammarley offers emergency stress stoppers in this video

.  Finding Pleasure

When stress makes you feel bad, do something that makes you feel good. Doing things you enjoy is a natural way to fight off stress.

You don't have to do a lot to find pleasure. Even if you're ill or down, you can find pleasure in simple things such as going for a drive, chatting with a friend or reading a good book.

Try to do at least one thing every day that you enjoy, even if you only do it for 15 minutes.

• Start an art project (oil paint, sketch, create a scrap book or finger paint with grandchildren).
• Take up a hobby, new or old.
• Read a favorite book, short story, magazine or newspaper.
• Have coffee or a meal with friends.
• Play golf, tennis, ping-pong or bowl.
• Sew, knit or crochet.
• Listen to music during or after you practice relaxation.
• Take a nature walk — listen to the birds, identify trees and flowers.
• Make a list of everything you still want to do in life.
• Watch an old movie on TV or rent a video.
• Take a class at your local college.
• Play cards or board games with family and friends.

Daily Relaxation

Relaxation is more than sitting in your favorite chair watching TV. To relieve stress, relaxation should calm the tension in your mind and body. Some good forms of relaxation are yoga, tai chi (a series of slow, graceful movements) and meditation.

Like most skills, relaxation takes practice. Many people join a class to learn and practice relaxation skills.

Deep breathing is a form of relaxation you can learn and practice at home using the following steps. It's a good skill to practice as you start or end your day. With daily practice, you will soon be able to use this skill whenever you feel stress.

1. Sit in a comfortable position with your feet on the floor and your hands in your lap or lie down. Close your eyes.
2. Picture yourself in a peaceful place. Perhaps you're lying on the beach, walking in the mountains or floating in the clouds. Hold this scene in your mind.
3. Inhale and exhale. Focus on breathing slowly and deeply.
4. Continue to breathe slowly for 10 minutes or more.
5. Try to take at least five to 10 minutes every day for deep breathing or another form of relaxation.

]]>Tue, 01 May 2012 22:37:43 -0800http://cprnorthwest.com/3/post/2012/05/treating-metabolic-syndrome.htmlTreating metabolic syndrome requires addressing several risk factors together. Our Simple Seven website, My Life Check, provides a scoring tool and checklist with seven key heart-healthy targets for improving the quality and length of your life. These simple seven things you can do will improve your overall cardiovascular health and greatly improve the individual risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome.

• Eating better. Adopt a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean meats and fish, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products and avoid processed food, which often contains partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, and is high in salt and added sugar.
• Getting Active. Incorporate at least 150 minutes of moderately vigorous physical activity into your weekly routine. Walking is the easiest place to start, but you may want to experiment to find something else you like to do that gets your heart rate up. If needed, break your exercise up into several short, 10-minute sessions throughout the day to reach your goal. 

• Losing Weight. Reduce your risk for heart disease by successfully losing weight and keeping it off. Learn your recommended calorie intake, the amount of food calories you're consuming, and the energy calories you''re burning off with different levels of physical activity. Balance healthy eating with a healthy level of exercise to reach your goals.
• Taking medications, if prescribed. When changes in lifestyle alone do not control the risk factors related to metabolic syndrome, your health practitioner may prescribe medications to control blood pressure, cholesterol, and other symptoms. Careful following your practitioner's instructions can help prevent many of the long term effects of metabolic syndrome. Every step counts and your hard work and attention to these areas will make a difference in your health!

]]>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:13:03 -0800http://cprnorthwest.com/3/post/2012/04/understand-your-risk-for-arrhythmia.htmlUnderstand Your Risk for Arrhythmia


Arrhythmias occur throughout the population. Their severity varies widely. The heart rate speeds up during physical activity, stress or excitement, and slows down during sleep. Beyond these daily changes, probably everyone at some time has premature atrial or ventricular beats. In fact, during a 24-hour period about one-fifth of healthy adults are likely to have frequent or multiple types of premature ventricular beats. (This includes short episodes of ventricular tachycardia in a small percentage of monitored people.) The prevalence of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias tends to increase with age, even when there's no clear sign of heart disease.

Acquired heart disease --- such as damage caused to the heart muscle by a heart attack --- is the most important factor making a person prone to arrhythmias. Scarring or abnormal tissue deposits can cause bradycardia by interfering with the work of the sinus node or overall AV conduction. Likewise, they can cause tachycardia (originating in either the atria or ventricles) by causing cells to fire abnormally or by creating islands of electrically inert tissue. (Impulses circulate in a reentrant fashion around these areas.)

If you have heart disease, your healthcare team is likely monitoring your heart rhythm with regular EKGs (electrocardiograms). But arrhythmias that occur infrequently may not be detected. Also, not all arrhythmias cause detectable symptoms, but be sure to tell your healthcare professionals about any unusual symptoms such as fainting, difficulty breathing, fatigue, or a “flopping,” fluttering or thumping feeling in your chest.

Certain congenital conditions may make a person prone to arrhythmias. For example, an incompletely developed conduction system can cause chronic heart block and bradycardia. People born with extra conduction pathways, either near the AV node or bridging the atria and ventricles, are prone to reentrant supraventricular tachycardias.

Many chemical agents may cause arrhythmias, sometimes with serious consequences. Known factors include high or low blood and tissue concentrations of a variety of minerals, such as potassium, magnesium and calcium. These play a vital role in starting and conducting normal impulses in the heart. Addictive substances, especially alcohol, cigarettes and recreational drugs, can provoke arrhythmias, as can various cardiac medications. Even drugs used to treat an arrhythmia may cause another arrhythmia.

Risk factors for atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) can develop in people who have heart failure or have had a heart attack. It's also found in people with heart valve disease, an inflamed heart muscle or lining (endocarditis) or recent heart surgery. Atrial fibrillation is common in persons with hypertension or diabetes. Sometimes it's related to congenital heart defects. A problem with your lungs can also affect your heart. That's why AF often appears in people with chronic lung disease, pulmonary embolism, emphysema and asthma.

Gender and age also affect the odds of developing AF and its severity. Men are slightly more likely than women to develop AF, but women diagnosed with it carry a longer-term risk of premature death. Older people are somewhat more likely to have AF than younger people. Other factors that affect risk are thyroid disorders, diabetes, high blood pressure, excessive alcohol consumption and cigarette or stimulant drug use (including caffeine).

Learn more about the types and causes of arrhythmias.

Manage your risk factors
Just having an arrhythmia increases your risk of heart attack, cardiac arrest and stroke. Work with your healthcare team and follow their instructions to control other risk factors:

• Reduce high blood pressure
• Control cholesterol levels
• Lose excess weight
• Eat a heart-healthy diet
• Avoid tobacco smoke
• Enjoy regular physical activity

]]>Sat, 31 Mar 2012 10:28:51 -0800http://cprnorthwest.com/3/post/2012/03/what-are-the-symptoms-of-metabolic-syndrome.htmlBecause metabolic syndrome is a cluster of factors, many of which must be determined with lab work, this condition is not one that an individual can assess without the help of a healthcare provider. However, if you have a large waist circumference and have been told by your healthcare provider that you have another condition like elevated triglycerides, high blood sugar or high blood pressure, you may want to discuss your combined risks with your healthcare provider.

How is metabolic syndrome diagnosed?

To diagnose metabolic syndrome, most doctors look for the presence of three or more of these components:

• Central or abdominal obesity (measured by waist circumference):
  • Men - Greater than 40 inches
  • Women - Greater than 35 inches
• Fasting blood triglycerides greater than or equal to 150 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL)
• Blood HDL cholesterol:
  • Men - Less than 40 mg/dL
  • Women - Less than 50 mg/dL
• Blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/85 millimeters of mercury (mmHg)
• Fasting glucose greater than or equal to 100 mg/dL

These criteria were proposed by the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) and are the most current and widely used.

*Although the criteria for diagnosing metabolic syndrome has been debated, the most recent proposed criteria for the ATP III panel did not find evidence to recommend routine measurement of insulin resistance (e.g., increased fasting blood insulin), prothrombotic state or proinflammatory state.


]]>Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:01:40 -0800http://cprnorthwest.com/3/post/2012/03/why-does-metabolic-syndrome-occur.html Some people are genetically prone to develop insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome. Other people develop metabolic syndrome by:

• Putting on excess body fat
• Failing to get enough physical activity
• Consuming a diet high in carborhydrates (more than 60 percent of daily caloric intake from carbs)

What groups are most likely to have metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome has become increasingly common in the United States. It's estimated that about 70 million adults in the United States have it. Several factors increase the likelihood of acquiring metabolic syndrome:

• Obesity/overweight
  Obesity and insulin resistance are two potential and important causes of metabolic syndrome. Excessive fat in and around the abdomen is most strongly associated with metabolic syndrome. However, the reasons abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome seem to be linked are complex and not fully understood.
• Insulin resistance
  Metabolic syndrome is closely associated with a generalized metabolic disorder called insulin resistance, in which the body can't use insulin efficiently. Some people are genetically predisposed to insulin resistance.
• Physical inactivity
  People who are not physically active are twice as likely to develop metabolic syndrome and its complications than people who exercise regularly.

Fortunately, many of the factors that contribute to metabolic syndrome can be addressed through lifestyle changes, such as diet, exercise, and weight loss. By making these changes, you can significantly reduce your risks.



]]>Sun, 11 Mar 2012 19:54:18 -0800http://cprnorthwest.com/3/post/2012/03/hypertensive-crises.html| High blood pressure is a chronic condition, and the damage it causes to blood vessels and organs generally occurs over years.

However, it is possible for blood pressure to rise quickly and severely enough to be considered a hypertensive crisis. To reduce morbidity and mortality in this situation, early evaluation of organ function and blood pressure elevations at these levels is critical to determine the appropriate management.

Hypertensive crises can present as hypertensive urgency or as a hypertensive emergency. 




  Hypertensive Urgency

Hypertensive urgency is a situation where the blood pressure is severely elevated [180 or higher for your systolic pressure (top number) or 110 or higher for your diastolic pressure (bottom number)], but there is no associated organ damage. Those experiencing hypertensive urgency may or may not experience one or more of these symptoms:

• Severe headache
• Shortness of breath 
• Nosebleeds
• Severe anxiety

Treatment of hypertensive urgency generally requires readjustment and/or additional dosing of oral medications, but most often does not necessitate hospitalization for rapid blood pressure reduction.  A blood pressure reading of 180/110 or greater requires immediate evaluation, because early evaluation of organ function and blood pressure elevations at these levels is critical to determine the appropriate management.

 


Hypertensive Emergency

A hypertensive emergency exists when blood pressure reaches levels that are damaging organs. Hypertensive emergencies generally occur at blood pressure levels exceeding 180 systolic OR 120 diastolic, but can occur at even lower levels in patients whose blood pressure had not been previously high.

The consequences of uncontrolled blood pressure in this range can be severe and include

• Stroke
• Loss of consciousness
• Memory loss
• Heart attack
• Damage to the eyes and kidneys
• Loss of kidney function
• Aortic dissection
• Angina (unstable chest pain)
• Pulmonary edema (fluid backup in the lungs)
• Eclampsia

If you get a blood pressure reading of 180 or higher on top or 110 or higher on the bottom, and are having any symptoms of possible organ damage (chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness/weakness, change in vision, difficulty speaking) do not wait to see if your pressure comes down on its own. Seek emergency medical assistance immediately. If you can't access the emergency medical services (EMS), have someone drive you to the hospital right away. ]]>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:54:12 -0800http://cprnorthwest.com/3/post/2012/02/sudden-cardiac-death.htmlSudden Cardiac Death

Sudden cardiac death is a sudden, unexpected death caused by loss of heart function. It is the largest cause of natural death in the U.S., causing about 250,000 adult deaths each year. Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) occurs most frequently in adults in their mid-30s to mid-40s, and affects men twice as often as it does women. SCD is rare in children, affecting only 1 or 2 for every 100,000 children each year. Is Sudden Cardiac Death a Heart Attack?

No. Sudden cardiac death is not a heart attack. Heart attacks occur when there is a problem with the "plumbing" of the heart; for example, a blockage in one or more of the arteries to the heart, preventing the heart from receiving enough blood. If the oxygen in the blood cannot reach the heart muscle, the heart becomes damaged.

In contrast, during sudden cardiac death, the electrical system to the heart suddenly becomes irregular. The ventricles may flutter or quiver (ventricular fibrillation), and blood is not delivered to the body. Of greatest concern in the first few minutes after an episode ensues is that blood flow to the brain will be reduced so drastically, a person will lose consciousness. Death follows unless emergency treatment is begun immediately. Emergency treatment includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and, if possible, defibrillation. CPR is a manual technique using repetitive pressing to the chest and breathing into the person's airways that keeps enough oxygen and blood flowing to the brain until the normal heart rhythm is restored with an electric shock to the chest, a procedure called defibrillation. Emergency squads use portable defibrillators and frequently there are public access defibrillators (AEDs, ambulatory external defibrillators) in public locations that are intended to be available for use by citizens who observe cardiac arrest.

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