Who would have thought sleep apnea was so interesting? We Did! The show is already up for your smarter heart learning, enjoy!

SLEEP LESS THAN 6 HOURS/NIGHT OR WAKE UP FREQUENTLY? 80% HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF DEVELOPING HYPERTENSION OBSERVED IN A 3YR STUDY. THIS IS A BIG CONCERN WITH SLEEP APNEA, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE OUR TOPIC FOR TOMORROW, TUNE IN 10AM FOR: ” SLEEP APNEA AND THE HEART, THE RELATIONSHIP COULD KILL YOU!”

FROM THE ESC, A REVIEW OF 7 STUDIES AND 114,000 PEOPLE REVEALED A NEAR 40% LOWER HEART DISEASE AND NEAR 30% LOWER STROKE RISK WITH CHOCOLATE CONSUMPTION. NOTE, THE TYPE OF CHOCOLATE (DARK VS MILK, BAR VS. DRINK) WAS NOT SPECIFIED. SHU REC: CHOOSE DARK, PREFERABLY 70% IN MODERATION AND AVOID THOSE PRODUCTS HIGH IN FAT, SUGAR, AND CALORIES! TAKE THAT OOMPAH LOOPAHS!

A great under usage of secondary prevention Meds (preventing 2nd event) was observed in 154,000 patients in 17 countries: <50% blood thinners,statins,and blood pressure Meds were given after strokes or heart attacks. Poorer countries received the least!

ESC UPDATE #1 (European Society of Cardiology) Happy or Ticked Off? Unresolved Anger issues increases your vulnerability for recurrent heart attacks. Laughing on the other hand, was shown to dilate arteries which improves blood flow. This should lead to less events!

WE HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT PROCESSED MEATS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A HIGHER RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.  A NEW STUDY OF 40K OVER 10 YRS PITTED THEM AGAINST FRESH RED MEAT. THE RESULTS? LOW FAT DELI TURKEY, HAM, AND BOLOGNA LED TO A MUCH HIGHER RISK OF STROKES! (FRESH RED MEAT STILL CAUSED STROKES, BTW) SO PASS ON THE SANDWICH, ORDER THE SALAD!

AS IRENE WORKS ITS WAY UP THE COAST, HERE’S A TIDBIT: A STUDY OF KATRINA PATIENTS UP TO 4 YEARS AFTER THE DISASTER SHOWED 3 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF HEART ATTACKS THAN 2 WHOLE YEARS PRIOR TO THE STORM! TO ALL IN THIS STORM’S WAY: STAY SAFE, STAY DRY, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, STAY CALM!

CALCIFICATION, (WHICH MARKS CELL DEATH IN THE TISSUE/ARTERY LINING INVOLVED) SEEN ON CT SCANS OR ULTRASOUNDS OF THE CHEST, CORONARY ARTERIES, OR NECK (CAROTID ARTERIES),  APPEARED IN A RECENT STUDY TO CORRELATE WITH A HIGHER AMOUNT OF VISIBLE LESIONS IN THE WHITE MATTER OF THE BRAIN AS WELL AS RISK OF STROKE.  MAYBE THOSE MOBILE SCANS (OR SCAMS AS WE CALLED THEM, SEE RECENT SHOW IN ARCHIVES) HAVE SOME VALUE AFTER ALL!

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO DR SARAH GRIMLEY FOR TAKING TIME TO BE PART OF THIS MONUMENTAL SHOW, PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!