To the Women of Long Island: Caring
for Your Precious HeartA Message
from Dr. Oz
In honor of the American Heart Association’s
annual heart health awareness campaign,
“Go Red for Women,” I urge each and
every one of you to take this message
to heart.
You may have heard
it before, but it bears repeating:
coronary heart disease kills women.
It is the is the leading cause
of death among women in America
today, and stroke either causes
death or leaves women seriously
disabled.
Like most heart physicians,
I have been surprised by the tales
of women who seemed so healthy,
but were busy mortgaging their
future by not managing risk factors.
In my practice at NY Presbyterian
Columbia, I have had many patients
like “PS” who was a busy, thin
executive with a bad family history
of heart disease. Her first warning
sign was a heart attack, and only
then did we identify the silent
killer of hypertension and poor
quality cholesterol. We saved
her with heart surgery, but we
could have done better with prevention.
If you are over the
age of 50 you are most at risk,
and that is why it is imperative
to practice preventative measures
such as keeping your waist size
less than 1/2 your height, your
blood pressure under 120/80, and
recognizing the warning signs
of heart attack, stroke or cardiac
arrest that are listed on the
American Heart Association’s Web
site (americanheart.org).
If you’ve followed
my appearances on Oprah and the
Discovery Channel, I think you
can clearly understand my passion
and respect for a life graced
by optimum health. I wish that
same passion for you as you go
forward living a heart-healthy
life.
Sincerely,
Mehmet Oz, M.D.
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Go
Red,
Wear Red
February 1 is National Wear Red Day,
a teachable day of the month when
women everywhere can spread awareness
about the risks for heart disease—the
number one killer of women in the
United States. So go for red lips,
a red cashmere sweater, ruby red slippers—whatever
you own that’s red—wear it and empower
others to take care of their hearts.
Go
Red, Do Lunch
Support this awareness campaign and
learn more about your own heart health
and disease prevention at Long Island’s
“Go Red for Women Luncheon” this February
13, from 10am-2pm at the Crest Hollow
Country Club in Woodbury.
Educational workshops, inspiring words
from survivors and more. To purchase
tickets ($125 per person), contact,
Ivy Algazy at 516-777-8447; ivy.algazy@heart.com.
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Survivor
Stories
BELINDA
JENKINS:
heart attack
survivor
I thought it was just indigestion. It
was the final week of exams at school,
and I was getting dressed to go out with
my sister. Suddenly, I collapsed on the
floor, grabbing my chest and gasping for
air. At first, the ER doctors thought
I was under the influence of drugs, so
they ran a toxicology test. Then they
ran an EKG test twice as I lay in pain.
It turns out my heart attack was caused
by five blocked arteries. I underwent
quintuple bypass surgery during which
my heart and lungs were temporarily removed
and hooked up to machines, while arteries
were taken from my right leg to replace
the blocked ones in my heart.
Recovery was slow and painful. When
I went home, I could barely walk.
Even more difficult was learning that
the average bypass lasts only about
10 years, and for women like myself
who have this surgery, 42 percent
of us die within the first two years
following. So it’s possible that I
will go through this again before
I’m 40. With this in mind and being
single, I’ve been advised not to have
children; I have a hard time dealing
with that.
This heart attack was a wake-up call
for me to slow down. I was doing too
much between working full-time, attending
school full-time and trying to keep
a home and social life. I suffer from
Type I (Juvenile) diabetes, and my
entire family is diabetic, but I had
been pretty good about my health.
I took insulin shots daily, tried
to watch my diet and played sports
to keep in shape. But with all my
commitments, I often ate fast food
and ran on four hours of sleep. Although
my diabetes, family history and high
cholesterol raised my risks for a
heart attack, my stressful lifestyle
had a negative impact as well.
Today I try to maintain a healthy,
low-sodium/low-cholesterol diet and
I make it priority to get more sleep.
I returned to work two-and-half months
after my bypass, but I have slowed
down my pace and am working to reduce
all stressful situations.
Now my goal is to help others understand
their risk factors. This may have all
been avoided had I been listening to my
body. |
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 NANCY
MAGRINI:
STROKE SURVIVOR
On the morning of December 6,
2005, Nancy Magrini of Hicksville
didn’t know it, but her life was
about to change. She had woken
up early to go to the bathroom.
Half asleep, she noticed that
her left arm was numb and tingling.
She thought she just slept on
her arm.
She fell as she tried to get out
of bed. Realizing that it was
way too early to get up, she got
back in bed. When Magrini’s alarm
went off at 7 a.m., she tried
to sit up but couldn’t. She then
realized something was seriously
wrong. Magrini couldn’t even get
her blankets off. She felt helpless.
She dragged herself across the
bed and called her best friend
Rose Marie and her sister Christine,
who called 911.
The hospital later confirmed that
Magrini did indeed have a stroke.
Determined to walk, on her second
day in the hospital, Magrini asked
the therapist to give her a walker
so she could start to get better.
Magrini had to learn to do everything
all over again; walking, tying
her shoes and getting dressed.
Through hard work, determination,
intense acute therapy and the support
of her family and friends, Nancy Magrini
has strived to recover. It is a challenge
for her everyday.
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Go Red Scent
Go Red is a fruity oriental fragrance with such
ingredients as bergamot, lemon, juicy dark plum,
orange flower, apple and vanilla. $39.99
with 100 percent of net proceeds ($5 per bottle)
donated to the American Heart Association. At
Perfumania stores and perfumania.com.
Best Dressed
Pin this vintage-style brooch from the American
Heart Association to your coat or sweater and
you’ll add a cheerful touch to any look. Garnet-colored
rhinestones, 1 1ž2” tall. All the net proceeds
from the sale support the Go Red for Women movement.
$27. s hopgored.org or (800) 233-1230.
Charmed, I’m Sure
Pretty silver hearts dangle from this 10-strand,
faux-leather red charm bracelet from New York
& Company. $1 from the sale of each bracelet
benefits the American Heart Association. $3 with
a purchase, $12.95 separately. nyandcompany.com.
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Are
You At Risk?
3
Factors to Consider
1. Post-menopausal:
As women go through menopause, estrogen
declines. Estrogen is responsible
for more than 400 functions in the
body. It keeps LDL (bad cholesterol)
down and protects the endothelium
(blood vessel wall). High LDL increases
vessel damage and risk of heart disease.
2. Family history:
Family history is usually related
to cholesterol. Hereditary disorders
such as high LDL (bad cholesterol),
low HDL (good cholesterol) and high
triglyecerides (the thicker fat),
cause “blockages” in the arteries
(atherosclerosis). A standard cholesterol
test can miss up to 50 percent of
the patients at risk for heart disease.
Consider asking your physician to
give you the VAP test, which checks
the “genetic pattern” of cholesterol.
3. Hypertension and Diabetes:
Controlling your hypertension and
diabetes will reduce your risk of
cardiovascular disease. Diet, exercise,
vitamin supplementation and medication
are all important.
Dr. Roxanne Carfora - Board Certified
Family Medicine, Anti-aging Medicine,
Fellowship in Functional Medicine,
Commack.
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GO
RED
ALL YEAR
LONG!
Mark your calendar and stay informed
about cardiovascular disease by attending
some of these important events sponsored
by the American Heart Association.
To confirm dates and details of events,
call 516-777-8447.
March 26
Nursing Conference: “Current
Cardiovascular Modalities,” a program
for healthcare professionals. To be
held at the Melville Marriot.
May 16
Annual American Heart Gala & Auction:
dinner, dancing and recognition of
those involved with cardiovascular
science and leadership.
June 14
Heart of the Hamptons Gala:
A lovely setting for an important
cause. Cocktails, dinner, dancing
and auction are planned. Call Barbara
Poliwoda for details, 631-734-2804.
June 24
Queens Go Red for Women Luncheon:
Call Event Chair, Jill Knee
for information and tickets, 516-777-8447.
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specialevent
directories
Tending to the needs of your mind, body and spirit can have a positive effect on your overall well-being. Holisitic treatments range from colon cleansing to chiropractic care to soothing facials, massages and much more. Here is a guide to the Long Island professionals who specialize in holistic wellness.
The doctors whose listings are included in Castle Cnnolly's Top Doctor listings were selected after peer nomination, extensive research and careful review and screening by a doctor-directed research team.
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The season of overeating is nearing. I will stay fit by:
recipes
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Come meet our 2008 Countdown to Wellness winners at NAVEL EXPO, Sunday, Oct. 26, from noon to 12:45pm, at the Huntington Hilton in room F. The 3 winners will share their healthy lifestyle tips and answer your questions. No registration required. Visit navelexpo.com for more information.
Flax Granola Bars