Go Red for Women - 2019 by Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

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Go Red for women 2019

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Friday, February 15, 2019

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Babies in Alaska hospitals will be sporting these tiny, red hats this month, which is American Heart Month.

• Babies go red for heart health ........................... 2 • Fairbanks woman active, healthy after heart scare ......................................... 3

• Simple changes for a longer, healthier life..... 4 • Easy ways to get moving at work ..................... 4 • Heart attacks becoming more common in

Babies Go Red for heart health American Heart Association

younger people ......................................................... 5

f you visit the childbirth center in an Alaska hospital this month, you might notice that the newborns are sporting tiny, red stocking caps. The hats are gifts created by American Heart Association volunteers and distributed to new families in participating hospitals and birthing centers in February, American Heart Month. The handmade tiny hats serve a dual purpose. First, they act as a symbol to encourage families to choose a hearthealthy lifestyle. “Heart disease is the No. 1 threat to our health,” said Mishelle Norris, interim director Porter Heart and Vascular Center. “The good news is, almost 80 percent can be prevented with education and healthy lifestyle choices. By raising awareness with young families, they will have the opportunity to start their children off on a path of good health. A

• Common questions about cholesterol............ 7 Cover photo by Eric Engman ™ Go Red trademark AHA, Red Dress trademark DHHS.

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lifetime of health habits will reduce an individuals risk of developing cardiovascular disease.” The hats also help raise awareness of congenital heart defects which are the most common type of birth defect. “In the U.S., about 40,000 children are born with a heart defect each year. That equals at least eight of every 1,000 infants born,” Norris said. “It’s also interesting to note that over 1.3 million Americans alive today have some form of congenital heart defect. As research and awareness progress, we are better able to serve congenital heart defect patients through their youth and into adulthood.” The Little Hats, Big Hearts™ program was started in 2014 in Chicago and has spread across the country. The program launched in Fairbanks this year with the support of KeyBank. Knitting and crocheting enthusiasts who would like to create red hats for future distribution can find informa-

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Friday, February 15, 2019

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Yoga a lifesaver for Fairbanks woman after heart attack By Kyrie Long KLONG@NEWSMINER.COM

leven years ago, 26-year-old Taryn Hughes gave birth to twins. Eight days later, Hughes collapsed while making tea and had to be medevaced to Anchorage. Hughes says to imagine your heart as a house and think of what happened to her as a tear in the insulation between walls. When the tear occurred, blood built up behind it and, with nowhere to go, the interior “wall” of her heart filled with blood. “In my case it was an artery and the tissue kind of corkscrewed,” she said. Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) has no known cause to date, but occurs most prominently among women who have just given birth. Recognizing symptoms of SCAD is crucial, according to the American Heart Association, because many will not have any other indicators before a heart attack occurs. “Researchers aren’t sure what causes SCAD, but patients are often women who are otherwise healthy, with few or no risk factors for heart disease,” according to the American Heart Association’s website. “Some studies have pointed to a hormonal link, showing a greater incidence among post-partum women and women who are experiencing or close to a menstrual cycle.” Hughes gave birth to children before having her twins without being

Taryn Hughes turned to yoga after suffering heart problems after her twins were born. ERIC ENGMAN/NEWS-MINER

affected by SCAD. However, what began that morning as a pain in her jaw crept down her neck and arm, into the tips of her fingers. After her collapse, she was taken to the hospital and put on morphine. While it helped the pain,

it did nothing to calm Hughes, who could not understand why she couldn’t leave when she felt fine. “I was just terrified and sad,” Hughes said. “I didn’t know what was going on.” It didn’t help that,

while doing her paperwork to be released four days after arriving at Providence Alaska Medical Center, Hughes had her second heart attack, and would spend another four days in the hospital. Hughes, now 37, said

normally heart stints would have been used for her condition, but because she was so young at the time and stints tend to wear down after a decade, she was put on drug therapy instead. Following her heart attack, Hughes says she became very conscious of her diet and her cholesterol. Unable to do any high-impact exercise, she found herself craving something to do, something where she could move. “That ended up actually being a big deal,” she said, “because now I teach yoga and I’ve been practicing for a long time.” Yoga, Hughes said, became a lifestyle. She’s stayed active and attributes her good health to this body consciousness and mindfulness. “A lot of people thing doing yoga is just being a vegan or something,” she said, “but really it’s about slowing down and listening.” Hughes wants people to be more informed on heart disease and the effects even little stressors can have on the body. She says she wants women to know their symptoms may present differently than they would in a man and for people in general to be aware that heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide. “Listen to your body” is the advice Hughes gives to people wanting to look out for their health. She wants to see more people paying attention to their health and taking breaks when they need to. “We don’t do enough

of nothing,” Hughes said. “Especially women.” This was the crux of her speech as an American Heart Association ambassador. She got involved after seeing a Facebook post about women with SCAD and reaching out. Hughes recalled it was an AHA advertisement that helped her figure out what was going on after her initial heart attack. At first, Hughes said she was nervous about public speaking and talking about her condition in general; talking about SCAD at all made her feel ashamed and depressed. That all changed when she spoke at the AHA luncheon last year. “It was kind of scary for me, but when I realized it was for a greater cause than for myself it was easy,” she said. Obviously not one to be deterred by nerves, she hasn’t let heart disease deter her movement in life. “The two things my doctor here told me you could never do again were run a marathon and have a baby,” Hughes said. It turns out, she could and would do both of those things again. She has run a marathon and her 11-year-old twins now have a younger sibling. “I feel really lucky that I was able to resume a normal and even more active life than before,” Hughes said. Kyrie Long is an editorial assistant with the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. She can be reached at 459-7572.

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Friday, February 15, 2019

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Simple changes can help you live longer, healthier Sneak in some healthy activity I during a sedentary work day

f you want to live longer, some simple healthy steps may help you do it. Americans’ life expectancies are shorter compared with almost all other high-income nations. “This divergent trend is very alarming,” said Dr. Frank Hu, chairman of the nutrition department at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, whose research team examined five specific lifestyle factors linked to longevity. Those who adopted all five had a life expectancy at age 50 of 14 years

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longer for women and 12 years longer for men than those who adopted none of the healthy steps, according to the 2018 study in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation. (Average life expectancy in the United States is 78.6 years, according to the latest statistics.) To improve your chances of living to an older age, employ the five healthy habits highlighted in the study. Regular physical activity The AHA recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes per week of

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vigorous aerobic activity. You can also do a combination of the two. It’s best to spread the activity throughout the week and add in muscle-strengthening activity. Being physically active doesn’t have to mean long-distance running or intense gym workouts every day, Hu noted. Consider brisk walking, tennis, bicycling, swimming laps or even dancing. Appropriate body weight Obesity is a risk factor for heart disease, stroke and premature death. The Circulation study suggested maintaining a body mass index of 18.5

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oo much sitting around can bring heart health risks, but when your job has you sitting all day, what do you do? “Sit less, move more,” is the simple advice from Deborah Rohm Young, chair of the panel that wrote a 2016 American Heart Association advisory published in the journal Circulation. The AHA recommends adults to 24.9. A health care provider can offer medical guidance, and you can estimate your BMI yourself through a reputable online calculator. Watch your calorie intake and monitor your weight by stepping on a scale. Many people gain a pound or two pounds a year as they age, leading to an overall weight gain that can reach 30 or 40 pounds and contribute to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, Hu said. “Obesity is a huge epidemic in the United States. That should be a top public health priority,” said Hu, who emphasizes the importance of prevention in American health care. “We should invest more money and more effort on information about a healthy diet and obesity prevention.” A healthy diet What does a healthy diet look like? It includes

get at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week. “Take those smaller breaks throughout the day so you’re not sitting all at once.” In all, U.S. adults spend an average six to eight hours a day being sedentary. But whether it’s based at home or at the office, the work must get done. So Young, a director of behavioral research at Kaiser Permanente

nutrient-rich foods that provide the protein, minerals and vitamins you need. Select plenty of fruits and vegetables, and try to work them into every meal and snack. Other foods to emphasize in a healthy eating pattern are whole grains, low-fat dairy products, skinless poultry and fish, nuts and legumes and non-tropical vegetable oils. Try to limit sodium, red meat, saturated fat and sugars, including sugary beverages. Remember to drink plenty of water for hydration. Don’t smoke The United States overall has made strides in reducing smoking, but there’s still more work to do, Hu said. Cigarette smoking leads to a higher risk of dying of coronary heart disease. Smoking increases the effects of other heart disease risk factors, such as high

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blood pressure, high cholesterol and physical inactivity. Never smoking is the best option and can be a factor in improving life expectancy. For those who do smoke, quitting is key. Drink in moderation Consuming too much alcohol can result in higher risk for various health problems. It can increase the level of some fats in the blood, known as triglycerides, and can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure and certain cancers. It can also increase your calorie consumption, which can increase obesity and diabetes risk. The AHA considers moderate alcohol consumption to be an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. (A drink is 12 ounces of beer, 4 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces 80-proof spirits, or 1 ounce 100-proof spirits.)

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Friday, February 15, 2019

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Heart attacks becoming more common in younger people

eart attacks — once characterized as a part of “old man’s disease” – are increasingly occurring in younger people, especially women, according to new research. The study presented Sunday at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions meeting in Chicago and published in the AHA journal Circulation, sought to investigate heart attacks in the young, a group frequently overlooked in cardiovascular research. Past research has shown heart attack rates in the U.S. have declined in recent decades among

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Southern California, suggests setting a timer to remember to move around for five minutes every hour, or 10 minutes every two hours. Here are other ways to introduce movement: • Walk during breaks, and use longer breaks to stroll outdoors. • A midday walk during a lunch break can help the mind to focus on the afternoon’s work. • Stand during meetings. • Take the stairs instead of the elevator. • Walk to talk with a co-worker in person rather than using the phone or electronic messaging. • Use standing or adjustable height desks to

35- to 74-year-olds. But for the new study, researchers wanted to look specifically at how many younger people were having heart attacks. They included data from a multi-state study of more than 28,000 people hospitalized for heart attacks from 1995 to 2014. The results showed 30 percent of those patients were young, age 35 to 54. More importantly, they found the people having heart attacks were increasingly young, from 27 percent at the start of the study to 32 percent at the end. “Cardiac disease is sometimes considered an old man’s disease, but the trajectory of heart

attacks among young people is going the wrong way. … It’s actually going up for young women,” said Dr. Sameer Arora, the study’s lead author. “This is concerning. … It tells us we need to focus more attention on this population.” Among women having heart attacks, the increase in young patients went from 21 percent to 31 percent, a bigger jump than in young men. Researchers also found that young women had a lower probability than men of getting lipid-lowering therapy, including antiplatelet drugs, beta blockers, coronary angiography and coronary revascularization. “Women were not

avoid sitting while on the phone or at the computer. • Exercise at your desk, with squats or jumping jacks. Even simple ankle and arm flexes or stretching occasionally while sitting at a desk gets muscles active, Young said. Though the cost of sedentary behavior has not been quantified in dollars, the costs of poor health and ensuing productivity loss in the workplace has. It’s about $225.8 billion overall per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Legislation under consideration in Congress, called the PHIT Act, would classify gym memberships and exercise class costs as medical expenses for tax pur-

poses, Young said. The proposal, in the works for about a decade, centers on pre-tax medical accounts. The end-ofyear government shutdown ran out the clock on a key Senate vote for the bill, so the legislation will have to be re-introduced in the House and Senate in 2019. More companies are using workplace wellness programs to encourage employees to boost their physical activity and take other steps that contribute to better cardiovascular and overall health. But programs also must be encouraging and welcoming so that all workers, not just the “fitness buffs” feel comfortable enough to participate, Young said. “Just getting in that door can be intimidating.”

managed the same way as men, and that could be for a combination of reasons,” said Arora, a cardiology fellow at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. “Traditionally, coronary artery disease is seen as a man’s disease, so women who come to the emergency department with chest pain might not be seen as high-risk,” he said. “Also, the presentation of heart attack is different in men and women. Women are more likely to present with atypical symptoms compared to men, and their heart attack is more likely to be missed.” Dr. Ileana L. Piña, a cardiologist who was not

involved in the research, called the study “another wake-up call to physicians, especially male physicians” to pay attention to the symptoms of heart disease in women. “The number one killer of women is not breast cancer or uterine cancer; the number one killer of women is heart disease,” she said. “And until we pay attention to this, these kinds of figures are going to keep coming up.” Piña and Arora both said they would like to see women better represented in future studies on heart disease. “It’s very important to enroll enough women so we can actually take a look at the female pop-

ulation separately,” said Piña, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. But focusing on your health can be particularly challenging for women because of long-held gender beliefs about parenting and household work, she said. “It’s hard when a woman is working two jobs and taking care of the family, too,” Piña said. “They’ll do anything for their families, but they often leave themselves for last. We need to teach women to change their health attitude and take care of themselves. If they don’t do well, their families won’t do well either.”

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Friday, February 15, 2019

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Friday, February 15, 2019

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Answers to common questions about cholesterol

ith the release of new guidelines for treating and managing cholesterol, you may have some questions – not only about the changes in the update, but about cholesterol itself. Let’s start by acknowledging that while cholesterol is often talked about, it’s tricky to understand. You probably know that high cholesterol is bad. However, you may not know there’s a bigger picture involved when determining what’s considered too high. Put another way, the same number could be in the normal range for you but considered high for your best friend. The only way to know your cholesterol situation and, more importantly, what to do about it, is by working with your health care provider. If a healthier lifestyle and/or treatment is needed, your provider will work with you to determine the best plan. This is important because poorly managed cholesterol could lead to heart attack, stroke and other major health problems. Below is essentially a brief Cholesterol Care 101 course, the basics needed to understand, treat and manage cholesterol. What is cholesterol? “First of all, it’s important for people to understand that cholesterol is itself not a bad thing,” said Dr. Robert Eckel,

former president of the American Heart Association. “Cholesterol is an important part of the body that every cell has on its surface. But in our bloodstream, we don’t want too much and the vehicle that carries it can be important.” Cholesterol is a waxy substance your body uses to build cells. Your liver makes all the cholesterol you need. However, dietary cholesterol — the kind you take in through food and some drinks (like milk) — causes your liver to send even more cholesterol into your bloodstream. Cholesterol is carried in the blood in the form of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL). HDL cholesterol is “good” cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is the “bad” kind. A simple rule of thumb is that you want as little of the bad kind as possible. And that’s where treatment is emphasized. The bad kind of cholesterol can collect in the artery walls eventually causing stiffness and narrowing. This is atherosclerosis, which can be the basis of a heart attack or stroke. Good cholesterol helps by removing the bad, although that’s not easy to do. HDL can only help in the fight, not win it. “HDL is not something we try to alter with medication. It’s important in predicting risk but changing it is best done via lifestyle changes,” said Eckel, director of the Lipid Clinic at University of Colorado Hospital, and among the developers of the AHA’s Check. Change. Control. Choles-

terol program to improve management of cholesterol. He also was part of the team that created the cholesterol guidelines that were published in 2013 and just updated in November 2018. The total cholesterol figure you’ll get from your health care provider is based on HDL, LDL and a third factor: triglycerides. Triglycerides not only circulate in blood but are the most common type of fat in the body. A high triglyceride level combined with high LDL or low HDL cholesterol is linked to those fatty buildups within the artery walls that increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. What do cholesterol numbers mean? Cholesterol numbers mean different things for each person’s situation. Based on your personal risk, your cholesterol measures will be considered as you and your health care provider discuss what to do next. “There are a lot of factors that enter into the determination of the best level for each individual. For instance, someone in their 40s and 50s the LDL cholesterol may be slightly elevated, but the person might have no other risk factors,” Eckel said. Dr. Scott M. Grundy, chairman of the writing committee for the new cholesterol guidelines, notes that when doctors are working out an action plan with their patients, they should consider a person’s “risk-enhancing factors” such as family

history, kidney disease or other personal scenarios. “These are important,” said Grundy, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dallas. “Patients should be aware of these and work to determine how to think about them with their doctor.” How is elevated or high cholesterol treated? Treatment comes in two forms: lifestyle changes and medication. “We always want people to start with making lifestyle changes,” Eckel said. “That means eating a diet low in saturated

fat and trans fats, and enriched with fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, lean meat, fish and nuts. Another lifestyle change is being physically more active.” If that sounds like a plan for losing excess weight and keeping it off, that’s exactly the point. A healthy body weight helps reduce LDL levels and helps people with normal cholesterol levels stay that way. Sometimes, diet and exercise alone are enough to get numbers into the comfort zone. Sometimes, they’re not. For those people, the next option is usually taking a cholesterol-lowering medication called a statin.

“This is a very well-proven, evidence-based option,” Eckel said. “A lot of clinical trials strongly support taking statins.” Again, your health care provider plays a key role, determining the type and dose that’s best for you. In some cases, your provider may prescribe other or additional medications that are not statins, such as ezetimibe or a PCSK9 inhibitor. “The neat thing about cholesterol-lowering plans is that you can see changes quite quickly,” Eckel said, noting that cholesterol levels can improve within weeks of diet changes or medications.

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