LIPATOR

The Excessive Eating Habits of ‘El Wingador’

tony — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:17:39 +0000

FRIDAY, Feb. 3, 2012
— “I put nails in my coffin training for this
event,” competitive eating champ Bill Simmons says. The event in question is
Wing Bowl, an annual chicken-wing-eating competition in Philadelphia that
requires competitors to down upwards of 300 wings in 30 minutes —
putting their hearts and health
in serious danger. Today, the
day of Wing Bowl XX, marks a return to the wing, er,
ring, for Simmons. Simmons, who is profiled in a new short documentary by filmmaker
Errol Morris, is the only person to win Wing Bowl five times (in 1999, 2001,
2002, 2003, and 2005).

In the event, competitors eat for 14 minutes straight,
stop and rest for 15 minutes — “halftime,” as Simmons calls it — and then resume
eating for another 14 minutes. After the second period, the top five eaters
enter a two-minute wing-off.

But this year, when the wings were consumed and the
championship ring awarded, it was not Simmons’ moment for a comeback: Competitive-eating
champ Takeru Kobayashi dominated the event, downing 337 chicken wings in a
half-hour before a crowd of nearly 20,000 people. Still, Morris’ film sheds
light on the fascinating — and dangerous — preparation that
goes into competitive eating.

In the film, Simmons candidly explains that in his prime,
he ate 15 pounds of food a day, a routine that sent his cholesterol through the
roof. To strengthen his jaw, Simmons says he would eat 10 pounds of Tootsie
Rolls a week — holding 100 in his mouth at one time, until he
swallowed a Tootsie-Roll mass roughly the size of a baseball, “like a snake
swallowing a rat.”

“I hate telling people this, but it came to the point
where the Tootsie Rolls were easy,” Simmons says. “I started eating my German
Shepard’s rawhide bones. I ate a 5-pound bag of rawhide a month prior to the
competition to strengthen my jaws.”

Looking back on the training, Simmons knows it was out of
control. “You’ve got to give up your body for [the championships], man,” he
says. “It was unhealthy, but I’m just a competitor at heart. Always been.”

Get
the latest news and information on living a heart-healthy lifestyle on Twitter.
Follow @HeartDiseases on Twitter from the editors of @EverydayHealth.

Article source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/high-cholesterol/0203/the-excessive-eating-habits-of-el-wingador.aspx

The Cinnamon Challenge: Fun and games until your principal loses her job (VIDEO)

tony — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:17:39 +0000

BY SAMANTHA NEGRAVAL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

COMMENTARY

Some health experts believe that cinnamon is a miracle spice, and should be added to your diet. They say a sprinkle here and a sprinkle there can help to reduce blood sugar level, lower cholesterol, cure a headache, and even improve your cognitive ability.

If that last fact is really true, then after completing “The Cinnamon Challenge,” people who are not too busy having an asthma attack must suddenly realize how stupid that was.

The challenge involves swallowing a whole teaspoon full of cinnamon and attempting to digest it without spitting it up. Of the dozen YouTube videos I watched, (I only pretend to have a life) it seems nearly impossible to win. And if you’re dead, that becomes a non-issue anyway.

That’s right, kids (and some adults). Some experts are warning that cinnamon is a potent spice, and this stunt can actually kill you.

Melissa Breyer of Mother Nature Nework warns that severe burning may lead to inflammation of the mouth and throat and blocking of air passageways. And that can lead to death.

And obviously, if you are allergic to cinnamon, you might as well be juggling chainsaws. (That’s also on YouTube.)

According to CBS News, Dr. David Katz, the director and founder of the Yale University Prevention Research Center, says the chance of death is remote but still a possibility.

“I think there is a real hazard here. I think for the most part it will cause a lot of coughing and sputtering,” Katz said to CBS. “Some will end up aspirating cinnamon and some could have acute respiratory distress.”

This is especially dangerous for children and babies, so it is advised to keep the spice out of their reach.

As for teenagers, even if you hide cinnamon they are probably resourceful enough to buy it on their own.

A kitchen with access to a sink and plenty of water seems to be a favorite setting in many of these

videos. Usually, the participants sputter for air as they cough out a cloud of brown dust. Supposedly, it can also make you vomit.

So, parents, you might want to remove the clean dish rack from the sink area before you go out tonight.

In the video to the right, we see a group of teens pressuring their friend Whitney to try The Cinnamon Challenge in a restaurant. They bet on her failure….and win.

When I first saw this video, I did not identify the cinnamon as the imminent danger. Rather, the young man to the right looks like he is eating a plateful of bacon and whipped cream. That must be the dinner of Cinnamon Challenge champions.

And their parents must be so proud.

Sure, it’s all fun and games until someone coughs up a lung. Or if you are a school principal, your students pull this stunt in front of you, and you don’t try to stop them.

That is supposedly what happened to New Haven, Connecticut principal Carmen Ana Rodriguez. According to CBS news, Rodriguez allegedly witnessed students in the act of The Cinnamon Challenge at lunch time and did not take action. She has been put on administrative leave as a result of the incident.

Perhaps Rodriguez just believes in real-life learning experience, and more specifically, learning from life’s painful mistakes.

Evident that this is a growing trend among young people, the Mercury reports that Pottstown, Pa. Middle School has banned Ugg boots and similar “open” styles for fear that students are smuggling cinnamon into cafeterias. (And also so they can’t pull out their smartphones from their boots and start posting video to Facebook. Amazing how those boots are like Marry Poppins’ carpetbag purse.)

So is The Cinnamon Challenge just a fad or a new over-the-counter addiction for school pranksters?

If it’s the latter, I’m pretty sure that makes Chef Wendell of Cinnamon Toast Crunch the new ring leader.

And let’s be honest. We all knew that bespectacled loon was up to no good.

Samantha Negraval is an editor of NewJerseyNewsroom.com.

Article source: http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/style/the-cinnamon-challenge-fun-and-games-until-your-principal-loses-her-job-video

Grid Iron Chipotle Guacamole

tony — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:17:37 +0000

Avocados are naturally free of sodium, trans fats and cholesterol, making them a great fruit to help meet heart-healthy eating recommendations. They also contribute good fats to one’s diet and according to the American Heart Association. Good fats are those that can lower bad cholesterol levels and are beneficial when consumed in moderation. Bring on the heart healthy guacamole!

Ingredients

• 3 Haas avocados, cubed
• 1 lime, juiced
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 chipotle in adobo sauce, minced
• ½ to ? cup red onion, diced
• 2 large ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

Directions

1. In a large bowl place the toss the avocado and lime juice until well combined.
2. Sprinkle salt and mash using a potato masher or back of fork leaving a few pieces whole.
3. Fold in onions, tomatoes, cilantro, chipotle and garlic.
4. Cover and set aside for about an 1 hour in order to distribute flavors. Then serve with tortilla, plantain or yuca chips.

Makes 2 cups.

Super Bowl Recipe: Nachos

Elizabeth Carrion, a Dominican, co-founded Mi Cocina, a New Jersey-based catering service that also offers cooking classes, with her sister, Ana Martinez.

Article source: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2012/02/04/super-bowl-recipe-grid-iron-chipotle-guacamole/

Five Tips For A Healthy Heart

tony — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:05:20 +0000

What better time to remind people about heart health, and continue to raise awareness about American Heart Month, than the month of February!

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with coronary heart disease topping the list for the most common heart disease. Now for the good news: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), your chance for developing coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking some preventive steps.

Put a limit on unhealthy, fatty foods and those high in cholesterol. Reduce foods with trans fats and saturated fats. Unfortunately, this probably includes many of your favorite snack items (even if the box says, “reduced fat”). Food that falls in this category can contribute to high blood cholesterol levels, leading to a risk of heart attack and stroke (from a buildup of plaque in your arteries). Limit butters, shortening and fatty meats in your diet, too, and use healthy substitutions when possible (salsa to top your baked potato instead of butter; low-fat yogurts instead of sour cream; olive oil instead of butter).

Fill up on fruits and veggies. There’s a reason your mother told you to eat your vegetables! They’re low in calories, high in fiber and may contain properties that help prevent cardiovascular disease. Along with the vitamins and minerals they include, fruits and veggies can also keep you from eating high-fat foods, like meats, cheeses and snacks

According to Cindy Moore, MS, RD, director of the nutrition therapy department at The Cleveland Clinic, “Fruit is a great food choice any time of the day. Some fruits, such as berries and grapes, will be richer sources of fiber, but most fruits will contribute vitamins A, C, a variety of minerals, they will be low in calories, filling because of their water content, and just a terrific food to snack on.”

Add whole grains to your meals. Whole grains are a great source of fiber and also help regulate blood pressure. Try to avoid refined grain products like white flour, white bread, egg noodles, snack bars, cookies, and other high-fat snac
Put down the saltshaker and shrink your portions. Diets high in sodium can put you at risk for high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease. Sodium is sneaky, and hides out in processed foods, fast foods and prepared meals. Portion control (including at restaurants) can help prevent overeating and help reduce your calorie intake.

Switch to low-fat proteins. Look for the lean cuts of meat, and keep your portions limited. Try skinless chicken breasts, and adding more fish in your diet (certain fish like salmon and mackerel include omega-3 fatty acids, which can help inhibit plaque growth in your arteries; reduce the formation of blood clots; and increase your “good” cholesterol levels). Add legumes like beans, lentils and peas.

More from GalTime:

Patricia Conte is a writer with more than 20 years of professional experience. With a passion for cooking and for food, it should come as no surprise that among the subject matter she writes about, including health and wellness, food is a regular topic. Patricia is also a food blogger. Visit her site, Grab a Plate, for recipes and food ideas.
Patricia is enthusiastic about living a healthy lifestyle, yoga and hiking, and is a life-long Cleveland Cavaliers fan.
Read more: http://galtime.com/profile/48610/24214/patricia-conte#ixzz1l4uKdaSc

Author: GalTime.com GalTime.com on the Web GalTime.com RSS Feed

GalTime.com is a leading online magazine for women covering all the topics you care about: love and relationships, family and health, beauty and fashion, cooking and career and a whole lot more. Plus, there’s a dymanic community: you can blog there and share your thoughts and even ask the experts… View full profile

This article originally appeared on GalTime – Love, Parenting, Beauty, Entertainment, Health, Recipes, Careers and has been republished with permission.

Find out how to syndicate your content with Business 2 Community.

Article source: http://www.business2community.com/health-wellness/five-tips-for-a-healthy-heart-0128212

Four-Time Gold Medalist Janet Evans Has the “Heart” for a Comeback

tony — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:05:19 +0000

CINCINNATI–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–A four-time gold medalist embarking on her fourth Olympic Games at age
40 – that’s the name of the game for Janet Evans. Touted as the
one to watch at the London 2012 Olympic Games, “Miss Perpetual Motion”
steps back into the spotlight following a 15 year hiatus from
competitive swimming. Evans is committed to following her heart – and
also taking care of it – to make sure it’s strong enough to take on
competitors half her age.

“And to my mom, I say, ‘thank you for helping me into the pool almost 40
years ago today!’”

On her journey, Evans is partnering with Metamucil to share her
inspiring message. During February Hearth Health Month, she will educate
Americans about the small steps they can take to improve their health,
such as taking Metamucil with psyllium fiber to help lower
cholesterol*. High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk
factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke¹,
making getting enough fiber in your diet an imperative and smart step
towards better heart health.

According to the Women’s Heart Foundation, eight million women in the
U.S. are currently living with heart disease, and 35,000 are under the
age of 65², proving it is as important as ever to teach
people to be proactive early in life. Evans is vigilant about taking
care of her heart in order to maintain the most important tool she has –
her body. Having suffered two tragic family losses due to heart attacks,
Evans realizes how essential it is to be proactive about health. For
Evans, it was an eye-opener that life is too short not to follow your
dreams – and so she is on her quest to make it back to the Olympic Games.

“I couldn’t be more ready for this, and I don’t feel 40 at all! It’s not
easy, but it’s really all about having the right attitude and taking
care of my body. It’s the small steps you take every day that truly help
make a difference, like taking Metamucil to increase the fiber in your
diet and lower your cholesterol,” says Evans.

Evans continues to say, “With a family history of heart disease,
educating others during February Heart Health Month with the help of
Metamucil was a no-brainer. Together, we want to inspire Americans to
get heart healthy because whether you’re keeping up with your
competition, your kids or just your hectic schedule, everyone can take
small steps to improve their health.”

Evans: Wife, Mom, Proud Sponsor of Mom.

Procter Gamble (PG) will continue their “Thank you, Mom” campaign as
part of their larger sponsorship of Team USA during the London 2012
Olympic Games.

As any Olympian will tell you, there is nothing like the support of
family when training, working hard and facing tough competition. But no
one offers better support than a mom, and Janet can attest to that.

Therefore, she is taking her partnership with PG one step further and
saying “Thank you, Mom.” In celebration of the “Thank you, Mom”
campaign, Janet, other Olympians and PG, are taking the time to
recognize and honor these very important women in their lives.

“And to my mom, I say, ‘thank you for helping me into the pool almost 40
years ago today!’” says Evans.

Visit Metamucil’s Facebook Fan page at www.Facebook.com/Metamucil
to learn more about heart health, PG’s “Thank you, Mom” campaign (or
directly at http://www.facebook.com/thankyoumom),
as well as to stay up-to-date on Evans’ progress towards the London 2012
Olympic Games!

About Metamucil

Created and marketed for the first time in 1933 by G.D. Searle Co.,
Metamucil powder was purchased by Procter Gamble in 1985. Made with
100% natural psyllium fiber, Metamucil flavors (Orange, Pink Lemonade
and Berry) fit any lifestyle when you are looking to increase your fiber
intake. Metamucil is the number one doctor and pharmacist³recommended
fiber
brand. For more information, visit http://www.metamucil.com.

About Viscous Soluble Fiber

Viscous soluble fiber like psyllium
fiber, the natural dietary
fiber found in Metamucil, is proven to help lower total and “lousy”
LDL cholesterol* because it forms a thick gel that traps and helps
remove some cholesterol, bile acids and waste in the gut. High
cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for coronary
heart disease, heart attack and stroke¹, making getting
enough fiber in your diet an imperative and smart step towards better
heart health.

About Janet Evans

Recognized as the best female distance swimmer in U.S. history, Evans
became a 3-Time World Record holder (400m, 800m, 1500m freestyle) after
starting to compete at age 15. Following the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games,
Evans decided to take time off to enjoy her family, but her passion for
the water still burned strong in the back of her mind. No longer able to
ignore the itch for competition, this year she jumped back into a daily
routine of early morning 10 mile swims to diligently train for the
London 2012 Olympic Games. Since her return to the water, Evans has had
no trouble showing she is one to watch as she broke two Masters records
in the 800m and 1500m freestyle at the Janet Evans Invitational in June.
Evans resides in Orange County, California with her husband and two
children.

About PG

Four billion times a day, PG brands touch the lives of people around
the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted,
quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®,
Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®,
Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head
Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®.

The PG community includes approximately 127,000 employees working in
about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com
for the latest news and in-depth information about PG and its brands.

References:

¹http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/WhyCholesterolMatters/Why-Cholesterol-Matters_UCM_001212_Article.jsp#.TtPW9OyS41I

²http://www.womensheart.org/content/HeartDisease/heart_disease_facts.asp

³Pharmacy Times Survey 2011 (laxative bulk fiber
category)

* Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 7 grams of
soluble fiber per day from psyllium husk may reduce the risk of heart
disease by lowering cholesterol. One adult dose of Metamucil has at
least 2.1 grams of this soluble fiber. Use as directed. If you have
specific dietary needs, you should consult your doctor before consuming
this product. This Metamucil product has a low glycemic index, a measure
of the effect of dietary carbohydrates on blood sugar levels.

Article source: http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20120202005085/en

High Triglyceride Levels Found to Predict Stroke in Older Women

tony — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:05:17 +0000

BRONX, N.Y., Feb. 2, 2012 — A Stronger Link than Cholesterol Levels to Ischemic Stroke

BRONX, N.Y., Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – In a surprising finding with significant implications for older women, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and NYU School of Medicine have found that high levels of triglycerides (blood fats) are the strongest risk factor for the most common type of stroke in older women – more of a risk factor than elevated levels of total cholesterol or of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (known as “bad” cholesterol). The study appears online today in Stroke.

Strokes involve the sudden loss of blood flow to an area of the brain. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year. Stroke is the third leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, accounting for more than 140,000 deaths per year. Ischemic strokes, the type assessed in this study, account for more than eight in ten strokes over all and occur when blood clots obstruct blood vessels to the brain. Nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in those over 65.

Abnormal levels of triglycerides and other so-called lipid biomarkers have long been associated with increased risk for heart disease and atherosclerosis (plaque buildup inside arteries). The study’s senior author, Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller, Ph.D., said that “until this study, researchers had not examined how these lipid biomarkers are independently related to stroke risk in a single group of people.” Dr. Smoller is head of the division of epidemiology, professor of epidemiology population health, and the Dorothy and William Manealoff Foundation and Molly Rosen Chair in Social Medicine at Einstein.

The Einstein researchers analyzed data from the Hormones and Biomarkers Predicting Stroke (HaBPS) study, which consists of women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), the landmark National Institutes of Health study that has monitored the health of more than 90,000 postmenopausal women nationwide over a period of 15 years. HaBPS is comprised of the first 972 women who experienced an ischemic stroke while participating in the WHI. These women were matched with a control group of 972 participants who had not had strokes. All the women had donated blood samples when they first enrolled in the WHI, and these samples were analyzed for lipid biomarkers. (Dr. Wassertheil-Smoller is principal investigator of WHI and HaBPS at Einstein.)

“It’s important to note, many of the traditional measures of cholesterol that physicians use including total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were not associated with risk of ischemic stroke,” said lead author of the study, Jeffrey S. Berger, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. “Currently, there is a lack of data that lowering triglyceride levels can help reduce the risk. We believe future studies of people with elevated triglyceride levels are warranted to show the reduction of ischemic stroke.”

Dr. Wassertheil-Smoller and her colleagues found that women in the highest quarter of baseline triglyceride levels were nearly twice as likely to have suffered an ischemic stroke as women in the lowest quarter of triglyceride values. Levels of total cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol were not associated with stroke risk.

“The bottom line is that postmenopausal women and their physicians need to pay attention to triglyceride levels,” Dr. Wassertheil-Smoller said. “We already know that women with elevated levels of triglycerides face a greater risk for heart disease and heart attacks than men do. This study has underlined the importance of abnormal triglyceride levels by establishing them as an independent risk factor for stroke.” Elevated triglyceride levels can be triggered by genetic factors or behavioral habits but can be successfully treated with medication and dietary and lifestyle changes, Dr. Smoller pointed out.

The paper is titled “Lipid and Lipoprotein Biomarkers and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Postmenopausal Women.” Co-authors include lead author Jeffrey Berger, M.D., M.S., NYU School of Medicine; Aileen McGinn, Ph.D., and Robert Kaplan, Ph.D., Einstein; Barbara V. Howard, Ph.D., MedStar Research Institute, Washington, D.C.; Lewis Kuller, M.D., Dr.PH., University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; JoAnn E. Manson, M.D., Dr.PH., Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA; Jim Otvos, Ph.D., Liposcience, Inc, Raleigh, NC; J. David Curb, M.D., John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; Charles B. Eaton, M.D., Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI; John K. Lynch, D.O., M.P.H., National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Section on Stroke Diagnostics and Therapeutics; Daniel M. Rosenbaum, M.D., SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn, NY. The WHI is funded by the National Lung, and Blood Institute and HaBPS is funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University is one of the nation’s premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2011-2012 academic year, Einstein is home to 724 M.D. students, 248 Ph.D. students, 117 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 368 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has 2,522 full time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2011, Einstein received nearly $170 million in awards from the NIH. This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in diabetes, cancer, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Through its extensive affiliation network involving Montefiore, Jacobi Medical Center – Einstein’s founding hospital, and five other hospital systems in the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island and Brooklyn, Einstein runs one of the largest post-graduate medical training programs in the United States, offering approximately 155 residency programs to more than 2,200 physicians in training. For more information, please visit www.einstein.yu.edu and follow us on Twitter @EinsteinMed.

SOURCE Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Article source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/02/4234908/high-triglyceride-levels-found.html

Statins Equally Effective in Women and Men

tony — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:43:57 +0000

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Jan. 30 (HealthDay News) — Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins are equally effective in men and women, a new study finds.

For both males and females, these drugs lowered the risk of a heart attack by about 20 percent, the researchers say. Previously, some thought that statins, which include Lipitor, Lovastatin and Crestor, benefited women less than men.

“Statin therapy should be used to treat all appropriate patients, regardless of gender,” said lead researcher Dr. William Kostis, of the cardiology division at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

“Despite prior concerns in the literature, the benefits of statin therapy pertain to both women and men,” he added.

The report was published in the Jan. 30 online edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women and men in the United States. Statins are designed to lower bad cholesterol levels, which increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, and raise good cholesterol levels.

To compare statins’ effectiveness in men and women, Kostis’ team analyzed data from 18 clinical trials that involved more than 140,000 patients, including more than 40,000 women.

Researchers use this kind of study, called a meta-analysis, to look for common patterns that might have been overlooked in the original report.

Kostis’ group found fewer cardiovascular events and fewer deaths from any cause among those taking statins, regardless of gender.

Dr. Lori Mosca, director of preventive cardiology at New-York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and author of an accompanying journal editorial, said that “women and men have the same relative benefit with statins as far as reducing the future risk of a heart problem is concerned, but because women often start off at a lower risk level than men the net benefit is likely less.”

But there isn’t enough data to make solid conclusions about gender differences in the risk-to-benefit ratio for patients who don’t have definite heart disease, she said.

“However, even among patients without heart disease, statins can be considered for prevention in women, but the net benefit and risks, including potential for side effects such as muscle problems and possible increased risk of diabetes, should be taken into consideration,” Mosca said.

Another expert, Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, a professor of cardiovascular medicine and science at the University of California, Los Angeles, said many trials have shown statin treatment reduces fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events in apparently healthy people as well as those with cardiovascular disease.

While national guidelines recommend that men and women receive statin medications to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, some experts felt there was insufficient evidence to make strong recommendations for statin use in women, particularly in regards to preventing cardiovascular disease, Fonarow said.

But this study answers those concerns, he said.

“Statin therapy, together with a healthy diet and exercise, provides substantial cardiovascular protection to women and men,” Fonarow said. “The answer to the question as to whether statins work equally well for both sexes, is a definitive yes.”

More information

For more information on statins, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Article source: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/heart/articles/2012/01/30/statins-equally-effective-in-women-and-men

It’s ‘Buyer Beware’ When Getting Statins Off the Internet

tony — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:43:56 +0000

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Feb. 2 (HealthDay News) — Be wary of buying the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins on the Internet, British researchers say.

Common statins such as Lipitor, Crestor or Zocor may not be the same as advertised and sites often don’t include warnings about side effects or even require a prescription, the researchers noted.

“A potential purchaser of statins in the U.K., where one can only legally receive them on a doctor’s prescription, searching the web for product, is likely to encounter sites from a wide geographical base and of generally poor quality,” said lead researcher David Brown, from the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Portsmouth.

“Potentially, customers who obtain statins in this way, without their doctor’s prescription, may not be aware of potential side effects and may put themselves in harm’s way,” he added.

The report was published Feb. 2 in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology amp; Drug Safety.

For the study, Brown’s team looked at 184 Internet sites offering statins.

“Information necessary for safe use of the product was often poorly presented and in the majority of cases, incomplete,” Brown said. “Where present, side effect information such as warnings, contraindications and possible side effects was in general, unstructured and unhelpful.”

They found that more than 92 percent of these sites did not include information on contraindications for statins. In addition, another 47 percent didn’t include information on drugs that shouldn’t be taken along with statins.

Moreover, up to 96 percent of the sites didn’t include information on adverse symptoms to watch out for, including myopathy, liver disease, hypersensitivity and pancreatitis, the researchers found.

Only 7 percent of the sites listed all known side effects and only 65 percent described any side effects in lay language, they added.

Dr. Laurence Gardner, a professor of medicine and executive dean for education and policy at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, said that this is not really a problem in the United States.

“There are countries that let you buy statins without a medical exam or a prescription,” Gardner said. “In this day and age, that’s nuts.”

In the United States, very high-potency generic statins are available for $4 a month from big box stores, he said. “So, it’s inconceivable that you can buy them cheaper.”

“Moreover, there are enough side effects from these drugs that it requires at least a modest amount of physician oversight,” he said.

In addition, people taking statins need to have their cholesterol monitored to be sure they are hitting target levels and whether the dose of the drug needs to be adjusted, he said.

When buying prescription drugs on the Internet, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises:

Be sure the site requires a prescription and has a pharmacist available to answer your questions.
Buy only from licensed pharmacies in the United States.
Don’t give personal information like credit card numbers unless you are sure the site won’t release them.

More information

For more about buying drugs on the Internet, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Article source: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/02/02/its-buyer-beware-when-getting-statins-off-the-internet

Four-Time Gold Medalist Janet Evans Has the "Heart" for a Comeback

tony — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:43:54 +0000

CINCINNATI, Feb 02, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
A four-time gold medalist embarking on her fourth Olympic Games at age
40 — that’s the name of the game for Janet Evans. Touted as the
one to watch at the London 2012 Olympic Games, “Miss Perpetual Motion”
steps back into the spotlight following a 15 year hiatus from
competitive swimming. Evans is committed to following her heart — and
also taking care of it — to make sure it’s strong enough to take on
competitors half her age.

On her journey, Evans is partnering with Metamucil to share her
inspiring message. During February Hearth Health Month, she will educate
Americans about the small steps they can take to improve their health,
such as taking Metamucil with psyllium fiber to help lower
cholesterol*. High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk
factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke(1),
making getting enough fiber in your diet an imperative and smart step
towards better heart health.

According to the Women’s Heart Foundation, eight million women in the
U.S. are currently living with heart disease, and 35,000 are under the
age of 65(2), proving it is as important as ever to teach
people to be proactive early in life. Evans is vigilant about taking
care of her heart in order to maintain the most important tool she has —
her body. Having suffered two tragic family losses due to heart attacks,
Evans realizes how essential it is to be proactive about health. For
Evans, it was an eye-opener that life is too short not to follow your
dreams — and so she is on her quest to make it back to the Olympic Games.

Evans: Wife, Mom, Proud Sponsor of Mom.

Procter Gamble (PG) will continue their “Thank you, Mom” campaign as
part of their larger sponsorship of Team USA during the London 2012
Olympic Games.

“And to my mom, I say, ‘thank you for helping me into the pool almost 40
years ago today!’” says Evans.

Visit Metamucil’s Facebook Fan page at
www.Facebook.com/Metamucil
to learn more about heart health, PG’s “Thank you, Mom” campaign (or
directly at
http://www.facebook.com/thankyoumom ),
as well as to stay up-to-date on Evans’ progress towards the London 2012
Olympic Games!

About Metamucil

Created and marketed for the first time in 1933 by G.D. Searle Co.,
Metamucil powder was purchased by Procter Gamble in 1985. Made with
100% natural psyllium fiber, Metamucil flavors (Orange, Pink Lemonade
and Berry) fit any lifestyle when you are looking to increase your fiber
intake. Metamucil is the number one doctor and pharmacist(3)recommended
fiber
brand. For more information, visit
http://www.metamucil.com .

About Viscous Soluble Fiber

Viscous soluble fiber like psyllium
fiber, the natural dietary
fiber found in Metamucil, is proven to help lower total and “lousy”
LDL cholesterol* because it forms a thick gel that traps and helps
remove some cholesterol, bile acids and waste in the gut. High
cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for coronary
heart disease, heart attack and stroke(1), making getting
enough fiber in your diet an imperative and smart step towards better
heart health.

About Janet Evans

About PG

Four billion times a day, PG brands touch the lives of people around
the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted,
quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R),
Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Gain(R), Pringles(R), Charmin(R),
Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head
Shoulders(R), Wella(R), Gillette(R), Braun(R) and Fusion(R).

The PG community includes approximately 127,000 employees working in
about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit

http://www.pg.com

for the latest news and in-depth information about PG and its brands.

References:

(1)
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/WhyCholesterolMatters/Why-Cholesterol-Matters_UCM_001212_Article.jsp #.TtPW9OyS41I

(2)

http://www.womensheart.org/content/HeartDisease/heart_disease_facts.asp

(3)Pharmacy Times Survey 2011 (laxative bulk fiber
category)

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50153933lang=en

SOURCE: Procter Gamble


        Procter  Gamble, Global Digestive Wellness
        Scott Popham, 513-622-0219
        popham.sw@pg.com
        OR
        MSLGROUP
        Amanda Walsh, 781-684-6672
        Amanda.Walsh@mslgroup.com

Article source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/four-time-gold-medalist-janet-evans-has-the-heart-for-a-comeback-2012-02-02

New prevention steps are key in campaign for heart health

tony — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:29:51 +0000

The specialist:

A clinical trialist and professor of cardiology at Mount Sinai, Dr. Michael Domanski is a heart specialist who conducts randomized studies to determine which treatment give the best results. A specialist in heart failure and transplant, Domanski is now focusing on finding measures to prevent heart disease.

Who’s at risk:

February is American heart awareness month, highlighting efforts by doctors to promote prevention, early diagnosis and better treatment. Heart attack and stroke might be the most familiar cardiovascular problems, but heart failure is another chronic and potentially fatal disease.

“Heart failure is when the heart simply can’t pump enough blood to support the rest of the body,” says Domanski. “By trying to prevent heart failure, we’re trying to prevent death for millions of Americans.” Currently, 5.8 million Americans are living with heart failure.

For most people, heart failure is the result of a steady diminishment of heart function over time.

“Heart failure is the final common pathway for a lot of diseases, most importantly coronary artery disease (CAD), high blood pressure and other chronic illnesses that fall under the umbrella of heart disease,” says Domanski. “For instance, CAD decreases heart function because the vessels leading to the heart become narrowed due to fatty plaque deposits, reducing blood flow.”

Heart failure has many of the same risk factors as other heart problems: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and smoking.

“The one risk factor we can’t do anything about is having a family history of heart disease — about 30% of heart failure cases are hereditary,” says Domanski. “But taking steps like reducing high blood pressure and getting cholesterol down to hunter-gatherer levels would go a long way toward preventing heart failure for most patients.”

Signs and symptoms:

Heart failure causes a raft of noticeable symptoms.

“The trademark sign is shortness of breath due to fluid backing up in the lungs,” says Domanski. “These patients feel breathless much of the time, especially with exercise and sometimes when they lie flat.”

CHOLESTEROL NUTRITION

The fluid backup can also be visible in swollen ankles and feet, as blood pools in the lower extremities because the heart can’t pump it around the whole body. Other common symptoms are fatigue and waking up in the middle of the night due to shortness of breath.

Traditional treatment:

Doctors are looking to shift the emphasis to prevention so that fewer and fewer patients develop heart failure in the first place. “We’re taking a more preventive approach by using novel methods to eliminate risk factors,” says Domanski. “We have medications and inventions that can help lower cholesterol, control high blood pressure, and help patients stop smoking.”

Article source: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/heart-risk-reduced-cutting-cholesterol-mount-sinai-dr-michael-domanski-article-1.1014181?localLinksEnabled=false