The “Parental Knowledge” study surveyed 492 parents of children with certain congenital heart defects from nine pediatric congenital heart centers nationwide. More than half of these parents were found to have incomplete knowledge of their children’s future specialized health care needs.

More than one million adults in the United States live with congenital heart disease. Nearly half of them require life-long cardiac care from an ACHD specialist, yet only a fraction of that population actually receives it. Studies have shown that lapses in specialized care can last 10 years or more and may result in adverse health outcomes.

“A lapse in specialized care for people living with CHD likely includes a lack of education about their condition,” said Amy Verstappen, president and CEO of the ACHA. “It remains very difficult for us to reach out to people who have been lost to care, so we place a great importance on educating parents and families to ensure more children with CHD grow up receiving the lifelong treatment they need.”

When the Parental Knowledge survey is complete, the ACCCA and the ACHA will begin the “Life-Long Cardiac Care” educational campaign. Brochures and posters will be distributed at the research sites, as well as at other pediatric heart centers, a network of parent support groups, and online CHD-related chat rooms.

“Ninety-six percent of parents surveyed in the Parental Knowledge study were interested in learning more about their children’s future care,” said Sue Fernandes, PA-C at Children’s Hospital Boston, and the coordinator of the study. “This provides us with an excellent opportunity to develop an educational campaign and future research projects to ensure we are targeting the population most at risk of being lost to specialized cardiac care.”

Facts About Congenital Heart Disease:
• In the United States, 1 out of every 100 babies is born with a heart defect.
• Congenital heart disease is the #1 birth defect with more occurrences than Spina Bifida, Down syndrome or hearing loss, yet many are not aware of this condition.
• In most cases, scientists do not know the cause but feel both environmental and genetic factors appear to play a role.
• Today, most heart defects can be corrected or helped with surgery, medicine, or devices, such as artificial valves and pacemakers.
• In the last 25 years, advances in treatment of heart defects have enabled half a million U.S. children with significant heart defects to survive into adulthood.

For more information about the Adult Congenital Heart Association, contact (888) 921-ACHA, or visit www.achaheart.org.

Recent research has indicated that sitting in front of the TV for hours at a time increases risk of premature death from heart disease. Women’s risk for the metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, increases 26% for every extra hour of sitting in front of the TV. Whole-body muscle inactivity is also associated with obesity and possibly some types of cancer.

So it is true that taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking your car further away and walking the extra steps is actually beneficial. Next time you need to talk to a co-worker, take a walk to his/her desk instead of sending an email or walk into the bank or restaurant instead of using the drive-thru. All extra activity counts and may actually help you live a healthier life!!

For more healthy tips visit www.heart-strong.com.

Children learn their habits, attitudes and beliefs from their parents and other caregivers, and that includes their willingness to try new and healthy foods. For National Nutrition Month®, the American Dietetic Association encourages adults to be good role models and teach your children how to appreciate nutrition and enjoy healthful eating.

“The most important thing you can do is offer your children as many new foods as possible, as early in life as possible,” says registered dietitian and ADA Spokesperson Sarah Krieger. “It takes much longer to accept new foods when you are older.
“It’s amazing what kids will try,” Krieger says. “Hummus, beans, tropical fruits – whatever is available locally in your area, you can get your kids to enjoy it.
“Involve your children in grocery shopping and meal preparation as much as possible,” Krieger says. “Kids are more likely to try new things – especially fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy products – if they are involved in choosing and preparing them.”
A survey by the American Dietetic Association Foundation showed parents have more potential to influence their children’s behavior, including their eating habits, than anyone else. In fact, parents outrank sports celebrities as the person the child “would like to be most,” according to the survey. By eating healthy foods and offering them to your children, you can give your kids opportunities to learn to like a variety of nutritious foods.
Kids can develop a liking for new dishes by researching recipe ideas. “Encourage them to go through cookbooks, or look online. There are Web sites that have hundreds of thousands of recipes you can search, and it makes meal preparation more real for children if they can find recipes themselves,” Krieger says.
One final piece of advice for parents, Krieger says: “Offer healthy foods and eat them yourself, rather than lecture your children. Just do it, put a smile on your face and your kids will follow.”

The American Dietetic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org for more info.

According to the report, one woman dies every minute from cardiovascular disease in the United States.

•Heart disease is the leading cause of death of American women.
•More women than men die of heart disease each year.
•35.3% of deaths in American women over the age of 20, or more than 432,000, are caused by cardiovascular disease each year.
•More than 200,000 women die each year from heart attacks- nearly five times as many women as breast cancer.
•Women are less likely than men to receive appropriate treatment after a heart attack.
•Women comprise only 27% of participants in all heart-related research studies.
•58% of Caucasian women, 80% of African-American women, and 74% Hispanic-American women are overweight or obese.
•Women with diabetes are 2.5 times more likely to have heart attacks.
•48% of adult women have total cholesterol of at least 200mg/dL.
•50% of Caucasian women, 64% of African-American women, 60% of Hispanic women, and 53% of Asian/Pacific Islander women are sedentary and get no leisure time physical activity.
•African-American women, despite their higher risk of heart disease, were 10% less likely to receive aspirin and 27% less likely to receive cholesterol-lowering drugs.
•Some medications to treat hypertension in African-American patients work better and some work worse compared to Caucasian patients.
•Among African-American women over the age of 20, 44.8% have high blood pressure.
•Compared with Caucasian women, Hispanic women are nearly three times as likely to be uninsured.
•Prevalence for diabetes in Mexican-American women is two times higher than Caucasian women.

Looking for more info about Women and Heart Disease visit www.heart-strong.com

In this study, 303 adults were given one of three menus: the first had no labeling at all, the second had calorie information only and the third had calorie information plus the recommended 2,000 calorie daily intake.

The people in the two groups with labeled menus ate about 14% less calories than those that ordered off the menu without any labels. Also, the diners that ordered off the menu with the 2,000 calorie recommendation reported a lower intake of calories over the rest of the day. They ate about 250 calories less than the people in the other 2 groups!

Bottom line: Paying attention to those calories that are listed on the menu can actually help you consume less. Also, it is important to keep in mind the daily 2,000 calorie goal so you can plan your calories accordingly.

For more heart healthy tips visit us at www.heart-strong.com.

Misery doesn’t love company. It also doesn’t love sleeping well, or enjoying activities, or eating healthfully, or making hopeful plans. Misery is, well, miserable. And when sad, empty feelings continue for two weeks or more, you’re not just feeling miserably—you may be depressed.

For many women, depression is an all-too-familiar visitor. Women are twice as likely as men to have depressive episodes. While the condition responds to many treatments, it often can recur.

Your important first step in dealing with depression is to see your primary healthcare provider. What happens next depends upon the severity of your symptoms (mild, moderate, or major), medical advice, and your choices for treatment.

Antidepressants and talk therapy are the most common approaches used to fight depression. Yet recent scientific evidence shows you may be able to use natural approaches when: (a) traditional therapies aren’t working well for you, or side effects and risks pose problems; (b) you choose not to use standard treatments; or, (c) you’d like to lessen or prevent depressive episodes.

“Individuals who are suffering from mood disorders really want choices,” says Marlene Freeman, MD, director of the Women’s Mental Health Center at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and a professor of psychiatry and obstetrics-gynecology. “It will serve our patients and the field the best if we really have an integrative approach, where we’re willing to use all possible treatment options and able to use safe and effective combinations.”

Feel better with fish oil

Dr. Freeman was part of a team that reviewed studies of patients who were on antidepressant medication but had not responded well. When the subjects were given omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in addition to the antidepressants, “there was a positive effect for mood,” she says.

Omega-3s, best known as the components in fish oil, are essential natural substances our bodies need for good health. We get omega-3s only through foods we eat or by taking them as dietary supplements, usually in capsule form.

You may know about the cardiovascular benefits of omega-3s, but researchers have also been evaluating their effect on depression and other mood disorders. Those studies are built on previous findings that people with depression often have low levels of omega-3s and that depressive disorders occur less in populations that consume high quantities of omega-3-rich fish. The omega-3 fatty acids believed to improve mood are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

Good results in the studies Dr. Freeman looked at occurred at doses of 1 to 3 grams of fish oil per day, with very few risks. Although some studies used much higher doses of omega-3s, those amounts didn’t bring better results. “With a nutritional supplement, there is an optimal dose that the body and brain need for optimal function,” says Dr. Freeman. “Providing in excess of that may not increase benefit.”

It is still unclear whether omega-3 fatty acids would be effective on their own, not in combination with medication. But the protective effect of fish oil has been fairly well established, with studies showing it may decrease the risk of depression, including premenstrual and postpartum depression. Taking omega-3s could also avoid increasing antidepressant dosages for some patients, Dr. Freeman says.

Omega-3s have other good health effects: they are vital for fetal development and may help prevent certain cancers, Alzheimer’s and dementia diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and other conditions.

Vegans who do not want to consume fish oil might get some benefit from ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), the omega-3 found in flaxseed oil. ALA is somewhat different than EPA and DHA, the omega-3s in fish oil, and has not been studied for use in depression.

Food sources of EPA and DHA include fish, seafood, and omega-3-enriched eggs. In addition to flax oil, ALA is found in canola oil, walnuts, and enriched eggs.

“I think it would be fair to say that individuals with major depressive disorders should be taking an omega-3 fatty acid supplement, unless there’s a particular medical reason why they shouldn’t—of which there are very few,” says Dr. Freeman.

Moving depression out of your life

You probably know about “runner’s high”—the great feeling people get when they exercise vigorously. But, you’re thinking, you aren’t a gym rat or one of those well-toned runners you see burning up the roads. And putting out such effort may seem impossible, especially when you feel depressed.

You can achieve the same positive mood effects from far-less-strenuous physical activities. Adding mild movement to a sedentary life can reduce your depressive symptoms even if your fitness level remains unchanged. What’s more, physical activity lessens depression regardless of your pre-existing health conditions, and may insulate you against future depressive symptoms.

“Exercise has been shown to give us a boost of energy that helps us feel motivated and do things we might not want to do if we’re feeling down and depressed,” says Teresa M. Edenfield, PhD, a researcher and clinical associate in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC.

That effect works for people with various levels of depression, from mild to major. “For people with very severe symptoms, exercise might not be enough. They might need something like medication or therapy,” Dr. Edenfield says, noting that medical care, psychological assessment, and safety monitoring are imperative. “We always caution people to seek professional help…to think about this as a combination approach.”

Researchers are currently studying how, why, and for whom exercise works its antidepressant charm. Dr. Edenfield helped review a number of studies that supported using exercise to alleviate depression—either as an alternative to other types of treatment or in addition to them.

One notable recent study took 153 women and 49 men, all diagnosed with major depression, and assigned them to either supervised group exercise, home-based exercise, a common antidepressant medication, or a placebo (”sugar”) pill. After four months, patients in the exercise-only groups showed just about the same relief from depression (40% to 45% remission) as did those taking medication.

Folate makes a difference

Depressed people often have low levels of folate, a B vitamin important for cell growth. Adult women should take in 400 micrograms (mcg) of folate daily, with pregnant women needing 600 mcg and nursing mothers, 500 mcg. Yet even if these amounts are consumed, some of our bodies don’t absorb or use folate well, resulting in deficiencies.

Adding more folate to your diet—through foods or supplements—can reduce symptoms of depression, improve response to antidepressants, and may also help in recovery from depressive episodes. The U.S. government requires folate (as folic acid) to be added to some foods, such as fortified cereals and breads. Natural sources include liver, spinach, and black-eyed peas.

“It’s pretty sound advice for women who are experiencing mood problems to take a multivitamin with folate,” says Dr. Freeman. “Most of us should be doing it anyway.”

Other possibilities to consider

There’s evidence that vitamin D influences depression. Vitamin D deficiency, which often occurs in older adults, has been shown to be related to low mood and cognitive difficulties. Many experts believe the current recommended daily dose of 400 IU of vitamin D is too low and have been pushing for that level to be raised to 800 IU or 1,000 IU daily.
The herb St. John’s wort “has been demonstrated effective compared with placebo for more mild to moderate depression,” says Dr. Freeman, who chairs the American Psychiatric Association’s Task Force on Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She cautions that you not use St. John’s wort without a doctor’s supervision, due to various interactions the herb has with other drugs. St. John’s wort acts like an antidepressant, so should not be taken with other antidepressants. It also interferes with the proper functioning of oral contraceptives, immunosuppressants, HIV medications, and oral anticoagulants, among others.
Light therapy—originally used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression linked to the dark days of winter—is now showing year-round benefits for general depression. “It looks effective for major depressive disorder, even if it’s not seasonally related,” Dr. Freeman says. The light boxes studied in research provide 10,000 lux of bright light. You sit in front of the light (it’s angled above eye level) for about 20 to 30 minutes each day, in the morning.
For more on mental health, visit: www.healthywomen.org/healthcenter/mental-health

© 2010 HealthyWomen All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from HealthyWomen. 1-877-986-9472 (tollfree). On the Web at: www.HealthyWomen.org.

The study followed 3,846 men and 4,954 women for 6 years. The average age of study participants was 50 years of age. Every hour of sitting in front of the TV raised a person’s risk of cardiovascular death by 18% and cancer death by 9%. Although they studied people sitting in front of a television, it is suggested that this risk can be associated with any long periods of sitting.

The heavy TV watchers had the most negative health effects regardless of other cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and lack of exercise.
Time spent watching TV can be spent on physical activity and healthy lifestyles to improve health and prevent disease.

So, the skinny TV’s may be making us fat!!!! Time to get up and get moving!!!

For exercise tips and healthy lifestyle information visit us at www.heart-strong.com.

The study followed 1,500 heart attack survivors for 13 years. First time heart attack survivors who quit smoking were 37% less likely to die during the study period. This reduction in risk was similar to those heart attack survivors who never smoked-a 43% lower risk of death during the study compared to those who continued to smoke.

During the study period, 427 people died. The highest risk was to those who continued smoking, even when other risk factors such as obesity, exercise and overall health were taken into consideration. The good news is that risk is reduced 11% for every 5 cigarettes that are eliminated.

THE BOTTOM LINE: It is NEVER too late to quit smoking!!! Even if you have already had a heart attack, you can live longer if you cut back or kick the cigarettes totally!!!

Having a heart healthy holiday may be easier than you think!

Heart Healthy Travel Tips:
1) If you are delayed in the airport or train station don’t just sit there and complain, get up and walk around!! All extra steps count!
2) If you will be eating on the go, try to pack a few healthy items in your carry on bag-like an apple, orange, banana or granola bar.
3) If you buy something at the newspaper stand/candy shop opt for the nuts over the candy bar. They are high in fiber and heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
4) If you will be eating at one of the airport restaurants, opt for the salads minus the creamy dressings, bacon bits, and cheese. Instead, go heavy on the veggies and light/fat free dressings or vinaigrettes. If you want to “sink you teeth” into a sandwich opt for the grilled chicken or turkey club type sandwich and ask for dressings or sauces on the side. Avoid the fried, fatty foods.

Heart Healthy Activity Tips:
1) Participate in outings that involve physical activity like skiing, sleigh riding, ice skating and walking.
2) At the shopping malls park in the furthest spot from the store to increase your walking.
3) Go window shopping and enjoy the holiday decorations. Take your pedometer with you and count your steps. Aim for 10,000 steps per day!
4) Dance at holiday parties.
5) Schedule exercise/physical activity into you routine. Exercise increases your energy level.
6) Take the dog for a walk and enjoy the holiday decorations in the neighborhood.
7) Go Christmas caroling.
Cut down your own Christmas tree.
9) Take the stairs whenever possible instead of elevators and escalators.

Tips for Managing Holiday Stress:
1) Schedule some down time for yourself to relax and de-stress
2) Learn some relaxation techniques and use them throughout your stressful days. Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises can be very relaxing.
3) Include a chair massage for yourself during holiday shopping trips.
4) Remember to have fun each and every day. Find some humor in every day life. Laughter is a great way to relieve stress.
5) Try to always keep a positive attitude and surround yourself with happy people.
6) Try not to focus on money issues every day. If you have made financial mistakes in the past, use it as a learning experience and avoid similar mistakes in the future.

For additional heart healthy information visit us at www.heart-strong.com.

HAVE A HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON and a Wonderful 2010!!!!!