Smarter Heart Medications Are on the Way

Last week I read about a study done recently that identified more than a dozen genes that control the rate of our heart beat. After comparing the genetics of tens of thousands of people from European and Indian descent, researchers were able to isolate these genes. If you have certain combinations of them you are more or less likely to have heart conditions involving arrhythmia. Arrhythmia is an irregular heart beat.



Anyway, this discovery is the sort of thing that can lead to smart drugs that target specific conditions more effectively and efficiently. It is important because heart disease according to the report I read, kills almost seven million people a year. Half of those people suffer from some form of irregular heart beat.

On another note, I bought a treadmill the other day and have been using it with some regularity. Sorry for the bad pun but just trying to stick with the theme of this post. I bought a Tempo 611T as pictured above.

It was a work out just getting the thing in the house, down a flight of stairs and then wrestling it out of the box and assembling it but it seems well worth it.

The streets and side walks are icy and treacherous for walkers in this part of the world at this time of year so it is nice to get my ten thousand steps in the comfort of my home. It is pleasant to be able to walk away the stress of the day while reading or watching TV and without having to cope with sub-zero temperatures. I do miss the human parade of dog walkers, joggers and fellow heart walkers but spring will eventually come and I can resume my lakeside promenades.

My daughter is trying to teach one of the dogs to use it but he much prefers going out. If you have been thinking about getting one and have a good spot for it in your house I'd recommend it.

Steps today: 5,654 so far but I've been averaging around 11 to 12 thousand since getting the treadmill.

One Year After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

One year ago today I was waking up from CABG surgery. It has been an amazing and challenging journey back to health. I am still not where I would like to be but compared to where I was just one year ago well, it is almost unbelievable.

For those of you about to undergo bypass surgery and for those of you at various places in your recovery, take heart and forgive my terrible pun. You will get through this and come out the other side better.

The things I did right:

• My family got involved in my recovery. I wouldn't have tried so hard without their support.
• I took advantage of every educational and physical rehabilitation program that was offered to me.

The things I should have done:

• I should have kept in touch with the fellows who were in the hospital ward with me having the same procedure.
• I should have kept in touch with the people I went through Cardiac Rehabilitation with. It is easy to become isolated while working your way back. I think being able to meet up with folks going through the same thing would be really positive and encouraging.

Well, that's it. I just wanted to mark the anniversary of my heart surgery and wish to all health and growth in the New Year.

More Puppy Pandemonium and Starting a Running Program

Pandemonium, that is the right word for what is going on in my house right now. We have brought another pup into our home.
-
This fellow is a Springer Spaniel named Schalke, after my daughter's favourite footie team.




-

The little pup Shorty, our Maltese is fun to walk although in truth it is really more of a carry with frequent stops to chat with other pedestrians who are captivated by his cuteness. No kidding, it almost like a super power with this dog. The power of cuteness.

Walking Schalke on the other hand is already an athletic event. Thankfully he doesn't have much stamina yet.
-
I was speaking with a friend of mine recently who is a marathon runner. He gave me some information on adding running to my daily walks to enhance my cardio-fitness.
-
The idea is to walk for five minutes and then run for a minute, walk for another five minutes, run for a minute and so on. Gradually you will build your stamina and muscles by increasing the minutes of running until you can do the distance running you have set as your goal.
-
Walking the Springer Spaniel puppy is like that anyway although I suspect his stamina will increase at a much faster rate than mine but I am going to give it a try.
-
The cautions for those of us recovering from heart surgery are of course to be careful not to over-do it. If you can't talk and do what you are doing, you are over doing it! I find that simple rule is much easier to apply out on the street than monitoring my pulse.
-
I remember a discussion during my cardiac rehabilitation that mentioned that those people with dogs appeared to do better at maintaining their fitness goals over the long term. I can see why.
Puppies lift your spirits. They need to be played with and walked. It is hard to be too much of a couch potato in a house with two puppies.
-
Steps today: 10,164

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?
-
-
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