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| A special event promoting breast health at the Northshore Mall in Peabody.
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| Did you know that Lahey Clinic was rated among Top Hospitals for Urology in U.S. News Media Group's Best Hospitals for 2010-2011? |
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Greetings,
We hope you've had a pleasant and heart healthy summer! Our "I Want a Healthy Heart" event on Saturday, May 1, was a huge success. It was a great morning filled with educational talks and information, free risk assessments, chair yoga, chair massages, and more. Thanks to everyone who joined us! This issue of our e-newsletter includes an inspiring story of a woman who took her heart health into her own hands when she felt she wasn't being heard, as well as an article on reducing stress and our usual Ask the Doctor feature. Yours in good heart health,
The Cardiovascular Health Center for Women Team
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| Feeling Stronger Every Day |
Janet Benson is no stranger to heart problems. Now 73 years old, Benson had a small heart attack in 1999. In 2007, she received a pacemaker at Lahey to treat symptoms of atrial fibrillation, or a rapid heartbeat. Yet when she started having terrible pain in her chest recently, she was convinced it was severe gastroesophageal reflux disease,also known as GERD, or reflux. Read full article |
| Reducing Stress: It's Good for Your Heart |
Stress. We have all felt it at one time or another. But, many people feel stress often. Some even feel it as a part of their daily lives.
eating problems, sleep disturbances, and sexual problems. Learning to reduce your stress can help you live happier, healthier, and maybe even longer.
The National Mental Health Association offers the following tips for reducing or controlling stress:
Be Realistic
Do not take on everything; learn to say no. Set realistic goals for yourself. If you are feeling overwhelmed, try eliminating an activity that is not absolutely necessary. Ask yourself, "What really needs to be done? Is the deadline realistic?" No one is perfect, so do not expect perfection from yourself or others. And ask for help if you need it.
Medita teIt only takes about 10-20 minutes to get a benefit from meditating. These few moments of quiet reflection may bring relief from stress as well as increase your tolerance to it. And it is simple to do: sit quietly, listen to peaceful music, relax, and try and think of pleasant things or think of nothing. Often focusing on your breathing can help.
Visualize
Take a moment to picture how you can manage a stressful situation more calmly and successfully. This can work with just about anything, whether it is an important presentation at work or moving to a new place or taking an exam. A visual rehearsal can boost self-confidence and help you have a more positive attitude toward a difficult task.
Slow Down
When you start to feel overwhelmed, try taking one task at a time. Make a list of things you need to do. Put the most urgent task at the top. Once you have accomplished it, cross it off and move on to the next one. The positive feeling of crossing things off can help keep you motivated.
Be Active
Regular exercise is a great way to reduce stress, and it benefits the body as well as the mind.
Get Involved in Hobbies Take a break from the stressors of life and do something you really enjoy. Try gardening, painting, or reading. Schedule time to indulge your interests.
Practice a Healthy Lifestyle
Eating healthfully will make a difference. Avoiding things like smoking, excessive alcohol, and caffeine will help, as well. Make sure you get adequate rest and exercise. Try to balance work and play.
Talk
Talking about things can help you feel better. A conversation with someone can help you relax. And listening to someone else can take the focus off of yourself-something we all need to do every now and then. Stay in touch with your family and friends. Do not try to cope alone. If you feel that you need more help in dealing with a difficult situation, there are therapists and support groups available. Your doctor may be able to recommend someone.
Give in Occasionally
You do not always have to be right. Be flexible. Be willing to compromise. If you do, others may meet you halfway. If you know you are right, stand your ground, but be calm and rational. Make sure you listen and make allowances for other's opinions.
Let Go of Perfection
When you expect too much from yourself or others, you may end up feeling frustrated, let down, and disappointed. Remember that each person, including yourself, has shortcomings. But, you also have beautiful qualities to share with the world.
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| Ask the Doctor: Is it true that taking ibuprofen (Advil) is bad for your heart? |
 Not necessarily, but some studies have shown that taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) can actually increase your risk of dying from a heart-related problem. One recent Danish study, the results of which were published in June, showed that healthy people who take NSAIDS to relieve minor aches and pains may raise their risk of dying from heart-related problems. The study analyzed the national medical records of more than one million Danes from 1997 to 2005 and found that the effects of ibuprofen varied widely. For instance, participants whose average age was 39 and who used ibuprofen regularly were at a 29 percent greater risk of fatal or nonfatal stroke, compared to those who were taking no NSAIDS. The results of this study are in line with a scientific statement issued by the American Heart Association in 2007 about the increased risk of heart attack and stroke associated with NSAID use. This still needs to be kept in perspective, however. The overall risk in otherwise healthy people is still small, and lower doses of Ibuprofen (lower than 1200 mg per day) have been shown to be safe in studies. The majority of women only take 200 to 600 mg of Ibuprofen a day for aches and pains.
The most important piece of advice to take away from this research is to always talk with your doctor about any medications you take regularly, and how much. If you're taking Ibuprofen daily for a week to ten days, that's OK, but if you're taking the drug longer, and/or in higher doses, a doctor should know. Like most things taken in excess, over-the-counter medications (OTC) can occasionally cause problems. |
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| Lahey's Cardiovascular Health Center for Women |  We understand that women can have unique needs when it comes to matters
of the heart. Although all of our physicians are highly qualified to
meet those needs, sometimes, and for some patients, having a female
doctor can make a difference. Our team of five female clinical
cardiologists and one female cardiothoracic surgeon set Lahey apart in
an era when, unfortunately, not many women are entering these
specialties. So whether you're concerned about your risk of heart
disease, dealing with a frightening heart arrhythmia, or in need of
bypass surgery, we invite you to become familiar with us. Patients already diagnosed with a cardiac condition who are looking for a
cardiologist or a second opinion can request an appointment by calling
1-877-LAHEY-96 (524-3996) or by emailing womensheart@lahey.org. |
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