Page 74 - TA Magazine Winter 2022

Supporting your heart health on your own terms phones also measure steps taken, with
a new to measure their steps and then challenge
the latest goal being more than 5,000
by DR. JOHN A. RUMBERGER
steps per day. I encourage my patients
them to do more the next day.

Accounting for heart health risk fac-
reign pressure, abnormal cholesterol, BMI,
tors—age, gender, family history, blood
smoking history, and diabetes—allows
the development of numerous risk equa-
tions that your doctor might use to pre-
dict your risk for heart disease. However,
these apply only to the average person,
across diverse populations, which have
risk factors similar to your own and do
not define or measure your personal risk.
My colleagues and I, originally at the
In the ballad “DESPERADO,” Mayo Clinic and now at the Princeton
Glenn Frey laments, Longevity Center, had developed and ap-
“Don’t you play the Queen of Diamonds boy, plied measures of the extent of coronary
22 she’ll beat if she’s able, the Queen of Hearts How can you prevent artery calcification (CAC), as a proven 22
surrogate to the coronary atherosclerotic
Y ANDERSON WINTER 20 Even the Queen of Hearts inventor, Lewis Carroll, de- currently, but the adage remains, “Genes zero (none detected) to 3,000-5,000 and Y ANDERSON WINTER 20
was always your best bet.”
plaque burden using non-contrast Car-
heart disease and prolong
diac CT, to define personal cardiac risk.
Really?
tion accounts for a lifetime of risk factors
Genetic factors are beyond our control
to date. The CAC score can range from
70 The Queen of Hearts? healthy longevity? The amount of coronary artery calcifica- 71
71
the higher the score, the higher your per-
load the gun, and YOU pull the trigger.”
scribed her as a childish, foul-tempered monarch who
sonal risk for a heart attack. Although
Choosing the best diet is one key factor.
(“Off with their heads”). Incredibly stressful—it is
about percent stenosis, or narrowing of
heart disease and diet—low carb, high
enough to give you a heart attack.
the heart arteries, a sudden heart attack,
carb, vegetarian, and pescatarian—
C is quick to give death sentences at the slightest offense There are so many opinions regarding patients and their doctors are concerned C
TRA which result in confusion. Scientifically, without necessarily a significant warn- TRA
How you deal with stress, worry, and other emotions have signif- the Mediterranean diet is the one that has ing, has a mortality of 50%.
icant effects on heart health. Smoking was originally advertised as been associated with lowering the risk of
a way to lower stress (cigarettes were even part of the K-rations heart disease. This is a diet with plenty and helps you sleep better. Most adults for developing heart disease. I often rec- My colleagues and I are in the business
given to American soldiers in WWII) and improve digestion af- of fruits, vegetables, and lean sources need seven hours of sleep each night. ommend smartwatches for my patients of preventing your first heart attack.
ter a meal. The long-term negative consequences of smoking were of protein. Interestingly, it may not just Prioritize sleep by setting a sleep sched- who are at increased risk. Importantly, So, work on stress management, follow
only fully realized in the late 20th Century. There’s also stress eat- be the diet, but the Mediterranean life- ule and sticking to it by going to bed these devices can monitor your sleep cy- a Mediterranean-type diet, work on a
ing, snacking, and comfort food—all of which can lead to obesity style that should be a part of [your heart and waking up at the same time each cles and even snoring. All smartwatches Mediterranean lifestyle, make sleep a pri-
when taken to extremes, which can beget high blood pressure and -healthy] plan. Have a glass of wine, visit day. Keep your bedroom dark and qui- can measure your heart rates at any time, ority, and exercise daily. To quote from
put you at risk for diabetes. Under added stress, we often do not with your neighbors, family, and friends, et. White noise generators are also very and some even monitor for potentially another great adventure, The Wizard of
sleep well. An inadequate sleep cycle can lead to sleep deprivation and walk whenever you can. soothing for getting to sleep. threatening, abnormal heart rhythms. Oz, the titular character responds to the
which adds on more emotions and stress. Obesity is also a prin- Other smartwatches now measure blood Tin Man’s desire for a heart: “My galva-
cipal factor in the development of sleep apnea or sleep-disordered Exercise can also lower your risk for Regular health screening can be especial- pressure on demand and even oxygen nized friend, a heart will never be practi-
breathing. All of these are especially important risk factors for the heart disease. Physical activity helps you ly important to define your personal risk saturation. All smartwatches and smart cal until it is made unbreakable.” TA
development of heart disease. control your weight and reduce your
chances of developing other conditions
that may put a strain on your heart, such
as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Interestingly, it may not just be the diet, but the Mediterranean
and type II diabetes. Regular exercise has JASON HOLLY lifestyle that should be a part of [your heart healthy] plan.
been shown to reduce risk for depression