Diabetes Guidelines

Children waiting for heart surgery
Thousands of very sick children with heart defects await surgery each year. 20% of them die within one year of their birth.

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Vitamin D Levels Are Easy To Check And Replenish To Help Avoid Strokes And Heart Attacks Associated With Metabolic …
Sacramento – UC Davis researchers released a study in December which showed that people with Metabolic Syndrome had significantly lower levels of vitamin D. Metabolic Syndrome is associated with obesity, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes, and is becoming more prevalent in our population.

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Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of the arteries each time your heart beats. Your blood pressure is highest each time the heart beats, pumping blood into the arteries. This is called systolic pressure, and is the high number in your reading. The diastolic pressure measures the pressure in between beats, when your heart is at rest. Your blood pressure is lowest while sleeping and although it varies some during the day, it remains close to the same. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. If your systolic pressure rises to 140 or above, or if your diastolic pressure rises to 90 or above, this is considered high blood pressure.

According to the American Heart Association, an estimated one in three U.S. adults have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, and an alarming one-third of those don’t even know they have it. It’s no wonder this condition has long been called “the silent killer”.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure. And when it exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times. If you don’t have high blood pressure by age 55, your chance of developing it at some point in your life is 90 percent, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Although high blood pressure can occur in both children and adults, it is most common in those over age 35, and is most prevalent in African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women taking birth control pills. Although many people get high blood pressure as they get older, it is not part of the aging process! Proper diet, exercise and lifestyle changes can help in prevention and lowering of blood pressure.

Commonly Prescribed Medication for High Blood Pressure.

In 90–95 percent of cases, research scientists don’t know what causes high blood pressure, but fortunately they know enough to have developed both drug and non-drug products to treat it effectively.

A wide variety of medications are available to medical professionals for treating high blood pressure. Although other classes of medications are sometimes prescribed, the most commonly prescribed can be broken down into five different classes of medications that work in different ways to lower pressure.

· Diuretics (water pills) work in the kidney to get rid of excess water and sodium.

· Beta-Blockers reduce nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels to cause the heart to beat more slowly and with less force.

· Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors prevent the formation of a hormone called angiotensin II, which would otherwise cause vessels to narrow.

· Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARB) block the action of angiotensin II.

· Calcium Channel Blockers prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels, causing blood vessels to relax.

As of June, 2005, there didn’t appear to be much global agreement among medical experts worldwide in terms of recommended first-line therapy for treating high blood pressure. It is important to note that in June, 2006, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the British Hypertension Society have come to an agreement within the UK, and have issued new guidelines, including important changes to help guide primary care physicians in determining first-line therapy. A major change is that Beta-Blockers, which have been shown to be less effective in preventing strokes and more likely to cause diabetes, are no longer recommended as routine treatment for the majority of people with high blood pressure. Instead, ACE Inhibitors (or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers if there are side effects) are now recommended in the UK for most people, with some exceptions, before trying other classes of medication for hypertension.

As with any medication, there may be side effects from taking ACE Inhibitors, and some should not use them at all, including black people of any age. According to the Mayo Clinic, a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, also in June, 2006, indicated an increased risk of birth defects in children whose mothers took ACE inhibitors during the first trimester, adding to the known risks during the second and third trimesters. While most people can tolerate ACE Inhibitors, some may experience side effects such as cough, elevated blood potassium levels, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, weakness, abnormal taste (metallic or salty taste), and rash. Rare, but more serious side effects include kidney failure, allergic reactions, a decrease in white blood cells, and swelling of tissues (angioedema).

Very similar to ACE Inhibitors are ARB medications, and depending on the individual’s particular health issues, a doctor may switch between the two, and may sometimes prescribe both. The most common side effects with ARBs are cough, elevated potassium levels, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, diarrhea, abnormal taste sensation (metallic or salty taste), and rash. Compared to ACE inhibitors, cough occurs less often with ARBs. The most serious, but rare, side effects are kidney failure, liver failure, allergic reactions, a decrease in white blood cells, and swelling of tissues (angioedema).

On January 19, 2007, Rush University Medical Center reported findings that ACE Inhibitors and ARBs prevent people from getting diabetes, and that diuretics and beta-blockers increase the chance that a person becomes diabetic. The authors pointed out that more studies are required to determine whether new-onset diabetes leads to as many heart attacks, strokes or death, as long-standing diabetes. However, their data suggests that the differences between antihypertensive drugs regarding the risk for new-onset diabetes are real and are significant. Melaleuca offers a natural high blood pressure remedy called ProStolic™ which interacts with a natural body enzyme much like the ACE Inhibitors and ARB medications to relax blood vessels and allow healthy blood flow. As a comparison, it might be helpful to understand how the ACE and ARB class of drugs react, as well as how the non-drug hypertension remedy ProStolic™ formula reacts with the body.

In Part 2 of our Blood Pressure Research Report we will discuss the ACE Inhibitors and Angiotension Receptor Blockers, Natural Therapy for Maintaining Healthy Blood Pressure and benefits of Bioactive Casein Hydrolysate Tripeptides VPP and IPP.

Author
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/blood-pressure-research-report-safe-treatment-for-high-blood-pressure-part-1-123589.html

Bellingham health fair focuses on heart and diabetes but has broader appeal, organizers say
BELLINGHAM – A health fair Saturday, May 7, will help those living with diabetes and heart disease b

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Cardiovascular care in America is spiraling out of control.  We are now spending more than one hundred billion dollars a year for treatment and management of cardiovascular catastrophes (heart attack, stroke and diseases of the vascular system). This extraordinary amount of money is spent on victims of a disease that is largely preventable.

In The Great American Heart Hoax I have outlined the problems of cardiovascular care in America that is draining our healthcare dollars and contributing to our financial collapse.  In addition, I point out key areas of wasteful spending on expensive and risky diagnostic studies as well as procedures that are of no benefit to the millions of Americans who fall prey to the cardiovascular intervention industry.  What may surprise you is what you believed to be the ultimate of cardiac care in this country is often unnecessary and dangerous.

Examples of inappropriate cardiovascular care are summarized below:

1. Coronary angioplasty and stent insertion: While coronary angioplasty (the opening up of a blocked artery with a catheter device) and stent placement can be indicated and potentially lifesaving in acute coronary syndromes such as heart attacks, utilizing this technology in stable patients who have coronary blockages is inappropriate and has never been shown to reduce the risk of future heart attack or prolong life as compared to more conservative therapy (lifestyle changes and medications as indicated).  Indeed balloon angioplasty and stent placement can often lead to an increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared to an intensive prevention approach.  Despite this well-researched fact the cardiovascular intervention industry continues like a freight-train out of control.  This year over one million stents will be inserted in patients across America and many of these procedures are clearly not indicated.
2. Heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft surgery): like catheter-based intervention, heart bypass surgery is clearly indicated in select unstable patients, however bypass surgery is over-utilized in the majority of patients with obstructive coronary artery disease.  Major clinical trials have failed to show a benefit in clinical outcome in the vast majority of stable patients treated with bypass surgery.
3. CT-Scans: While CT scans are often necessary in unstable patients in the emergency room as a diagnostic modality, the proliferation of this technology to screen Americans for coronary artery disease is inappropriate and leads to a depletion of our valuable health care dollars.    There is no evidence that subjecting yourself to a CT scan will lower your risk of having a heart attack or prolong your life.  Most disturbing is the fact that these procedures subject unsuspecting men and women to excessive radiation exposure which stays with them for a lifetime and increases their risk of cancer.  At the end of the day ask yourself the following question: do I need to pay a large sum of money and be bombarded with a significant dose of radiation just to be told to do what I should be doing anyway?   Follow a healthy-lifestyle with optimal nutrition, regular exercise, stress management and smoking cessation.
4. Stress-nuclear studies: As with CT scans, stress nuclear studies are expensive and lead to significant amounts of radiation exposure via intravenous radioisotopes.  These tests should be avoided in the stable population.  If a stress test is recommended with imaging why not choose a stress-echo study which is less expensive than a stress-nuclear study and utilizes harmless sound waves to provide similar information?
5. Cardiac catheterization: Another expensive diagnostic tool that carries a multitude of significant risks.  These risks are justified in unstable patients however this procedure should not be performed indiscriminately on stable individuals.

The Solution

There is a better road we can walk down that will provide us with a lifetime of heart health.   This road is called progress road and it costs a fraction of the journey down the dead-end road, with excessive interventions and diagnostic studies that don’t improve clinical outcome.  Progress road is truly the biggest bang for the buck! 

Progress road utilizes clinically proven prevention rather than needless intervention to keep us healthy and lowers our health care costs that cripple the financial health of America thereby impeding our ability to compete in a global economy. 

It consists of:

1. A heart- healthy Mediterranean-style diet.
2. Regular exercise:  30 minutes of walking should be considered a daily routine.
3. Stress management:  Simple techniques such as yoga, breathing exercise or relaxation response training can serve to lower our blood pressure and pulse and protect us from vascular insults such as heart attacks and strokes.
4. Control cholesterol:  Following a Mediterranean-style diet will significantly lower cholesterol levels in the majority of Americans.  Judicious use of medications such as generic statins could also be utilized if required.
5. Blood pressure control:  Blood pressure can be managed with lifestyle changes (Mediterranean diet, exercise, smoking cessation and stress management).  Blood pressure medication should be used in select patients if lifestyle changes do not achieve goal.
6. Avoid metabolic syndrome and diabetes:  again diet and exercise are key to prevent or reverse these conditions.
7. Achieve ideal body weight.
8. Lower inflammation and oxidative stress: a Mediterranean diet, regular exercise, weight control, avoiding pollution and pesticides, good oral hygiene (daily flossing) all serve to lower inflammation and free radical induced oxidative stress that leads to cardiovascular disease.
9. Have a routine physical exam with comprehensive blood work: an ongoing relationship with your personal treating physician to discuss prevention strategies is key. Get the proper screening blood studies to uncover hidden risk of cardiovascular disease.
10. Avoid unnecessary procedures that increase the cost of medical care and do not lead to improved clinical outcomes.

At this critical juncture, we have to decide what is best for the health and wealth of the citizens of this country.  Will it be business as usual with indiscriminate utilization of diagnostic and interventional procedures that cost billions and don’t improve the overall health of Americans or do we want a health care system that is affordable and delivers preventive care that gives us the biggest bang for our buck?  I think the answer is clear.  The Great American Heart Hoax chronicles all that is wrong with our current health care system for cardiovascular treatment and it also delivers a concise, practical and clinically proven 10- step approach that can lead us to the promise land of affordable health care, fewer heart attacks and strokes and freedom from a misguided cardiovascular intervention industry that is sabotaging our financial and medical well-being.

Copyright © 2009 Michael Ozner, M.D., author of The Great American Heart Hoax: Lifesaving Advice Your Doctor Should Tell You About Heart Disease Prevention (But Probably Never Will)

Author Bio
Michael Ozner, MD, FACC, FAHA, author of The Great American Heart Hoax: Lifesaving Advice Your Doctor Should Tell You About Heart Disease Prevention (But Probably Never Will), is one of America’s leading advocates for heart disease prevention. Dr. Ozner is a board-certified cardiologist, a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and of the American Heart Association, medical director of Wellness & Prevention at Baptist Health South Florida and a well-known regional and national speaker in the field of preventive cardiology. He is the medical director of the Cardiovascular Prevention Institute of South Florida and symposium director for “Cardiovascular Disease Prevention,” an annual international meeting highlighting advances in preventive cardiology. He was the recipient of the 2008 American Heart Association Humanitarian Award. Dr. Ozner is also the author of the BenBella Books title The Miami Mediterranean Diet.

Michael Ozner, Md, Facc, Faha
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-great-american-heart-hoax-economic-and-political-implications-738679.html

After being diagnosed with diabetes, many people work on improving their health to decrease the likelihood of complications. Kidney disease, skin disorders, blindness and foot problems are well-known complications of the condition. However, there is another risk that often hides in the background, unbeknownst to the patient.

Heart disease and stroke are major complications associated with diabetes, yet nearly 70% of people with diabetes aren’t aware of the connection between heart attack, stroke and diabetes.* Because people with diabetes often experience high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels along with other health problems, they are at an increased risk of developing arterial disease – a condition that can ultimately lead to a stroke or heart attack. Although this may seem dire, the long-term outlook for diabetics can be positive if risk factors are managed properly.

A Heart-to-Heart Matter

If you’re wondering how diabetes affects your heart, here’s how: A spike in blood sugar, blood pressure or cholesterol can harm your blood vessels by making it easier for fat deposits to cling to the arteries. Arteries and blood vessels can become blocked, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Fortunately, there are strategies for warding off arterial disease.

One of the first steps in determining whether you are at risk for diabetes complications is to assess your overall health. If you smoke, drink heavily and/or eat poorly, your health may be at risk. These factors can harm anyone’s health, but are especially dangerous for a person with diabetes. Making changes to your lifestyle takes effort, but can greatly reduce complications. To help maintain heart health, the American Diabetes Association suggests following the ABCs of diabetes care.

Lower your Hemoglobin A1C. Keeping your Hemoglobin A1C (a blood test that indicates how your blood sugar control has been over the past three months) below 7% can help prevent complications.

Monitor blood pressure. Have your blood pressure checked regularly. If your doctor tells you it’s high, you may need to work on reducing stress or following an exercise routine. Medication may also be an option for getting blood pressure under control.

Tackle bad cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is unhealthy for your heart. This type of cholesterol can lead to fat build-up in your arteries, increasing the chance that you’ll develop cardiovascular disease. By lowering your cholesterol, you can help keep your heart in working order.

On the Right Path

If you have diabetes and are concerned about your risk for heart attack or stroke, talk to your physician. Your health care provider can help monitor your diabetes and suggest ways to improve your health.

Learn how to live healthy with diabetes. Research your questions at: http://living-healthy-with-diabetes-swicki.eurekster.com/

* Source: Mayo Clinic.com.

Diabetes Info
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/manage-the-risk-the-link-between-diabetes-heart-disease-and-stroke-112130.html

Copyright (c) 2008 Katie Kelley

Recently a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that type 2 diabetes patients who were treated with low-dose aspirin were found to have no significant decrease of antherosclerotic events, also known as hardening or clotting of the arteries, although those over the age of 65 with heart disease and type 2 diabetes did see a reduction of antherosclerotic incidence.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) reports that the development of diabetes means more than just managing insulin levels, but it also requires the management of potential risks such as heart disease, heart failure and stroke. According to the ADA, “people with diabetes must also manage blood pressure and cholesterol and talk to their health provider to learn about other ways to reduce their chance for heart attacks and strokes.”

What is Cardiovascular Disease?

Cardiovascular disease occur for many reasons but often leads to heart failure, which occurs when the blood backs up into the pulmonary veins, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). There are an array of disease and conditions related to cardiovascular disease including:

* 
 arrhythmia

* 
 cardiac rehab

* 
 cholesterol

* 
 congenital heart disease

* 
 diabetes

* 
 heart attack

* 
 heart failure

* 
 high blood pressure

* 
 obesity

* 
 peripheral artery disease

* 
 stroke

Additionally, there are several signs and symptoms that individuals who have type 2 diabetes should watch for, as they may be developing heart failure related to their diabetes or other heart disease: 
 * shortness of breath

* persistent coughing or wheezing

* 
 edema

* tiredness/fatigue

* 
 nausea

* 
 confusion, impaired thinking

* increased heart rate

Developing, Treating Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is when the body cannot or does not produce enough insulin, also known as blood sugar, in order to provide the body with energy. A small sampling of type 2 diabetes drugs available for prescription purposes include the following:

* 
 Avandia

* 
 Actos

* 
 Byetta

Commonly these drugs are used to either introduce insulin to the body or to use the body?s natural insulin levels within the body. However, there are an array of type 2 diabetes drug side effects that can occur. One such drug is known as Byetta, exenatide, from Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly, which has been associated with severe risks among type 2 diabetes patients.

Byetta has allegedly been causing pancreatitis among patients. Those consuming the drug Byetta for their condition may need to consult medical attention or speak to their doctor about potential risks common among the drug’s side effects. It may also be necessary for a patient to contact a pharmaceutical attorney to develop litigation or a Byetta class action lawsuit. 


Katie Kelley

Roundup: 2010 Advances in Heart Disease and Stroke Care
TUESDAY, Dec. 28 (HealthDay News) — 2010 was a year that enjoyed continued advances in the treatment of heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Read more on HealthDay via Yahoo! News

Charlie’s Angels star Kate Jackson underwent adult cardiac surgery to correct a hole in her heart. Oscar-winner Patty Duke lives with coronary heart disease. Comedic actress Phyllis Diller suffered a heart attack in 1999, and celebrated author Joyce Carol Oates lives with tachycardia, or rapid heartbeat. Long thought of as a man’s disease, heart disease is beginning to gain exposure from female celebrities. And what they’re saying may surprise you – heart disease is a reality for women, too.

Heart disease affects more than 8 million women in the U.S., killing 267,000 each year.* It’s the leading cause of death among women – even six times deadlier than breast cancer.* Being aware of the risks and taking steps toward better health is vital for women in battling this potential killer.

Be Heart Smart

Some factors of heart disease are uncontrollable – a family history of heart disease increases your risk, as does age (women’s risk increases after age 55). The good news is that a number of other factors can be controlled by making smart choices on a daily basis. In fact, living a healthy lifestyle can lower your risk of heart disease by 82%.** Take action for better heart health now by following these tips.

Keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check. If your numbers are high, a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise could help lower them. Contact your healthcare provider to assess your risk and determine an individualized course of action.

Maintain a healthy weight. Carrying excess weight puts strain on your heart and increases your risk for heart disease, even if you have no other risk factors.

Know your risk for diabetes. Two out of three people with diabetes die of heart disease or stroke.*** Your chance of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood increases if you are overweight, physically inactive or have a family history of diabetes.

Get regular physical activity. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-level activity on most (or all) days of the week. Three 10-minute periods will work, too.

Eat a heart-healthy diet. Fruit, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and whole grains will do your body – and heart – good.

Quit smoking. After kicking the habit for just one year, your risk for heart disease drops by more than half.**

You don’t need to be a celebrity to raise awareness of heart disease. Start taking care of yourself now with a healthful lifestyle and regular screenings. And encourage those in your life – both men and women – to do the same.

* Source: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.

** Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

*** Source: American Diabetes Association.

Diabetes Info
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/calling-all-women-take-steps-against-heart-disease-97165.html

Scientists recently garnered a breakthrough for heart failure patients after finding success by administering hypothermic therapy. News reports told of the outcome of a heart failure study that found “only 10 to 15 percent [of cardiac arrest patients] recover without brain damage.

The American Heart Association (AHA) reported in a 2003 study of the therapy that it was used in the 1950s, although it was “subsequently abandoned because of uncertain benefit and difficulties with its use. Currently, the state of New York is attempting to bring the therapy to all hospitals within the state, but the implementation of the therapy is being met with some hostility due to costs and lack of medical equipment at smaller hospitals based in poorer areas of the state.

Cooling Treatment for Cardiac Patients

According to The New York Times, therapeutic hypothermia is “believed to reduce the chances of brain damage and increase the chances of survival, even if it means bypassing the emergency rooms,” however, “only those cardiac arrest patients revived enough to show a pulse and whose heart problems are not associated with some other trauma are eligible for the cooling treatment.”

Studies from both the American Heart Association and The New England Journal of Medicine have boasted the therapies’ usefulness finding “55 percent of the patients who received the cooling treatment ended up with moderate or no brain damage, compared with 39 percent who received standard treatment.”

Heart Failure Causes

There are an array of heart failure causes including the following, according to the American Heart Association:

* coronary artery disease

* past heart attacks

* high blood pressure

* abnormal heart valves

* heart muscle disease

* inflammation

* congenital heart disease

* severe lung disease

* diabetes

* severe anemia

* hyperthyroidism

* arrhythmia/dysrhythmia

Additionally, there is a unique and unintended side effect associated with the consumption of a type 2 diabetes drug, Avandia, which has been found to increase the risk of heart failure and heart damage among patients.

In a New England Journal of Medicine article from 2007, Avandia (rosiglitazone) was found to be the cause of heart failure among patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also issued a health public safety advisory on the drug’s side effects, which also includes the onset of a early osteoporosis among patients and the increased risk of bone loss among women patients.

The severity of the Avandia dangers may require a patient to locate not only a medical professional but a pharmaceutical lawyer as well, as a free legal consultation as to the development of an Avandia class action lawsuit may be necessary.

Peter Kent
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/patients-suffering-from-heart-failure-find-promising-treatment-729009.html