Your Heart Health e-News - February 2011

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February 04, 2011

In This Issue
Healthier Lifestyles May Prevent 340,000 U.S. Cancers a Year: Study
Narrowed Leg Arteries Disable Women Faster Than Men: Study
Rare Form of Stroke Strikes More Often Than Thought: Report
Weight-Loss Surgery May 'Remodel' Heart
Researchers Craft Blood Vessels for Heart, Kidney Patients
If Mom Had a Stroke, Daughter May Be Prone to Heart Attack
Half of Adults Have Hypertension or High Cholesterol: CDC
Experts Issue Guidelines on Care of Clogged Neck Arteries
Today's Feature

Happy Heart Month

February is American Heart Month.  For more information, go to www.heart.org.

Welcome to Dr. Caren and Dr. Urman's Heart Health e-Newsletter - It's our one year anniversary! 

The end of February will mark one year since we started this complimentary monthly educational service for our patients and their families. Please click on the header above to enter our website and learn more about our practice. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or wish to make an appointment.  

The column on the right has heart-related stories from the last several weeks which we feel are most important and most likely to be of interest to our patients. Additional general information and recent news about our office can also be found to the right. The latest news items about heart health are found below.

Important Information for our patients with Anthem/Blue Cross medical insurance policies: ==> ==>  ==>

Look at the bottom of the right column to see important information regarding a change in our policy with Anthem / Blue Cross taking effect March 15, 2011.  This change is taking place to preserve our cherished doctor-patient relationships. 

Today (Friday, February 4) is National Wear-Red Day

Too few people realize that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women (and of men).  But the good news is that heart disease can largely be prevented.  Spreading the Go Red For Women message---Love you heart--raises awareness of heart disease and empowers women to reduce their risk.  Go to www.goredforwomen.org for more infomation on the Go Red For Women Movement.

Health News

Healthier Lifestyles May Prevent 340,000 U.S. Cancers a Year: Study

Regular exercise, balanced diet, limited alcohol help ward off disease, researchers find

THURSDAY, Feb. 3 About 340,000 cancer cases in the United States could be prevented each year if more Americans ate a healthy diet, got regular exercise and limited their alcohol intake, according to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF).

These types of lifestyle cha... Read the full article

Narrowed Leg Arteries Disable Women Faster Than Men: Study

Women were 2.3 times less likely to be able to walk a continuous quarter mile after 4 years

THURSDAY, Feb. 3 Women coping with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the legs appear to lose mobility faster than men, new research reveals.

PAD is marked by narrowing and blockages of the peripheral arteries, usually those in the legs and pelvis. The most common ... Read the full article

Rare Form of Stroke Strikes More Often Than Thought: Report

New recommendations out on how to diagnose, treat strokes that involve veins, not arteries

THURSDAY, Feb. 3 A rare form of stroke that involves veins instead of arteries occurs more often than thought, according to a new American Heart Association/American Stroke Association scientific statement.

This type of stroke -- cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) -- i... Read the full article

Weight-Loss Surgery May 'Remodel' Heart

Structural changes signal a less stressed, more normal heart muscle, but more research needed, experts say

THURSDAY, Feb. 3 Besides enabling severely obese people to lose weight, gastric bypass surgery seems to help their overly stressed hearts return to more normal function and appearance, a new study suggests.

Obesity is a risk factor for man... Read the full article

Researchers Craft Blood Vessels for Heart, Kidney Patients

Ready-made and easily stored, bioengineered transplants did well in animal trials

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 2 Scientists say they have devised a process to create ready-made, easily stored blood vessels that may potentially be used for patients undergoing heart surgery or kidney dialysis.

Using donor tissue cultured on biodegradable tube-shaped frames calle... Read the full article

If Mom Had a Stroke, Daughter May Be Prone to Heart Attack

Researchers can't say if genes or environment play bigger role to explain the link

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 2 A mother's history of stroke can help predict a daughter's chances of not only having a stroke but also her chances of having a heart attack, new research shows.

"Our new study shows that stroke in mothers is associated with heart attacks in daughte... Read the full article

Half of Adults Have Hypertension or High Cholesterol: CDC

Many Americans with these conditions are not treated effectively, health officials say

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 Despite some improvements, far too many Americans have out-of-control blood pressure and cholesterol levels -- both primary risk factors for heart disease, federal health officials warn.

According to the latest report from the U.S. Centers for Disease... Read the full article

Experts Issue Guidelines on Care of Clogged Neck Arteries

Ultrasound scans should only be used for patients at high risk of stroke, advisory says

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 There isn't sufficient evidence to recommend widespread screening or routine ultrasound tests to check for blocked neck arteries that could cause a stroke.

That's one key finding from new guidelines on the care of the clogged arteries, released Jan. 3... Read the full article

Featured:
Stress-Reduction Therapy May Help Heart Disease Patients
  Reducing anxiety cuts heart attacks, deaths and other cardiovascular events, research suggests
Certain Painkillers Appear to Boost Odds for Heart Attack
  But absolute risk from NSAIDs is small and doesn't outweigh benefits for many patients
Heavy Drinking May Boost Risk for Atrial Fibrillation
  The more someone drinks, the more likely the heart-rhythm disorder
Insurance and Billing
  Please click here to see frequently asked questions (FAQs). Learn why we believe our policies allow us to maintain our high level of personalized patient care.
New Campaign Urges Women to Know Signs of Heart Attack
  Too few women recognize one, U.S. health officials say
Breast Cancer Radiation Before 1984 Tied to Heart Disease
  Survivors who had radiotherapy decades ago have raised risk of death from heart disease
Lowering BP Can Help Cut Women's Heart Disease Risk
  15-point reduction in systolic blood pressure may aid disease prevention in middle age, study finds
Meet Dr. Caren
  Get to know Dr. Caren.
Meet Dr. Urman
  Learn more about the founder and medical editor of our patient newsletter
Dr. Urman interviewed on CBS morning news about New CPR Guidelines
  Dr. Mark Urman, immediate-past Medical Director of the Preventive and Consultative Heart Center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute comments on new guidelines.
High Level of 'Good' Cholesterol Alone May Not Protect Heart
  How well HDL functions may matter more than how high the level is
Daily Fruit, Veggies May Cut Risk of Heart Disease Death
  Extra servings linked to greater reductions in risk, study suggests
Five Steps to a Healthier Heart
  Simple lifestyle changes can keep cardiovascular disease at bay
The More You Walk, the Lower Your Diabetes Risk: Study
  10,000 steps daily 5 days a week three times more protective than just 3,000 steps a day
Too Much TV May Be Linked to Heart Attack, Death Risk
  Excessive leisure-time sitting increases chances of cardiovascular problems, study finds
More Evidence That TV, Computer Time Could Harm Heart
  After treadmill test, cardiac recovery worse in those with more 'screen time,' study finds
Taking Short Breaks From Sitting May Help Waistline and Heart
  Even a little more activity spread through the average workday boosts health
Health Tip: Slow Down When You Eat
  You may wind up eating less
How to Get Smart About Weight Loss
  Dietitian suggests realistic goals and tracking progress as starting points
Sugary Drinks, Foods Might Put Teens at Risk for Heart Disease
  Study found those who consumed the most showed more signs of pending cardiovascular trouble
Health Tip: Some Devices May Cause Pacemaker Problems
  Avoid close and prolonged exposure
Blood Type O Associated With Less Risk for Heart Attack
  Study finds gene that raises the danger and another, also tied to blood type, that might offer protection
Office News
  Recent news about our doctors and office.
Newsletter Archive
  In case you have missed our previous newsletters
In Focus:
Important Update for Patients with Anthem Blue Cross Medical Insurance
  Please read about our new policy to improve our ability to deliver personalzed care
Information for MEDICARE Patients with Anthem BLUE CROSS Supplemental Plans
  Overall effect on most Medicare patients with supplemental Anthem/Blue Cross expected to be minimal (if at all)
The news stories provided in this e-newsletter are a service of the nationally syndicated HealthDay news and information company. Stories refer to national trends and breaking health news, and are not necessarily indicative of or always supported by the physicians in our practice. This information is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please see our full Terms of Use for more information.

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