Mummies Had Heart Disease Too

I just read an article about forensic studies done on some mummies that are over 3500 years old. Turns out that heart disease was a problem then too. As the article says, "You can't blame this one on McDonald's".

In an era when the average life span was around fifty these mummies, thought to be in their mid-forties, showed definite signs of atherosclerosis. One even had evidence of a heart attack.

Most of us think our modern life style is responsible for our health problems but it turns out that fast food, couch potato living and smoking are not the only things that cause heart disease. Some of us are just going to get it. What we do then is probably what dictates our quality of life from then on.

Anyway here is a link to the article. It is an interesting read.

Steps today:10,432

Man Set on Fire During Heart Surgery

Here is the headline from a malpractice lawyer's blog: "Man Set on Fire During Heart Surgery Sues Doctor!"

The story is not as good as the headline but the blog itself is quite interesting.

Another interesting story recently making the rounds is this one about a doctor who is using a type of Crazy Glue called Kryptonite, to hold the breastbone together after open heart surgery.

As most of us know who read this blog, having your chest held together with wires and waiting for it to heal is the worst part of the whole heart surgery in most cases.

This new method heals the breastbone in days rather than weeks and you can get back to normal activities in weeks rather than months.

Read the whole story here:

Using glue to mend breastbone after open heart surgery.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is always a time for sober reflection as we remember and give thanks for those who sacrificed and continue to sacrifice so much for our way of life.

I walked to the ceremony this morning and was struck by how many people there were there. Thousands of people from all ages and walks of life crowded the park around the cenotaph.

It was a touching ceremony and I was grateful to be there.

Steps today: 8987

I Might Need to Join a Gym

October has passed and the temperature is dropping fast. That is not so bad for walking except that the time has changed to daylight savings time. It is already dark when I get home from work still needing six or seven thousand steps to meet my goal of ten thousand steps a day.

It is cold, uninviting, and not very pleasant to walk in the dark..

The question is, Does it make sense to spend the money on joining a gym or would I be wiser to invest in a good treadmill for home?
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I don't know which is more practical. more importantly, I don't know which option will keep me motivated and exercising to the level I need to maintain my rapidly improving health.

If you have any ideas please let me know what you think. Your experience and advice will be most welcome.

On a positive note, I took a few days off to go salmon fishing last week . That is a fairly rugged proposition in late October in Nova Scotia. It was great though, I felt good and was comfortable with the demands of a couple of days on the river.

It was great encouragement to keep eating well, taking my meds and exercising. I was happily able to do something I thought was lost to me forever since my heart problems and subsequent bypass surgery.

On December 22nd it will be one year since my heart surgery. I need to think of something special to mark the occasion. Any suggestions?

Steps today: 7980