Greetings from LIFESTYLE CHOICES!
Music and Cardiovascular Health
JOYFUL MUSIC MAY PROMOTE HEART HEALTH, ACCORDING TO UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE STUDY. Research team concludes the cardiovascular benefits of music are similar to those found in their previous study of laughter.
Study results: Compared to baseline, the average upper arm blood vessel diameter increased 26 percent after the joyful music phase, while listening to music that caused anxiety narrowed blood vessels by six percent. “I was impressed with the highly significant differences both before and after listening to joyful music as well as between joyful and anxious music,” says Dr. [Michael] Miller, Director of Preventive Cardiology at University of Maryland Medical Center.
http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/music-cardiovascular.htm
Joyful Music to be heard at The Oleander Party:
You are invited to The Oleander Party; our annual party to be held on Sunday, May 17 2pm-8pm where there will be 3 bands playing classic rock, disco, and perhaps a little country legends as well. Three bands will play: PUSH, ANDY & THE DREAMSICLES, and WHAT IS HIP. We’ll roast two whole pigs and smoke a couple of bags of oysters too!. It’s a covered dish as well. For more information contact me at lifestyle_choices@yahoo.com
Where Do You Go to Get Your Annual Physical and Are You Getting the Lab Work Drawn you Need?
For years I went to both my Gynecologist to have my pap smear done as well as my Internal Medicine physician to complete my physical and have routine lab work. I grew tired of sitting in waiting rooms and thought, “How dumb! I should find me a doctor who does a complete physical including a pap smear. I’m not having babies anymore so why do I need to continue seeing my Gynecologist?” It made sense to me to go to my Internal Medicine doctor for my routine health care and then see a specialist as the need arises.
What do you do?
Consider the following cases: This past month alone, I have spoken with two people who had life-threatening conditions which were not found even though they had been seeing their physician annually. Here were their scenarios:
A 52 year old lady had a heart attack with no previous high blood pressure or other signs or symptoms of heart disease. Upon admission to the emergency room after experiencing chest pain, they found she indeed was having a heart attack and that her triglycerides were off the chart. I met her at a public event in which she spoke and mused how she seemed articulate and educated. Surely she went to get her annual exam every year and hadn’t she known if she had any abnormal lab values? How had her triglycerides suddenly gone so high? I asked her this question and she said she went to her OB/GYN every year so she could get her pap smear done. Routine lab work for a female her age such as Lipid Panels (Triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL, LDL), Complete Blood Counts, etc. were not done during these exams… only pap smears. It never occurred to her she needed to do more. Her OB/GYN probably assumed she was going to her family doctor to complete the rest of her physical.
Late 50s female goes to her physician complaining of shortness of breath which exacerbated upon slight exertion. Her physician recommends she see a cardiologist, however, she can’t get into see him prior to her leaving on a previously scheduled vacation. She is feeling so bad, her husband insists she go see his doctor. She does and he runs routine lab work finding her Hemoglobin is 3.8 (normal for female is 12-16)! This particular physician’s office calls and tells her to go immediately to the hospital.
After listening to both these ladies this month I suddenly realized this could be going on with many people especially females who had continued seeing their gynecologist and didn’t realize they needed a more comprehensive physical. Or it could be because their physician hadn’t run lab work which I consider routine. Whatever the case both ladies were lucky to be alive.
Suggestion: Go to your Family Practice or Internal Medicine physician annually; I go to a Nurse Practitioner myself. Get routine lab work done such as a Lipid Panel, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel such as glucose, sodium, etc., CBC (Complete Blood Count), Pap Smear if a woman, PSA for a male, TSH and any other test your practitioner recommends. I personally also like a homocysteine level as well as a HSCRP done. Your insurance company or plan may dictate which test will be covered but be sure to ask. What I believe to be important is to get routine lab work done annually.
At Lifestyle Choices, I ask clients to bring all of their lab work from over the last few years (I have some who have lab values > 10 years) and I plug in these values on a one page spreadsheet. Why do I do this? Because I want to see trending and I want you to understand why I make the suggestions I do to correct any undesired lab values. My chief role as a Health Coach is as an educator and someone the client can feel comfortable with as well as accountable to, just like a personal trainer. You receive a copy of the spreadsheet and we then focus on these particular areas and set mutual goals. You truly learn how to take control of your health and well-being.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, Washington, D.C. video
Presenters: Dr. Mehmet Oz, Director Cardiovascular Institute & Complementary Program, NY Presbyterian Hospital; Dr. Andy Weil, Director Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona; Dr. Dean Ornish, Founder and President Preventive Medicine, Research Institute, Sausalito, CA; and Dr. Mark Hyman, Founder and Medical Director The UltraWellness Center, Lenox, MA
These prestigious physicians presented Integrative Care: A Pathway to a Healthier Nation to this committee on February 26, 2009 where they discussed the need to change our healthcare system from a “disease care” system to one promoting “wellness.” 75-80% of all healthcare costs can be attributed to Heart Disease, Diabetes, Breast/Prostate Cancer, and Obesity. They feel Diet and Lifestyle changes and emphasis on treating the underlying causes of disease should be the focus. They discussed a medical model in which it would be based on the Joy of Living instead of Fear of Dying. Childhood Obesity was addressed in quite some depth as well. To view this in its entirety http://help.senate.gov/Hearings/2009_02_26/2009_02_26.html
Childhood Obesity:
A childhood obesity prevention program in Somerville, Massachusettes may possibly serve as a nationwide model. It aims to reduce childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles and is being touted as a model for other cities and towns across the nation as reported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:
http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/digest.jsp?id=10389
NEWSFLASH: PE in Texas Schools in Jeopardy!
From the American Heart Association-South Central Affiliate:
There is a movement to set Texas back in its fight to combat childhood obesity. A proposed law would strip PE requirements for all high school students. The AHA states, “Now is not the time to reduce physical education in schools and lawmakers need to know this is unacceptable.”
“Obesity is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke and a risk factor for diabetes, cancer, and many other chronic health problems. Now is not the time to take PE out of school, if anything we should be increasing it.” For more information go to:
http://www.capitolconnect.com/yourethecure.
I’m Looking for people who:
• Want good health
• Want a quality life
• Want to decrease their high blood pressure
• Smoke and want to stop
• Want to decrease their high cholesterol
• Are obese and want to learn how to eat in a healthy manner
• Want to learn how to control their stress
• Have diabetes and want to learn how to control it
• Are parents and wish to teach their children how to live a healthy lifestyle
If you or someone you know has any of these challenges, call me at 713.443.9400 or lifestyle_choices@yahoo.com
A Client Testimonial:
I came into HeartMath looking for something to help me stabilize my blood pressure that was being affected primarily by stress. Little did I realize that I would discover a method that would not only help my blood pressure problems but would awaken me to the synergy between the heart and the brain, as I had never known. The knowledge I gained was empowering and has enabled me to handle stressful situations through new perceptions. Vicki gave generously of her time, knowledge, and resources to help me develop a tool to tap into the intuition we all possess but seldom recognize in ourselves. Her compassionate and attentive manner made each session rewarding. HeartMath teaches the importance of the heart in everything we do. Everyone can benefit from this lesson for living a healthier life, and I appreciate Vicki and this opportunity to grow.
—J. F. 05/09