WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:03.279 The topics and opinions expressed on the following show are 2 00:00:03.279 --> 00:00:05.200 solely those of the hosts and their guests, and not 3 00:00:05.240 --> 00:00:08.119 those of W four WN Radio It's employees or affiliates. 4 00:00:08.279 --> 00:00:11.839 We make no recommendations or endorsements for radio show programs, services, 5 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:14.960 or products mentioned on air or on our web. No liability, 6 00:00:15.080 --> 00:00:17.920 explicit or implied shall be extended to W four WN 7 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:21.079 Radio It's employees or affiliates. Any questions or comment should 8 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:23.320 be directed to those show hosts. Thank you for choosing 9 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:43.359 W four WN Radio. 10 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:47.920 Welcome to Fearless Fabulous You. I am your host, Melanie Young, 11 00:00:47.960 --> 00:00:50.240 and I'm so glad you're joining me. If you have 12 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:52.600 followed the show for the eleven years I've hosted it, 13 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:55.759 you'll know that heart disease is something close to my heart. 14 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:59.880 I have heart disease in my family, and my beloved grandmother, Mimi, 15 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:04.640 died of cardiac arrest. I monitor my heart health carefully 16 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:08.640 and want to provide as much information as you, my 17 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:11.159 women listeners, on how to take care of your heart. 18 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:14.319 I have a special topic we're going to talk about 19 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:17.120 at the top of this show. It's heart valve disease, 20 00:01:17.159 --> 00:01:20.719 which you may not be familiar with, but this is important. 21 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:23.680 Heart valve disease affects more than five million people in 22 00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:26.840 the United States States and leads to twenty five thousand 23 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:33.920 deaths each year. Aortic stenosis, the most common form of 24 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:37.319 heart valve disease, affects five percent of people sixty five 25 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:39.560 and oder. So listen up because my show is for 26 00:01:39.640 --> 00:01:44.519 women fifty and older. I am joined by doctor Janet Wright, 27 00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:48.719 who is with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:52.120 who is based in Atlanta and an important source for 29 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:57.079 all information. Doctor Wright directs programmic and scientific efforts for 30 00:01:57.159 --> 00:02:01.079 the CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroking, as well 31 00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:06.159 as policy partnerships and communications strategies to promote cardiovascular health 32 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:10.639 equity and fulfill the division's mission. She received her MD 33 00:02:10.759 --> 00:02:15.159 for the University of Tennessee. I'm a Tennessee girl from Chattanooga, 34 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:17.759 and I'm really happy she's joining us briefly to talk 35 00:02:17.800 --> 00:02:22.360 about the CDC's efforts to raise awareness of heart valve disease. Welcome, 36 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:23.199 doctor right. 37 00:02:25.240 --> 00:02:27.840 Melanie, Thank you so much. I'm so thrilled to join 38 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:29.360 you today. 39 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:32.520 So you know, we all know about cardiac arress a 40 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:35.240 lot of people hear about cardiac arress and stroke and 41 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:38.960 high blood pressure and cholesterol. What is heart valve disease 42 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:40.639 and what does the heart volve. 43 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:46.520 Do Melanie, let's take a tour of the heart, shall we. 44 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:49.159 I know you have a good understanding of your heart. 45 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:51.240 And by the way, I'm so sorry to hear about 46 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:55.120 your your grandmother, loss of your grandmother in that way 47 00:02:55.159 --> 00:02:59.680 and from heart heart disease. But let's open up. Let's 48 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:05.080 go into that beautiful heart. Every heart has four heart valves. 49 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:08.159 They open and close with every beat of the heart. 50 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:11.400 There are little leaflets on each of these heart valves 51 00:03:11.919 --> 00:03:15.159 imagine flags waving in the breeze. And the purpose of 52 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:18.879 these valves is to regulate the flow of blood through 53 00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:21.800 the heart, out to the body and up to the lungs. 54 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:26.240 Valve disease occurs when one or more of those heart 55 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:30.280 valves is harmed by several causes that we can talk about. 56 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:36.680 But the heart valve become oddly shapened or thickened or scarred, 57 00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:39.840 and that keeps the valve from opening fully, or it 58 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:43.039 may not allow the valve to close well, and therefore 59 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:47.240 the valve leaks. And bottom line is that heart valve 60 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:51.240 disease can put a strain on the heart and result 61 00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:59.319 in health limitations and even complications, including death. So we 62 00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:02.159 at CDC are on the case to raise awareness about 63 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:04.879 this and to help people get the care they need. 64 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:07.919 Well, I know my listeners are wondering, am I who 65 00:04:07.960 --> 00:04:10.520 is most at risk? And what are some of the causes? 66 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:13.520 I understand it could be congenital, but what else. 67 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:18.759 Some people are born with a valve that might be 68 00:04:18.839 --> 00:04:25.120 mildly misshapened or be dissorted in some way. Pedutricians can 69 00:04:25.160 --> 00:04:27.600 pick that up at the time of birth and then 70 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:31.120 follow that child carefully through the rest of their lives. 71 00:04:32.199 --> 00:04:35.720 But there are some heart valve problems that we acquire. 72 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:39.560 So one cause is an infection of a heart valve. 73 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:44.879 Sometimes that infection results from trouble with gum disease or 74 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:49.160 an abscess, either in the mouth or in other body parts. 75 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:51.839 So let me just make a pitch now that if 76 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:55.560 you have stripped throat and a prescribed antibiotics, or if 77 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:59.040 you have an abscess or infection somewhere in a given antibiotics, 78 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:05.079 please take those antibiotics and complete the entire course. The 79 00:05:05.160 --> 00:05:08.240 germs that cause that infection can easily get into the 80 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:12.160 blood stream, go through the bloodstream, and set up housekeeping 81 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:14.879 on one of your heart belves. And so the way 82 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:17.839 to prevent that, which is what we're always trying to do, 83 00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:20.000 is to make sure you complete that course. 84 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:23.920 That's important because I know I haven't done that in 85 00:05:23.959 --> 00:05:26.639 the past, and I kind of cringe as you say that. So, 86 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:31.839 doctor Ray, who is more at risk? You know? Historically 87 00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:36.439 women and Black, Hispanic, Latin, and Asian populations have a 88 00:05:36.519 --> 00:05:39.319 higher incidence of certain illnesses, often due to lack of 89 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:42.600 access to proper healthcare or a reluctance to go to doctors. 90 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:47.720 You bet, And let's start with women. It turns out 91 00:05:47.720 --> 00:05:50.199 that and the things that I'm going to say now 92 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:54.560 are not about someone being at elevated risk, but people 93 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:59.160 who belong to subgroups of our population that are less 94 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:03.959 likely to get diagnosed and treated. So women more than men, 95 00:06:04.439 --> 00:06:06.879 And this is true for many different forms of heart disease, 96 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:09.839 but it's true in heart valve disease, women more than 97 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:14.639 men are less likely to be diagnosed. Also, people who 98 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:19.959 are black, African American, Hispanic, and Latino or Asian are 99 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:23.360 less likely to be diagnosed and treated. We don't know 100 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:26.079 all the reasons, but we know that lack of access 101 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:29.759 to care. Sometimes there are issues of the way symptoms 102 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:34.160 are described. There may be some language impediments and other 103 00:06:34.279 --> 00:06:38.920 factors end up with an underdiagnosis. And so I want 104 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:42.160 to make sure that your listeners, if they belong to 105 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:46.000 one of those groups and they are women, that they 106 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:49.199 need to make sure they ask about heart valve disease 107 00:06:49.639 --> 00:06:51.680 when they are in a clinical environment. 108 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:56.160 So interesting, most women or patients don't know what to ask, 109 00:06:56.199 --> 00:06:58.519 which is what I try really hard to impart in 110 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:02.959 my writing and my shows. So naturally, many people don't 111 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:05.519 even like to go to the doctor. But what are 112 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:10.079 some signs symptoms that you may need to seek medical 113 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:12.680 help and how what is the testing involved. 114 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:18.639 I have to confess I love the heart. I do 115 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:20.439 believe it is a work of art. It is a 116 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:22.879 thing of beauty. But I have to tell you when 117 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:25.839 it comes to heart vol disease, I would call it sneaky. 118 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:29.079 Heart volve disease can sneak up on a person, and 119 00:07:29.160 --> 00:07:32.079 because we are who we are and you mentioned it, Melanie, 120 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:35.399 we tend to dismiss or diminish the symptoms we feel. 121 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:38.160 I want to make sure that your listeners know what 122 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:42.839 the symptoms of heart valve disease are. So first of all, 123 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:46.879 shortness of breath that seems our proportion to what you're doing. 124 00:07:47.240 --> 00:07:49.800 You've climbed these steps, you know, once a day forever, 125 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:52.639 or you've climbed that hill, but you're more short breath, 126 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:56.399 a little more air hungry. That can be a symptom. Secondly, 127 00:07:56.680 --> 00:08:00.439 chest pressure or tightness. Maybe it's not pain, certainly not severe, 128 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:03.759 but if it's if it recurs with the exertion, that 129 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:07.639 is absolutely worthy of a discussion with your healthcare professional. 130 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:11.759 Palpitations where your heart skips a beat or beats fast 131 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:16.399 should register with you. And finally, the symptom that of 132 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:19.519 advanced heart valve disease is a sensation that you're going 133 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:23.800 to pass out, a feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness, or 134 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:27.600 an actual blackout. Any and all of those are worthy 135 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:29.759 of a conversation with the healthcare professional. 136 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:33.120 And of course, if you're find you're experiencing a lot 137 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:34.519 of those, it may be good to call nine to 138 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:36.480 one one in case it could be you know, something 139 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:41.120 that could be life threatening. You know what you describe, 140 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:43.240 doctor Wright. Are many things that people have when they 141 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:46.879 have panic or anxiety attacks, which I have had. Uh, 142 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:50.320 so it is really important not to brush anything off 143 00:08:51.320 --> 00:08:54.480 and say, oh, it's nothing, because it could be. What 144 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:57.399 are the risks if left well? How do you treat 145 00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:59.519 heart valve disease first of all, and then what are 146 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:01.919 the real risks if left untreated? 147 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:07.240 Yes, so I have very good news about the treatment, 148 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:10.399 and I'll just say at the outset that many heart 149 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:15.039 valve problems do not need specific long term treatment. If 150 00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:17.200 you do have a heart valve problem, you may be 151 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:21.080 prescribed antibiotics before you have a procedure, and again you 152 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:24.639 need to get that prescription filled and take those medications 153 00:09:24.679 --> 00:09:28.200 to prevent the transmission of germs to your heart valves. 154 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:34.759 But before we get to that, well, and so let 155 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:40.679 me just go with the treatment for now. Treatment can 156 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:44.759 be medications to control a little fluid retention that occurs 157 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:49.039 with increasing severity of the heart valve problem, or medications 158 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:52.759 to regulate the heart rhythm if that appears to be problematic. 159 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:58.120 If the heart valve disease is advanced, the treatment for 160 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:02.440 years and years has been placement or repair through open 161 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:06.799 heart surgery. Over recent years, several decade and a half 162 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:10.240 or so, now a new procedure is now offered to 163 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:14.480 people with valve disease. That's a catheter based treatment. The 164 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:17.159 catheter goes in through the leg and the valve is 165 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:20.840 actually replaced in that what non invasive way, does not 166 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:25.519 require surgery. So those are things to keep in mind. 167 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:28.600 But the most important thing is to raise the issue. 168 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:32.200 If you're having symptoms of these sorts, even if they 169 00:10:32.200 --> 00:10:37.200 are subtle, to take those things very seriously and raise 170 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:41.320 them at your regular checkup and make sure you know, Melanie, 171 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:44.200 I want to make sure that when people go in 172 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:47.840 for a checkup with their nurse or doctor that they 173 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:52.320 if the physician does not listen to their hearts, that 174 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:54.240 may be the case if you go in for an 175 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:56.919 elbow problem or an earache, they may not listen to 176 00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:00.120 your heart. I'm asking all of your listeners just say, hey, 177 00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:02.879 could you take a listen to my heart. I'm curious 178 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:05.519 whether I have any problem with my heart valve. It 179 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:09.720 takes a couple of minutes to do. Clinicians are skilled 180 00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:12.840 at listening for heart murmurs, and we need to ask 181 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:15.799 them to do so so that we make sure we 182 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:19.679 capture heart valve disease and make sure people stay safe. 183 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:23.759 Ah, you mentioned heart murmur, so I think you mentioned 184 00:11:23.799 --> 00:11:25.720 that for the first time heart murmurs tied to heart 185 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:26.399 valve disease. 186 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:31.320 That's right. The murmur. It's a word that doctors use 187 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:34.360 and nurses use, but it describes the sound that can 188 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:37.679 come from blood flowing through a damaged valve. 189 00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:41.600 Because that's what you know. So listeners, I was told 190 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:43.519 I had a heart murmur and you had to take 191 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:48.159 those antibiotics during dental exams. Is that still the case, 192 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:49.399 because I've heard mixed stories on that. 193 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:55.519 Yes, there are recommendations about that, and your healthcare professional 194 00:11:55.679 --> 00:12:00.279 can determine whether you need antibiotics or not. I've been 195 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:03.000 some recent changes to those recommendations. 196 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:04.679 Right, because I haven't done it in quite some time, 197 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:07.639 so it's kind of interesting. So what can consumers do 198 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:11.759 to reduce their risk other than discussing this and having 199 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:14.039 their heart check with their medical practitioner and taking those 200 00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:16.840 antibiotics when they're prescribed in full, what else can they 201 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:18.080 do it can reduce. 202 00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:24.919 Their risk, that's right. So daily oral hygiene is really important. 203 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:29.679 This gets back to regular dental checkups, flossing, and making 204 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:33.720 sure that if you do have an issue with your 205 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:37.240 oral hygiene, that you seek help for that and then 206 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:41.159 getting those regular checkups is just key. 207 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:44.240 Well you know, who would have thought that oral hygiene 208 00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:47.000 is tied to heart health, but it is and other 209 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:51.960 things as well. So where can my listeners go to 210 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:56.360 learn more about heart velve disease? Because we all know 211 00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:59.559 you have to have trusted sources. Don't just go googling 212 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:02.039 around internet. You've got to go to trusted sources like 213 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:04.759 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So I think 214 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:07.919 there's a toolkit you have now for I know, medical people, 215 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:09.799 medical folks, but what about regular folks. 216 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:14.440 Yes, and in fact, I'm so pleased that we produce 217 00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:20.159 these resources to be helpful to individuals, regular individuals like 218 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:23.320 you and me, as well as healthcare teams. So those 219 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:28.600 are all available, including videos and patient stories at CDC 220 00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:32.960 dot gov backslash Know your Heart. 221 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:36.039 Well, I think that's so important, and as I said, 222 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:42.360 listen to real doctors and credible sources, not just moving 223 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:45.039 around on internet, you know, So it's really really important. 224 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:47.320 I know time is limited with you, doctor Wright, You're 225 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:50.120 very busy. So we've been speaking with doctor Janet Wright, 226 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:53.120 who directs programmic and scientific efforts for the Center for 227 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:57.879 Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, And as always, you 228 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:00.240 have a great heart and you've got to take good 229 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:02.799 care of it. So thank you for sharing this information 230 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:04.639 with us today. I'm fearloss fabulous you. 231 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:09.200 Thanks so much for getting the word out. 232 00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:16.320 My pleasure. Thank you, doctor Wright, thank you so much, 233 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:22.120 and for my listeners. I hope that was really really important. 234 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:25.000 I just want to do a little follow up chatting 235 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:27.600 with you about some things that you can do to 236 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:30.360 improve your overall health because, as I said at the 237 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:34.399 top of the hour, my grandmother, Mimi Rose Weiner, died 238 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:38.639 of cardiac arrest. It actually changed my life and how 239 00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:42.320 I approach a lot of things in life, including doing 240 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:45.399 this show. Is in living life on your terms. She 241 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:49.919 was having what she called an anxiety attack, maybe a 242 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:52.720 little indigestion, so she went in thinking she was having 243 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:56.559 what she called an esophagus attack because she has gastro 244 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:01.000 esophagal had gastroesophagal reflux disorder, as do my mother, as 245 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:04.039 did I, and often the symptoms when they have a 246 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:07.159 flare up of gird mimic a heart attack. Unfortunately, what 247 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:11.000 my grandmother did have was cardiac arrest. And it's important 248 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:14.360 to understand while we were talking about heart valve disease, 249 00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:18.279 which is also in late terms medical terms, a heart murmur, 250 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:22.279 heart attack, and cardiac arrests can happen at any age. 251 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:28.639 It's not an old person's it's really episodic. It's not 252 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:31.960 even a disease. Our cardiac cardiovasco disease can happen at 253 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:34.399 any age. I'm going to say that cardiac arrests is 254 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:38.200 when your heart goes into your basic heart failure and 255 00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:41.159 can kill you. And sadly, I have too many people 256 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:44.639 I know my age in the early sixties who have 257 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:49.000 died of cardiac arrest. It is so important to know 258 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:52.559 the symptoms. It is so important to seek help. And 259 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:56.039 most importantly, if you think you were having a cardiac 260 00:15:56.840 --> 00:16:00.600 arrest or any kind of heart incident where you can breathe, 261 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:02.840 you start to pass out, you have shortness of breath, 262 00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:05.840 the room is spinning. I have been there. You call 263 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:09.240 nine to one one. You are not a hyperchondriac. Don't 264 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:11.759 let people tell you it's nothing and just calm down, 265 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:15.679 even if it's a panic attack, seek help. And I'm 266 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:17.759 saying that firsthand because I've had to go to the 267 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:20.440 er twice thinking I was having a heart attacks. Granted 268 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:22.559 it was a panic attack, but you know, I feel 269 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:24.679 all the better that I did, because the day I 270 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:28.240 don't do that, the day I don't call nine one 271 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:30.080 one because I think I'm having a heart attack and 272 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:33.080 someone says, don't worry, it's nothing but a stress attack, 273 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:36.360 that will be the day I have cardiac arrest. So 274 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:39.080 what can you do? Well, First of all, as doctor 275 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:41.039 Wright said, and what I want to echo, it is 276 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:45.919 very important that you do not skip your annual medical exams, 277 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:49.000 and that is so important. And when you go to 278 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:53.080 your doctor, your primary care physician, you go with a checklist. 279 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:56.159 You don't ask them to do the checklist. You go 280 00:16:56.200 --> 00:17:00.519 with the checklist head to toe. You want your blood check, 281 00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:02.919 Do you want your cholesterol check, do you want your 282 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:07.000 heart check? Do you want you know? You ask if 283 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:10.440 you can get an echo, cardiogram, an ectocardiogram, ask for 284 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:14.039 a stress to say I want to have the following 285 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:18.519 because I am over fifty, or I have had symptoms, 286 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:23.880 I have family history, know your family history. Go in 287 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:26.119 with a checklist and say is it time for me 288 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:29.519 to have these exams? I just did this with my 289 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:32.880 new primary care physician. I went in with my checklist 290 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:35.079 and I now have a whole list. 291 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.839 Of things that I'm going to be scheduled to do, 292 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:45.640 including tattah, blood cholesterol, bone density scan, a comprehensive metabolic panel, 293 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:48.680 antibiody panel, lipid panel, rheumatire factor. 294 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:52.160 Because I have rheumatoid art writers in my family, I 295 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:55.640 asked for everything and fortunately I had a doctor who 296 00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:59.200 took the time. Thank you doctor Wan vernalon Wan at 297 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:02.559 Touro Clinic who sat down and listened. If your doctor 298 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:04.920 is not giving you the time to sit down and 299 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:09.160 listen and take the time to request these tests, and 300 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:13.440 maybe it's time to get a new doctor. Just all 301 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:16.000 I'm gonna say, Because a doctor's job is to make 302 00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:20.359 sure that you remain in optimal health. Now that's going 303 00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:23.480 to the doctor. What can you do every day to 304 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:26.599 protect your heart? It's as simple as many other things 305 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:29.640 to protect the other parts of your health. Okay, first 306 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:37.359 of all, Number one, Number one, get moving. Sedentary living 307 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:41.920 is harmful to your health. You must get at least 308 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:44.920 forty five minutes of exercise a day, even if it's 309 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:48.279 your ten thousand steps of walking. Move your body and 310 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:53.119 try to make it cardiovascular movement, not just you know, 311 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:56.000 a leg lift here. I love pilates, but let me 312 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:59.960 tell you something. I love pilates for strengthening and time 313 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:02.839 owning and stretching and making me feel ten feet taller 314 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:05.160 than I am at my five foot foot three. But 315 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:09.599 I swim, I do brisk walks. I try to join 316 00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:13.079 my husband biking. Do something to get your heart going. 317 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:18.039 Number two, and I'm doing the dews before the do nots. 318 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:24.680 Do embrace a healthy diet that means lean protein, greens, 319 00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:31.200 whole grains, minimize saturated fat, so healthy fats, monoym. They're 320 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:36.599 saturated fats, minimal process food, ultra processed food. Excuse me, 321 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:41.119 it's filled with sugar and salt and chemicals. Go green. 322 00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:45.160 It's also frankly less expensive. We all know how expensive 323 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:49.240 food is these days, right, So I, you know, stop 324 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:52.160 eating meat. It's my choice. I don't want to eat 325 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:54.160 saturated fat. I don't even like the taste of meat. 326 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:58.839 I have a greens focused I love vegetables, so eat 327 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:00.839 a lot of vegetables. Probably two thirds of what I 328 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:03.599 eat is vegetables. And then I do either whole grains 329 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:07.359 and lean protein. What is lean protein fish. I do 330 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:13.319 follow the Monterey Bay aquariumseafood watch dot org, which constantly 331 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:16.960 is updated on what fish are good and safe to 332 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:20.839 eat versus questionable versus do not. It's not necessarily do 333 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:22.839 not because of health. It could be due not because 334 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:26.799 of environmental issues or overfishing. But seafood watch dot org 335 00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:31.000 is a great source. Also the Dirty the Clean fifteen, 336 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:34.160 and the Dirty dozen lists which you can find. You 337 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:38.960 can find on the internet. It's a great source. But 338 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:43.480 healthy eating, so embrace more exercise and movement. If you 339 00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:46.160 don't like the word exercise, let's call it movement and 340 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:52.359 healthy eating. Free get enough sleep, turn off the TV, 341 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:56.440 turn off the phones, put them phones in the other room, 342 00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:59.400 and get a good night's sleep. I've learned not to 343 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.559 even you know, because I work for myself. I don't 344 00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:04.480 even set the alarm. I get enough sleep seven hours, 345 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:07.920 as I doal eight hours is optimum. If you don't 346 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:10.519 get enough sleep, try to have a little thirteen minute 347 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:13.319 cat nap in the middle of the day. Thirteen minutes. 348 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:15.559 It could be part of your lun shower, thirteen minutes 349 00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:21.279 just to catch up before watch your stress. Try to 350 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:26.240 rechannel all that amazing stress energy that can be detrimental 351 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:29.160 and make it positive energy. So if you feel stress, 352 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:31.640 go take a walk. If you feel stressed, go bake 353 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:34.000 a cake. If it feel stress, go call a friend. 354 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:36.319 If you feel stressed, take out your kids or your 355 00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:39.000 dog for a walk. Channel that energy and try to 356 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:43.119 reduce your stress. Take up yoga. It's great for heavy 357 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:49.160 breathing exercises to moderate your stress. Identify what stresses you 358 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:51.759 out and try to tailor it or edit it out 359 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:55.240 of your life if you can. And more importantly, if 360 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:58.640 you can't handle the stress and you're feeling overwhelmed, seek help. 361 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:01.759 It's good to seek help. Everybody probably should have a 362 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:03.720 therapist at some point in their life. Now let's talk 363 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:09.519 about the no nos. No smoking, do not smoke, and 364 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:15.960 do not start. It's a direct cause of many major illnesses, 365 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:21.000 including heart disease. Okay, do not smoke. And again, why 366 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:22.960 spend the money smoking when you can spend it on 367 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:28.200 something else. Alcohol. There is a lot of information and 368 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:32.880 misinformation and debate on how much beverage alcohol, as in 369 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:35.960 a glass of wine, two glasses of your man, or 370 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:39.279 a small one point five ounce glass of heart alcohol 371 00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:44.279 like whiskey or bourbon, or whatever or beer. There's a 372 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:46.359 lot going on with that right now. The World Health 373 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:49.400 Organization is saying no amount of alcohol is good for you. 374 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:54.079 Then there's team reports and research studies. A moderate amount 375 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:57.200 is okay for you. I follow the Mediterranean diet. The 376 00:22:57.240 --> 00:23:02.960 Mediterranean diet does say moderate amounts of alcohol, preferably with 377 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:07.720 meals like a glass of wine. Know your risk, know 378 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:10.319 your limits. If it's not making you feel good to 379 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:14.119 consume alcohol, then don't. It's okay, but you should not. 380 00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:17.559 According to the current dietary guidelines, which are subject to 381 00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:21.000 change in twenty twenty five, it's one five or six 382 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:22.880 ounce glass. I think it's five or six ounce glass 383 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:27.160 of wine for women and two for men a day max. Okay. 384 00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:31.480 If you do drink alcohol, have days where you don't. 385 00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:34.039 David and I are wine writers, so we drink. You know, 386 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:36.039 we have wine. We drink. We share a bottle of 387 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:38.920 wine at dinner. Sometimes it's two glasses for him, two 388 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:41.039 glasses for me, or maybe three glasses for him and 389 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:43.200 one glass for me. But we also have nights where 390 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:46.599 we just have water, you know, we dry out, and 391 00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:50.880 we just we try really hard not to overdo it. Finally, 392 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:55.839 perhaps you time for yourself and enjoy family and friends, 393 00:23:56.319 --> 00:24:00.559 and realize that life is short. It is simply a 394 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:05.680 passage in a journey, and enjoy every moment. And go 395 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:09.200 and make sure you are seeing your doctors. Make sure 396 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:12.880 that you understand your family history. Make sure you, as 397 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:17.759 doctor Wright says, make sure you take those antibiotics when 398 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:21.039 they're prescribed. Don't be half half about taking your pills. 399 00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:25.920 And as always, just understand that if there's something going 400 00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:29.079 on in your body or your brain that doesn't feel right, 401 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:35.000