Personally, I think moms are the best, so don’t forget you have a chance . . . → Read More: It’s Mothers Day:-)]]> So what do you have planned for your mom this year?  Let’s not over think the process, I think they appreciate the simple things.  To much negativity in the world and we all start to lose site of what is important

Personally, I think moms are the best, so don’t forget you have a chance to make the women in your life smile for Mother’s Day. If you’re looking for some ideas for now or any occasion, here are some tried and true ones I’ve used:

1. What mom doesn’t love family photos? Surprise her this year with a gift certificate to get a family portrait taken by a local photographer.
2. Playing off the theme of photos, help Mom enjoy the photos she has by giving her a photo album, scrapbook, a digital photo frame, or maybe even an Apple TV to help her stream them.
3. Books are a gift that many moms enjoy. I have heard this is a great read-

A Hundred Lives Since Then: Essays on Motherhood, Marriage, Mortality and More by Gail Rosenblum.

Whatever you do, the most special gift you can give the mothers in your life is to say “I love you.” So call her, write her, or fix her a special dinner made with read food.

As always, if you’ve enjoyed this post, please share it by pasting a link on your Facebook wall, liking it, or emailing it to a special mom you care about.

It can and always be “her” day, lets not forget that,  OK!

Peace

A Closer Look The gall bladder is appropriately named. One definition of the word “gall” is “very bitter”. The gall bladder stores the digestive fluid, bile, which is a very bitter substance, and the pain associated with a “gall bladder attack” is quite bitter indeed!

Bile is made continuously by the liver and . . . → Read More: Gall stones and what are they.]]>  

A Closer Look
The gall bladder is appropriately named. One definition of the word “gall” is “very bitter”. The gall bladder stores the digestive fluid, bile, which is a very bitter substance, and the pain associated with a “gall bladder attack” is quite bitter indeed!

Bile is made continuously by the liver and is a mixture of water, cholesterol, bile salts, fats, protein and bilirubin (a waste product). The gall bladder, a pear shaped sack located just beneath the liver. When food is eaten, the gall bladder releases the bile through a duct into the first part of the small intestine where it is used to help digest fats. Occasionally, the bile stored in the gall bladder can harden and form stones. The reason that stones form is not completely understood however it may be from an imbalance in the composition of the bile, or it may be due to the gall bladder not emptying correctly. Gallstones can be as small as a grain of sand, or as large as a golf ball.

Gall stones can cause problems if a stone moves into or blocks the passage between the gall bladder and the small intestine. This gall bladder “attack” often follows a meal with high fat content. A high fat content meal stimulates the gallbladder to contract and release bile. Typical symptoms include:
• steady pain in the upper right abdomen that increases in intensity and lasts between 30 minutes to several hours;
• pain in the back between the shoulder blades; or
• pain under the right shoulder blade.

Individuals who are at a higher risk for gall stones include:
• Women: Women are twice as likely as men to develop gallstones
• Family history: Gallstones often run in families
• Overweight individuals have a higher risk for gall stones.
• Daily food intake: a diet high in fat/cholesterol and low in fiber increases risk.
• Rapid weight loss diets and prolonged fasting increase the risk.
• Age: age over 60 years.
• Ethnicity: American Indians and Mexican Americans have a higher risk.
• Diabetes.
• Medications: cholesterol lowering drugs, oral contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy can increase risk.

Many individuals have “silent stones’. This is a condition in which stones are present in the gall bladder; however they do not cause any problems. These are often discovered during testing for other health concerns. If the gallstones are not causing problems, there is no need to treat the stones.

Researchers began a study in 1983 evaluating “silent” gall stones. Ultrasound studies were done on 1417 individuals to look for gall stones. It was determined that 245, approximately 20%, individuals had silent stones. Researchers evaluated these same individuals 24 years later, in 2006, to determine if the gall stones had ever caused problems for the individual. Results showed that only 14 of these 245 individuals needed medical treatment for the stones, (surgery to remove the gallbladder). And, many of the individuals who had silent stones in 1983 had no stones in the gall bladder when tested again in 2006.

 
Take Home Message
 The presence of stones in the gall bladder does not necessarily mean surgery is needed.
As the saying goes: “If it “ain’t” broke, don’t fix it”!

 
Editorial Comment
 There are situations when gallstones can cause problems that require urgent medical care. These symptoms include:
• pain lasting more than five hours;
• Persistent nausea and vomiting;
• Fever or chills;
• Yellow coloring to the skin or whites of the eyes;
• Clay colored bowel movements.

These symptoms may indicate that a stone has become stuck in the duct that leads to the small intestine, causing additional problems in the gall bladder and/or liver.
Eating a diet lower in fat/cholesterol, high in fiber and avoiding rapid weight loss situations can help minimize the risk of gallstones and related medical problems.

For more information on gallstones visit the Healthwise Knowledgebase at: www.healthwise.msu.edu enter “gallstones” in the search box.

You never know when it will happen: At home, at work, the grocery store, the bus stop, a concert or sporting event. Somebody nearby suddenly collapses: what would you do?

 There any number of correct answers, but if CPR . . . → Read More: Boomers do you know CPR?]]>  

The Question

You never know when it will happen: At home, at work, the grocery store, the bus stop, a concert or sporting event. Somebody nearby suddenly collapses: what would you do?

 There any number of correct answers, but if CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is needed, would you step in and help? About 92 % of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before reaching the hospital. Statistics prove that if more people knew CPR, more lives could be saved. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a victim’s chance of survival, yet many individuals might choose to avoid performing CPR because they don’t know how; others may avoid it because they don’t want to do the mouth to mouth breathing.

There is a simple solution to both of these concerns.

 The American Heart Association has revised the way CPR is done when performed by the untrained general public. Provided the victim is an adult, breathing for the victim is no longer part of the process.

 Who can be saved with CPR?
The life saved with CPR is mostly likely to be a loved one.

• Four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home.
• Statistically speaking, if called on to administer CPR in an emergency, the life saved is likely to be someone at home: a child, a spouse, a parent or a friend.
• African-Americans are almost twice as likely to experience cardiac arrest as Caucasians, and their survival rates are twice as poor as for Caucasians.

 What is CPR?
CPR , cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a rescue procedure used when a person is not responsive and not breathing (or not breathing normally). There are many different reasons why someone stops breathing and the heart stops beating effectively. However, when this occurs, another person can perform CPR to help keep oxygen-rich blood flowing through the victim’s body.

 What does CPR do?
CPR keeps blood pumping through the heart when the heart isn’t effectively pumping blood on its own. That keeps blood moving to the body and brain. CPR can help revive the heart and lungs and potentially prevent severe brain damage or death.

 What are the recommended CPR techniques for adults?

• The American Heart Association encourages Hands-Only™ CPR for untrained rescuers or any rescuer who is unwilling or unable to give breaths.
• For those individuals who want to become proficient and confident in CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator ); a one day to training is all that is needed. For more information, visit www.heart.org/cpr.

 Why Hands-Only™ CPR?

• To ease concerns about mouth-to-mouth contact. Many people will not put their mouth on a stranger’s mouth.
• To focus on circulating the blood in the first few minutes of rescue efforts.
• To simplify the process. Many people were so afraid they would “get it wrong” that they did nothing.  Any attempt at CPR is better than no attempt. Hands-Only™ CPR performed by a bystander has been shown to be as effective as conventional CPR with mouth-to-mouth breaths in the first few minutes of an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest in adults.

 When is adult CPR needed?
Adult CPR is needed for any unconscious person 8 years or older who isn’t breathing and/or has no pulse. Whenever CPR is needed, remember to call for emergency medical assistance (dial 9-1-1) or get someone to do this. CPR is most successful when administered as quickly as possible, but first determine if it’s necessary. CPR should only be done when a person is unresponsive and not breathing or not breathing normally.

How is CPR done?

First, determine that it’s safe to approach the person and secure the area for CPR. For instance, if someone is injured in an accident on a busy highway, you need to be out of danger from oncoming traffic before you start CPR. Or if someone may have been electrocuted, you need to be sure that he or she is no longer in contact with electricity before you start CPR. (In this example, turn off the power or a circuit breaker first).

Next, check for responsiveness. Quickly test for responsiveness by gently shaking the shoulders and asking the person if he or she is all right. Look for things such as eyes opening, attempts to speak or other signs of intentional movement of the arms and legs.
Check the victim’s breathing. Check breathing by watching the person’s chest for the rise and fall of breaths. If you can’t determine whether someone is breathing, begin CPR and continue until help arrives.

 Place the heel of your hand in the center of the chest. Place your other hand on top and interlace your fingers.  Push straight down and release hard and fast. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available, use it. Simply turn it on and follow the automatic voice instructions.

 Reading about CPR and learning when it’s needed will give a basic understanding of the concept and procedure, but the American Heart Association strongly recommends taking a CPR course. If CPR is needed, using the correct technique will give someone the best chance of recovery.

 Find a CPR course in your area now: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/classConnector.jsp?pid=ahaweb.classconnector.home

 The American Red Cross Mid Michigan chapter: http://www.midmichiganredcross.org/index.asp?IDCapitulo=4406UBS63G

        -information paraphrased from American Heart Association-

The benefits start immediately, improve with continued use, and are available 24/7 – 365 from head to toe. The cost: 30 minutes each day.

What counts?

 • 30 minute daily minimum of moderate-intensity aerobic . . . → Read More: Baby Boomers- The Question: What difference can 30 minutes a day make?]]> A Closer Look Regular physical activity, exercise, is one of the most important things you can do for your health.

The benefits start immediately, improve with continued use, and are available 24/7 – 365 from head to toe. The cost: 30 minutes each day.

What counts?

 • 30 minute daily minimum of moderate-intensity aerobic activities for adults; 1 hour per day for children.

• Activity can be done in 10 minute segments throughout the day. What is aerobic activity?

• Aerobic activity or “cardio” causes the heart to beat harder and faster, and increases the rate of breathing.

• Intensity is an indicator of how hard your body is working during aerobic activity.

For most people, light daily activities such as shopping, cooking, or doing the laundry are not included in the 30 minutes/ day because the body isn’t working hard enough to increase the heart rate.

How is intensity measured? Intensity level can be measured by the talk test. During moderate-intensity activity you can talk, but not sing. At vigorous-intensity level breathing becomes hard and fast, and the heart rate has increased significantly. You won’t be able to say more than a few words without pausing for a breath.

To increase to a vigorous intensity, slowly replace moderate intensity activities with more vigorous activities. A scientific measure of the Intensity of activity is measured in METs (metabolic equivalent tasks). One MET is the energy used at rest (sitting quietly). Two METs indicates the energy used is twice that at rest. Three METs is triple the resting energy used, etc.

Thus, the METs per hour score is a measure of the intensity of a physical activity.

Activities are measured in METs /hour. For example, walking at a pace of 2 miles per hour (easy casual walking) uses 2 METs per hour. If you walk at this pace for 30 minutes, you have used only 1 MET- this is no different than sitting quietly. However; walking at a pace of 5 miles per hour uses 8 METs per hour. Walking at this pace for 30 minutes uses 4 METs. 12 MET hours per week of activity will result in health benefit. Moderate-intensity aerobic activity means the activity will raise the heart rate and cause the individual to sweat. Moderate intensity activities include:

• Walking fast 3 miles per hour (3.3 METs);

• Water aerobics (4 METs); • Riding a bike on level ground or with few hills(4METs);

 • Playing doubles tennis (5 METs); • Pushing a lawn mower(5METs);

• General gardening (4 METs); • Ballroom dancing (3METs). Vigorous-intensity aerobic activities include:

• Jogging (7METs), race walking (6 METs);

 • Swimming laps freestyle, vigorously(10METs);

• Riding a bike fast (10 miles per hour or faster) or on hills (10 METs);

 • Playing singles tennis (8 METs); • Playing basketball game (8 METs), gardening (digging, spreading, or filling) (5 METs);

• Jumping rope (fast) (12METs);

• Aerobic dancing (6.5 METs).

Moderate and vigorous-intensity aerobic levels can be mixed in the same activity. Generally, when measuring health benefit, 1minute of vigorous-intensity activity is about the same as 2 minutes of moderate-intensity activities. Health benefits of regular exercise.

Cardiovascular:

• Improve/maintain blood pressure and cholesterol levels;

 • Increase good (HDL) cholesterol;

• Improve circulation;

• Increase strength and function of heart muscle. Type 2 diabetes:

• Improve/maintain blood sugar levels; reducing the risk of developing type 2, and improving blood sugar control in individuals who already have type 2 diabetes. Musculoskeletal function:

 • Increased strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, tone, stamina, decreased risk of falls, decreased pain and stiffness of arthritis. • Increased bone strength, reduced risk of osteoporosis, improved symptoms of arthritis and back pain, reduced risk of hip fracture. Gastro intestinal:

 • Improved hunger and appetite awareness, digestion, and regularity of bowel movements.

 • Improved weight management. Mental Health and Mood:

• Regular physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning, judgment, and mental focus skills sharp as you age.

• Improved ability to manage stress; exercise also helps with depression;

• Improves quality of sleep. Immune system:

 • Improved immune system function. Sexual function:

 • Improved sexual drive. Some cancers (colon and breast):

 • If you are a cancer survivor, research shows that getting regular physical activity not only helps give you a better quality of life, but also improves your physical fitness. Longer life:

 • Individuals who exercise at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) a week at moderate-intensity aerobic activity lowers their risk of dying early.

• Individuals who are physically active for about 420 minutes (7 hours) a week have a 40 percent lower risk of dying early than those who are active for less than 30 minutes a week.

Take Home Message Give yourself 30 minutes a day as a gift of health.

 Editorial Comment Make physical activity a lifelong daily habit, just like brushing your teeth!

• Find activities you enjoy;

 • Incorporate different activities for variety, and to increase aerobic capacity, overall strength and flexibility.

• Simply walking works: a gym or health club membership is not needed.

• Increase activity and intensity level gradually: health benefits will increase with up to 60 minutes per day of moderate to intense activity levels. • Add strength or weight lifting activities to further improve bone and muscle strength.

• Always s-t-r-e-t-c-h muscles before and after activity to properly warm up and cool down muscles. Visit MSU Moves at msumoves.msu.edu complete a registration profile and start a personal challenge.

Constipation is usually the result of solid waste moving too slowly through the intestines causing dry and hard bowel movements.

Waste . . . → Read More: What is “Constipation”]]>  

A Closer Look

Occasional constipation is a common problem among adults that is easily treated. However, chronic constipation affects nearly 60 million Americans; especially females and individuals over age 65.

Constipation is usually the result of solid waste moving too slowly through the intestines causing dry and hard bowel movements.

Waste products are moved through the digestive system by rhythmic muscle contractions of the intestines. The large intestine, or colon, is responsible for reabsorbing water and salt from the waste material back into the body since these are essential nutrients. Most constipation is the result of a few factors:

• lack of fiber in the diet;
• lack of physical activity;
• ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement;
• changes in lifestyle or routine such as pregnancy, aging and/or travel;
• lack of adequate daily water intake

When there is not enough fluid or fiber in our diet the intestinal movement slows allowing the stool to dry and harden. 

What is “normal”?

The frequency for normal bowel movements ranges from 3 per day to 3 per week. Normal does not necessarily mean having a daily bowel movement. Normal bowel movements are a soft consistency, pass from the body with little straining, leaving a sensation of complete emptying of the bowel.

What is constipation?

Constipation is defined as having a decrease in the frequency of regular (normal for you) bowel movements.

Generally this is fewer than 3 bowel movements a week, and/or bowel movements that are a hard consistency, dry or pebble like, require increased straining to empty the bowel, having a sensation of incomplete emptying of the bowel.

Constipation is considered chronic when these symptoms persist for 3 months or more.

What treatments are effective?

Occasional constipation can be treated with: 

• bulk-forming agents such as psyllium (Metamucil®);
• stool softeners such as Colace®;
• laxatives such as senna, and milk of magnesia;
• dietary additions such as dried fruit and nuts.

Chronic constipation is best treated with psyllium, not other over the counter laxatives, according to recent, good evidence based studies. Psyllium improves the consistency and frequency of bowel movement in the treatment of constipation however, these supplements are often inconvenient, and many individuals dislike the taste and /or texture of liquid products. Additionally, some individuals are bothered by gas and/or bloating with fiber supplements and will discontinue use.

A healthy, natural alternative to psyllium is dried plums or apricots. Dried fruit provides a flavorful, nutritious, convenient, food-based treatment for chronic constipation. Dried fruits are a good source of fiber which adds bulk to the digestive contents, stimulating the regular rhythmic contractions of the intestines. These dried fruits should be eaten daily, not just when constipation gets worse.

Researchers compared the effectiveness of psyllium and dried plums for treating chronic constipation.  All study participants had symptoms of chronic constipation for an average of 2 years. Participants were randomly assigned to a psyllium group or dried plum group. Both groups received 6 grams daily fiber in their treatment: 6 plums twice daily, or 1 tablespoon of psyllium daily.

After 3 weeks of treatment the group participants switched to the opposite treatment.

Participants kept a record of bowel movements during each treatment type.

The results showed significant improvement in bowel movements with dried plums when compared with psyllium.

Discuss your bowel movement patterns with your health care provider. Chronic constipation can also be a sign of other medical problems including:

• irritable bowel syndrome;
• specific diseases, such as stroke, diabetes, thyroid disease and Parkinson’s disease;
• problems with the colon and rectum, such as intestinal obstruction, diverticulosis, or cancer;
• frequent use or misuse of laxatives;
• certain medications, including pain medications, diuretics and medications used to treat high blood pressure and depression;
• injuries to the spinal cord.

Incorporate these lifestyle changes to improve and maintain healthy bowel function.

• A high-fiber diet. The American Dietetic Association recommends a diet with at least 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day (the typical American eats 5-14 grams of fiber per day). Fiber helps your body form soft, bulky bowel movements. High-fiber foods include beans, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Adding flax seed or flax seed oil capsules, or a serving of 10-12 nuts a day will add lubrication to the bowel with helps constipation. Limit foods that have little to no fiber, such as cheese, meat, high sugar content foods, and processed foods.
• Regular exercise. Physical activity can help stimulate intestinal activity and improve the strength and function of pelvic floor muscles. Sometimes constipation is caused by poor muscle tone in the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles are used when having a bowel movement. Weak pelvic floor muscles can result in excessive straining even for a soft bowel movement.
• Adequate fluid intake. Increase water intake to at least 64-72 ounces of water daily (8-9 glasses per day).Drinking plenty of water and other fluids will help soften your stool.
• Take the time for bowel movements. Set aside sufficient time to allow undisturbed visits to the toilet. And don’t ignore the urge to have a bowel movement.

(Oh, by the way, dried plums are commonly known as prunesJ!)

For more information on chronic constipation visit the National Institute of Health website at: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/constipation/  

Healthwise Knowledgebase at: www.healthwise.msu.edu – enter “constipation” into the search box.

“Recipe for Health” from MSU – check this link for a tasty high fiber oatmeal recipe: http://health4u.msu.edu/_pdfs/rfh/2011/rfhApril.pdf

More easy delicious recipes for health are available at health4u.msu.edu/ located under the “Online Health Resources” heading.

Just because these two strategies worked for me, doesn’t mean you have to . . . → Read More: New Post from Rikin-the quest to the new you!]]> In my last entry, I talked about motivation and determination. Once again, without those two, it will be very difficult to do what you want. In this entry, I will talk about eating habits and my workout plan that got me started.

Just because these two strategies worked for me, doesn’t mean you have to follow them.

I asked one of the strength coaches for Michigan State and received this advice. Little did I realize, he told me if I remained committed to making a change, overtime I would be successful.

It was August 8^th, 2010 I told myself the TIME IS NOW! August 9^th, I went to work!

Shortly after I started, I hated it. I would be on an elliptical or treadmill for 45-60 minutes a day, while friends were playing videogames or hanging out. Once I finished working out, I would crave Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, and other healthy foods. NOT ANYMORE!

I had to cut down on the foods I loved.

After a few weeks into working out, I told myself I could treat myself to junk food once. The same went for drinking with friends. I cut down on going to bars and drinking. Instead, I got a job at a local bar, to help me prevent from gong out, plus some extra cash in my pocket. Monday thru Sunday,  I would be on Facebook, watch TV, text, and call people.

Now, working out, became a part of my daily routines. Something as little as 45 minutes a day consistently made a huge difference.

Eating habits were changed too. One key habit I realized is DO NOT eat many calories at night, before going to bed. Make lunch the largest part of the calorie intake. This allows the body enough time to process them throughout the day.  Therefore, I would enjoy a large meal during the day, before heading to practice. I would be starving by the time I was done, and that’s where my friend cottage cheese and almonds came. If one is thinks weight loss is easy, think again.

I’ve taken exams before, but those you can cheat on (if need be).  I’ve interned before for companies, and you can get through a project or task via colleagues.

Who can help to lose weight? YOU. NOBODY else can control the results but YOU!

To recap, I committed myself to working out 45-60 minutes day, avoiding large dinners, and eating real late. In the beginning, I still ate food from outside. It didn’t take long for Subway and I to become friends.

Yes it became costly, but I relied on Subway for breakfast/lunch/and dinner. In my next entry, I will talk briefly about what other foods I made part of my daily routine. Some sound awful and tasted gross.

But, I was on a mission and committed to losing weight, thus I had to stick to my word.

Rikin Shaw is a friend and a new graduate of Michigan State University.  I appreciate a young person sharing his quest, it takes guts and honesty, keep it up stud, I am rooting for your success!

T

NURSE’S HEART ATTACK EXPERIENCE

I am an ER nurse and this is the best description of this event that I have ever heard. Please read, pay attention, and send it on!

FEMALE HEART ATTACKS

I was aware . . . → Read More: Boomers and heart attack info!]]> This is an email that was sent to me, and I find it important enough to share!

NURSE’S HEART ATTACK EXPERIENCE

I am an ER nurse and this is the best description of this event that I have ever heard. Please read, pay attention, and send it on!

FEMALE HEART ATTACKS

I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the best description I’ve ever read.

Women and heart attacks (Myocardial infarction). Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack.. you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest &
dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman’s experience with a heart attack.

I had a heart attack at about 10:30 PM with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might have brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, ‘A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up.

A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you’ve been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich
and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried
bite seems to feel like you’ve swallowed a golf ball going
down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn’t have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation–the only trouble was that I hadn’t
taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m.

After it seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasms), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when administering CPR).

This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws. ‘AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening — we all have read and/or heard
about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven’t we? I said aloud to myself and the cat,
Dear God, I think I’m having a heart attack!

I lowered the foot rest dumping the cat from my lap, started
to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself, If this is a heart attack, I shouldn’t be walking
into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else…
but, on the other hand, if I don’t, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get
up in a moment.

I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics… I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I
didn’t feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked
if the front door was near to me, and if so, to un-bolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.

I unlocked the door and then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don’t remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney
or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the radiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like ‘Have you taken any medications?’) but I couldn’t make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not
waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery
into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side
by side stints to hold open my right coronary artery.

I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home
must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before
the call, and both the fire station and St Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already
to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and
the procedure) and installing the stints.

Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand.

1. Be aware that something very different is happening in
your body, not the usual men’s symptoms but inexplicable
things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act).
It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn’t know they were having one
and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation and go to bed, hoping they’ll feel better in the morning when they wake up… which doesn’t
happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you’ve not felt before. It is better to have a ‘false alarm’ visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!

2.Note that I said ‘Call the Paramedics.’ And if you can,
take an aspirin. Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER – you are a hazard to others on the road.

Do NOT have your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what’s happening with you instead of
the road.

Do NOT call your doctor — he doesn’t know where you live
and if it’s at night you won’t reach him anyway, and if
it’s daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will
tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn’t carry the
equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The
Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your
Dr will be notified later.

3.Don’t assume it couldn’t be a heart attack because you
have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered
that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of
an MI (unless it’s unbelievably high and/or accompanied by
high blood pressure). MIs are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts
of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let’s be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance
we could survive.

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we’ll save at least one life.

*Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends (male & female) who you care about!*

Host “Boomers Rock”

So in this piece you can get the feel for all of those, and I mean everyone who loses there ambition, just remember to just get started, everybody, (mostly anyway) has the rollercoaster effect in life.

As the year starts, or for that matter you just . . . → Read More: “Boomers Rock”-Highs and Lows of Training Are Normal]]> By Tom “Trainer T” Matt                                                                  1/8/2012

Host “Boomers Rock”

So in this piece you can get the feel for all of those, and I mean everyone who loses there ambition, just remember to just get started, everybody, (mostly anyway) has the rollercoaster effect in life.

As the year starts, or for that matter you just get moving, it is going to be the goal and the motivation that can keep you from falling flat and becoming another one of many, “Resolution Kuputness”. 

I know that’s not a real word, you get my drift though.

Take it slow, just get off the couch and get moving.  The old no pain no gain is bullcrap, pain is a warning signal (as I am currently taking a day off form a sprinting hamstring pop yesterday, ugh!) what I want is slow and methodical consistency, the passion will come as long as you  do not come down with the dreaded “Kuputness” disease.

You know the high and low of being in shape; frankly you are not alone, so read on, here is a good article to follow up my advice with.

“When the going gets tough, and the hammy starts talking, take a day off”

Peace

http://www.menshealth.com/men/fitness/motivation/the-psychology-of-motivation/article/34d70dee29352110VgnVCM10000013281eac

Always understand the inherent risks of beginning a program, always be safe and have your physician’s approval before beginning any program.

follow trainer T and his videos at www.grtftiness.com

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