We would like to clarify a question posed in the chat regarding the amount of fish that is healthy for your heart.  The guidelines for fish consumption are 2 servings of fatty fish, salmon, trout, mackerel etc.,  per week for heart health. There are no separate guidelines for white-flesh fish  such a tilapia.  For people who do not like fatty fish they can have white-flesh fish instead (if not fried), as it generally has less saturated fat then red meat and poultry.

Eating fish is healthy and tasty too!  Cheryl provided us with this delicious Salmon Pasta Salad recipe.  Try it! I am sure you will like it and your heart will too!

Fresh Veggie & Salmon Whole Wheat Pasta Salad

Makes 16 servings (servings size: 1 cup)

♥ 16 ounces whole wheat pasta (penne, bowtie, etc.)
♥ Three 6-7 ounce cans of Wild Alaska Pink Salmon (sockeye salmon) flaked
♥ 8 cups fresh whole spinach leaf (10 ounce bag)
♥ 2 cups halved grape/cherry tomatoes 1 cup chopped walnuts

Raspberry Citrus Vinaigrette

♥ 1/3 cup canola oil
♥ 1/2 cup orange juice (about 1 orange)
♥ 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
♥ 1/4 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
♥ 4 tbsp fresh oregano or basil or  4 tsp dried oregano or basil leaves
♥ 2 garlic minced garlic cloves
♥ ½ tsp salt
♥ 2 tbsp ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package; drain pasta and set aside in strainer
2. Open cans of salmon, cover with can lid and run under water faucet for 1 minute
3. In large salad bowl combine pasta, salmon, tomatoes, spinach & chopped walnuts
4. Prepare vinaigrette:In blender or food processor combine citrus juices, raspberries, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper, whirl until well blended; add canola oil slowly until well blended
5. Pour vinaigrette over salad and toss.
6. Refrigerate salad for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Analysis (per serving)

• 252 Calories
• 12 gramsTotal Fat
• 1 grams Saturated Fat
• 0 grams Trans Fat
• 23 milligrams Cholesterol
• 235 milligrams Sodium
• 25 grams Carbohydrates
• 4 grams Fiber
• Sugars 1 gram
• Protein 15
• Dietary Exchanges: 1.5 starches, 1/2 vegetable, 2 meats, 2 fats\

Related Resources:

• Emory Healthcare Recipes for Wellness
• Emory Heart & Vascular Center
• Tips for Eating Better for a Healthier Heart

Emory Healthcare is a proud sponsor of American Heart Association’s My Heart. My Life program.

Join Emory Cardiologist Susmita Parashar, MD in a live chat on Stress and Heart Disease on Tuesday, February, 28, 2012 at 12:30. To learn more visit emoryhealthcare.org/mdchats.

Related Resources:

• WEB EVENT – Stress & Heart Disease (Online Chat)
• Emory Healthcare Women & Heart Disease Program
• Emory Healthcare Heart Disease Prevention
• American Heart Association – Go Red
• Emory Healthcare Healthy Recipes

In the past year, more research has suggested a beneficial link between higher levels of chocolate consumption and the reduction of the risk of cardiovascular events. In one study, participants with the highest levels of chocolate intake had a 37 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease and a 29 percent reduction in stroke compared with participants who consumed the lowest levels of chocolate.

The secret behind chocolate’s beneficial effects on the heart is the effect of powerful micronutrients – flavonoids and phenols found naturally in the cocoa bean. These compounds function like antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables where free radicals are neutralized and destroyed, helping the body resist damage to cells. For example, flavanols help keep LDL cholesterol from becoming oxidized and clogging up coronary artery walls.

Studies also suggest that the phenols found in dark chocolate may help lower blood pressure by an average of 5 points for systolic and an average of 2 points for diastolic blood pressure. Improvement in blood pressure has been found in people who consumed as little as 3 1/2 ounces of dark chocolate every day for 15 days. But, the effect may be short lived as one study found that after only two days without chocolate blood pressure returned to previous higher levels.

Finally, researchers believe that dark chocolate can help improve endothelial function. This refers to the cells that line the blood vessels to help keep them dilated and elastic. Coupled with reducing inflammation, normal endothelial function promotes free flowing blood and prevents platelets from sticking together and forming a clot which can lead to stroke and heart attack.

Unfortunately, there can be a down side to the chocolate we eat every day. First, as chocolate is processed to eliminate the natural bitter flavor, the beneficial flavonoids and phenols are also removed. Second, the chocolate we consume is usually processed with excess fat and sugar. These extra calories can lead to obesity and diabetes, which can reverse any positive effects that chocolate may have on the heart.

So, like all things in life, the best solution is to eat dark chocolate in moderation:

• Look for a cocoa content of at least 65 percent and remember the higher the better in terms of flavonoids and phenols. Milk chocolate has lower levels of cocoa, and white chocolate does not contain any cocoa. Even worse, both have more fat and sugar than dark chocolate.
• Limit yourself to no more than 3 ounces (85 grams) a day
• Balance the extra calories from chocolate by eliminating calories from your diet
• Don’t wash down your chocolate with milk, as it may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate
• Don’t forget about other sources of flavonoids and phenols like fruits, vegetables and red wine

About Dr. Reingold—Dr. Reingold is a board certified cardiologist who specializes in preventive cardiology at Saint Joseph’s Heart and Vascular Institute. He is the chairmen of research for the Womens Heart Center and active investigator within the Saint Joseph’s Research Institute.  Dr. Reingold has been featured on CNN’s health program Sanjay Gupta, MD, and is well published in medical literature.

Emory Healthcare is a proud sponsor of American Heart Association’s My Heart. My Life program.

Gina Lundberg, MD, cardiologist at Saint Joseph’s Hospital who specializes in heart disease in women gives tips of how you can lower your risk for heart disease and protect yourself!

Don’t forget to join Emory Healthcare nutritionist Cheryl Williams, RD, LD  on Thursday, February 9 for a live chat to learn some ideas for heart healthy recipes. To register visit emoryhealthcare.org/mdchats!

Related Resources:

• WEB EVENT – Top Heart Healthy Foods (Online Chat)
• Emory Healthcare Women & Heart Disease Program
• Emory Healthcare Heart Disease Prevention
• American Heart Association – Go Red
• Emory Healthcare Healthy Recipes

Sign up for the Top Heart Healthy Foods Chat here.

We look forward to helping facilitate a dialog that builds awareness around the importance of prioritizing a heart healthy diet and taking control of your heart health! See you there!

About:  Cheryl Williams is a registered dietitian (RD) specializing in the nutritional management of a variety of chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. In her current position at the Emory Heart & Vascular Center, Cheryl provides nutrition therapy, wellness coaching, monthly nutrition seminars and healthy cooking demonstrations.

Details

Where:

Macy’s – Perimeter Mall

4400 Ashford Dunwoody Road

Time: 1pm – 5pm

Saint Joseph’s Hospital, the American Heart Association and Go Red For Women are calling on Atlanta women to Make It Their Mission to fight heart disease.

Come CONNECT with women across the metro area, Go Red volunteers, and heart disease survivors to learn how you can save your life and the lives of other women.

Saint Joseph’s Hospital staff will be offering free cardiovascular screenings as well as provide educational material on how to stay heart healthy.

Other events during the day include healthy cooking demos, heart health information, exclusive Go Red giveaways and much more!

Women will have the opportunity to share their stories in front of the American Heart Association’s camera and have the chance to become a spokesperson for the Go Red for Women cause.  If you are chosen you could represent the AHA’s Go Red For Women in marketing materials, at events, on GoRedForWomen.org, etc!

See you all there!

Related Resources

Saint Joseph’s Heart & Vascular Institute website

Emory Heart and Vascular Center Women’s program website

Healthy Heart recipes

American Heart Association Atlanta website

The HeartWiseSM Risk Reduction Program Lecture Series aims to reduce people’s risk of heart disease through education and interaction. In addition to serving patients who currently suffer from heart disease, we also provide help to individuals who could be at risk for heart complications in the future including those who smoke, do not exercise or have high blood pressure.

♥ Fats: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
Cheryl Williams, RD/LD
Thursday, February 2nd
8:45 AM – 9:15 AM

♥ Chocolate for the Heart
Cheryl Williams, RD/LD
Monday, February 6, 2012
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM

♥ Q&A with an Emory Cardiologist
Dr. Laurence Sperling
Friday, February 10, 2012
12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM

♥ Medications
Jane Whitmer, RN
Monday, February 13, 2012
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM

♥ Celebration: National Cardiac Rehabilitation
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

♥ Chocolate for the Heart
Cheryl Williams, RD/LD
Thursday, February 16, 2012
8:45 AM – 9:15 AM

♥ How Should I Take Care of My Feet?
Dr. Frank Sinkoe
Friday, February 24, 2012
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM

♥ Diabetes Prevention
Cheryl Williams, RD/LD
Monday, February 27, 2012
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM

Admission to HeartWise events is free and everyone is welcome! Call404-778-2850 to reserve your seat, or you can sign up for one of our January HeartWise lectures online!

Saint Joseph’s Heart Institute Events in Atlanta during Heart Month:

♥ Friday, February 3rd - National Wear Red Day; Wear red to raise awareness of heart disease and what you can do to prevent it!

♥ Friday, February, 3rd – Go Red Event; Saint Joseph’s Hospital is hosting a Go Red Event from 8:30am – 2pm.  We will have jewelry vendors, cooking demos, dark chocolate vendors and educational information available.

♥ Saturday, February 4th- Go Red Connect- Join us  at Macy’s at Perimeter Mall from 1 pm to 5 pm.   Saint Joseph’s staff will be offering free cardiovascular screenings as well as providing educational materials to attendees

Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or thoughts regarding any of the February events. We look forward to seeing all of you there!

Emory Healthcare is proud to partner with the American Heart Association in the My Heart. My Life campaign to help prevent heart disease.  Take the Life Simple Seven challenge today!

Related Resources:

• UPCOMING WEB EVENT – Nutrition & Heart Disease
• Heart Disease Blog Posts
• Emory Heart Disease Prevention Program
• Emory Heart & Vascular Center

I have led an active life and thought I was doing everything possible to keep my heart healthy – eating right, exercising and not smoking, and trying to maintain a relatively low stress life. I was also a cardiac nurse and knew what it meant to be healthy, and why I wanted to remain healthy. So when I closed in on retirement age, I was surprised when I started clutching my chest first, with shortness of breath then with chest pain.

I was diagnosed with Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Dysfunction (MVD) with Vasospastic Angina in 2008 during a drug challenge catheterization test at Emory Healthcare after two and one-half years of chest pain. My case was very severe and I had a cardiac arrest during the procedure. Each episode of an angina attack is like having an individual heart attack and I was barely able to keep up activities of daily living. I had attacks multiple times during a day, for days on end, with few periods of pain–free stability.

MVD is a form of heart disease found predominantly in women of a certain age. The etiology, or cause, is unknown and each woman with MVD can have different degrees of heart attack-like symptoms. I have had chest, arm, axilla, jaw, ear and back pain, and just simple fatigue with this MVD.

Treatment is dependent on symptoms and presenting complaints. The first important treatment step is opening up the affected small heart muscle microvessels with nitroglycerine. This allows oxygenated blood to flow freely through the heart muscle to supply it with oxygen and then out to the body’s general circulation. This relieves the angina pain greatly and reduces the shortness of breath that occurs. Nitroglycerine can be in sublingual, oral spray, patch or in a pill form.

The second important treatment is with a medication called a Calcium Channel Blocker that greatly reduces the irritability of the affected vessels and again, reduces pain.

To help these microvessels from developing plaque, I am very careful about keeping my cholesterol numbers low both by diet and medication.

The heart-sensible treatment for MVD is to attempt a regular exercise regime. In my case the endothelium doesn’t open up when I try to increase my heart’s rate, so I cannot exercise and it has been three and one-half years since I have had any exercise. However, my lipid numbers are wonderful and my weight has not ballooned out of control.

Most of the medications I take for MVD are the same ones given for hypertension, and I may have days when my BP is low so I am careful about sudden changes in position. Further treatment can also include pain management.

Although I have stabilized nicely after treatment at Emory, I am dependent on many medications 24/7 and still have frequent episodes of vasospasm with crippling angina. I visit Emory every few months to monitor the disease. My Emory cardiologist and my local cardiologist both follow my changing symptoms carefully. Emory takes the lead in any changes or additions in medications and both doctors follow my blood work for cholesterol issues. I recently had my first change in three years with my nitroglycerine medication. Initially, I started at a very low dose and gradually worked up to a higher dose sufficient to make me as close to pain free and without chest tightness and shortness of breath. This also allowed me to return to some low level of exertion.

I have learned that these vasospasms can occur by some demand I have caused, like attempting a flight of stairs too quickly or by some other unknown to me demand when I am resting or asleep. The daily calcium channel blockers keep the vasospasms away most of the time so this has greatly helped reduce chest pain from the painful spasms. Over the years as I have developed tummy, feet and leg swelling, my Emory doctor has been careful to prescribe not only medication to help with that sign, but also advising me of simple things as watching salt in my diet and elevating my legs. I also have not been subjected to the many tests or additional heart caths that many physicians might request. I have been tested for sleep apnea and use a CPAP which helps my heart rest at night.

I am very healthy and have developed no other health complaints in six and one-half years. The most wonderful part of having this odd dysfunction is having the Emory doctors who not only understand this dysfunction, but also know how it should be treated for each individual patient as their symptoms develop. They also understand that this difficult, exhausting ailment impacts the very simplest of daily functions, social interactions and normal exercise activities. Dr. Samady listens when I tell him how I must change my lifestyle, stop all exercise and avoid those activities or emotions that could cause a demand on my heart and cause me pain or discomfort.

A big frustration with many MVD patients is that our complaints and symptoms often bring us to an urgent or emergent care setting where none of our signs show on any EKG, echocardiogram, ultrasound or stress test. We look well, present with chest pain and shortness of breath – perhaps anxious – but the tests are generally negative, even the cardiac enzymes. We understand that we may have to rule out other causes with GI and pulmonary tests, but we repeatedly return seeking help, knowing that it is our heart but we repeatedly fail the best current technology tests.

My care at Emory from first contact was relatively pleasant as each physician I saw was confident of my diagnosis. And I am confident in my care because of my doctor’s confidence and superb care in an area of cardiology with so many unknowns.

About Joan Jahnke

Joan Jahnke is now a retired RN. She has enjoyed many career opportunities and great jobs traveling around the world with her husband, who is in the Navy. She is an Emory Clinic patient and sees Emory Heart & Vascular Physician Dr. Habib Samady.

Related Resources:

• Emory Heart & Vascular Center
• Emory Women’s Heart Disease Program
• Emory Heart Disease Prevention Program

If you or someone you know suffers from varicose veins, join us on Tuesday, January 24 at 12:30 p.m. for an interactive, online Q&A web chat on the topic of varicose and spider veins. Emory physician assistant Stephen Konigsberg will be available to answer questions and discuss various topics about varicose veins, including symptoms, prevention and treatment options, such as low-impact treatment methods (i.e. compression stockings to support and compress veins and improve circulation) and corrective approaches (i.e. procedures like sclerotherapy, Endolaser™ ablation or phlebectomy).

Register online today for the varicose veins chat!

Related Resources:

• Varicose Veins Videos
• Varicose Veins Website
• Varicose Veins Patient Stories
• Varicose Veins Treatment Options