5/20/2023 3:53:00 PM by Saving American Hearts, Inc
Obesity May Be Affecting Heart Health in Kids as Young as 6 As early as age 6, children who carry extra weight could be headed down a path toward future diabetes or heart disease, a new study suggests. The study, of nearly 1,000 Danish children, found that kids who were overweight often had elevations in blood sugar and insulin by the time they were school-age. They also had higher triglycerides (a type of blood fat) than their peers, but lower blood levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Those differences were not, however, apparent among preschoolers who were overweight. The researchers said the findings underscore the importance of a healthy diet and physical activity in the preschool years — before the effects of excess weight begin to arise.
But no one is pointing the finger at parents. Experts said childhood obesity is complex, and often intertwined with social factors that families do not control — like a lack of affordable healthy foods or safe places for their children to be physically active. “Parents want the best for their children. They want them to have nutritious foods,” said Amy Yaroch, executive director of the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, a nonprofit research institute in Omaha, Neb. “But wanting the best, and being able to provide it, are two different things,” added Yaroch, who was not involved in the study. In general, she said, Americans live in a society that makes healthy eating and exercise challenging — where, among other things, we are surrounded by marketing for convenience foods designed to be tasty and enticing.
In fact, fast food outlets are far more plentiful than grocery stores, said Amanda Staiano, a pediatric obesity researcher who had no role in the research. And for low-income families, the battle can be particularly tough. “A lot of this does come down to income, resources, time and stress,” said Staiano, who directs the Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in Baton Rouge, La. The good news is, there are national programs that have been shown to improve diet quality among preschoolers and school-age kids — such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which gives nutrition assistance to low-income women with young children, and the National School Lunch program. “I think school breakfast and lunch programs have improved a great deal,” said Staiano.
In fact, she added, it is often during summer months, when kids are out of school, where excessive weight gain happens.
On average, school-age kids who carried extra weight had higher blood sugar and insulin levels than their peers — an indicator they could be on a trajectory toward type 2 diabetes. They also had higher triglycerides and lower levels of heart-protective HDL cholesterol. And a year later, the percentage of school-age children who were overweight had risen to 17%. The study, led by Dr. Christine Frithioff-Bøjsøe, was published online May 3 in the journal Obesity Research & Clinical Practice. The findings were presented at the European Congress on Obesity meeting in Maastricht, the Netherlands. A caveat, Staiano noted, is that even among overweight school kids, blood sugar, insulin and other markers were still within normal range. But, she added, it is concerning to see the differences at such a young age. “We don’t know how this will affect them later in life,” Staiano said. One of the broad goals, according to Staiano, is to not only have formal programs aimed at child nutrition and health, but also practical tools families can use at home. She noted that sometimes simple advice from health care providers can go a long way — on, for example, reading your baby’s hunger signals rather than always aiming to “finish the bottle,” or giving appropriate portion sizes to toddlers.Staiano said she thinks the American Academy of Pediatrics has been doing a good job of helping doctors and other providers to improve their skills in child weight management. “I do think health care providers have a big role here,” Staiano said. “But schools, communities and the corner grocery store can all do their part, too.” In comparison to those school-age years, early childhood has traditionally gotten less attention when it comes to preventing and managing obesity, both Staiano and Yaroch said. But that is changing. Yaroch pointed to a government-funded program called the National Early Care and Education Learning Collaborative, which was implemented in a number of U.S. states to foster healthy eating and exercise, and curb “screen time,” in child care settings. “The 0 to 5 years are when you’re establishing taste preferences and behaviors,” Yaroch said. “And the earlier you can intervene, the better.” In the new study, researchers at Copenhagen University Hospital Holbaek, in Denmark, followed 335 preschool children and 657 school-age children, aged 6 to 8. In both age groups, about 14% were overweight — meaning they had a body mass index above the 90th percentile for their age and sex. (In the United States, the 85th percentile is considered overweight).
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5/9/2023 3:27:00 PM by Saving American Hearts, Inc
Community Heart Watch focuses on improving local health and safety A community program dedicated to saving lives from cardiac arrest through education, training and improving access to lifesaving devices had two big events in the same number of weeks. Community Heart Watch, a collaborative effort by emergency medical services, businesses, schools and medical providers in Fairfield, Hocking and Perry counties posthumously awarded Ohio Highway Patrol Trooper Donald "Andy" Ward for his efforts to save a driver suffering from cardiac arrest and the group unveiled a new mobile medical health training unit for use throughout the area. In June 2021, Trooper Ward was driving in the area of Ohio 37 near Rising Park when he observed a car veering toward the center of the road. Ward kept the vehicle from driving into an embankment and called for emergency medical personnel. Once Ward noticed the driver appeared to be experiencing cardiac arrest, he acted quickly and removed the driver from the car. Three individuals with medical experience — Portsmouth medics Olivia Crawford and Charles Smyers, and Fairfield Medical Center nurse Erica McDaniels — rushed to Ward’s aid and helped perform CPR on the driver until medics arrived on the scene. The driver was transported to Fairfield Medical Center and was later discharged. Less than three months after his heroic act, Ward passed away. His wife, Brenda, and his children, Megan and Andrew, accepted the Great Save Award on his behalf. "Andy had been a trooper for 24 years, he realized he needed to be in the action, and helping that driver changed him. After seeing the driver almost die in front of him, then come back and recover, Andy really wondered how all the pieces came together to save him," Brenda said. "He had the same reaction when the driver called the post two days later to thank him." An automated external defibrillator was also installed at Lancaster High School's Fulton Field in Ward's honor. Brenda said she was excited when they had the opportunity to install the AED in her husband's honor, especially if it meant saving more lives even after Ward's death. "We spent eight years cheering for the kids at that track, and now they'll have another AED to help people. The ceremony last Monday was a great send off for Andy, especially because people hadn't had the chance to say goodbye at his funeral," she said. "A lot of people came out because he was a great guy to be around, and we are proud of who he was and what he means to everyone."
Community Heart Watch unveiled its new CPR and AED mobile training unit April 28, which will serve communities throughout Fairfield, Hocking and Perry counties. The trailer was fully funded by donations from Fairfield Federal; Park National Bank; Friendly Bremen Banking Center; Stebelton Snider; the Rotary Club of Lancaster; Fairfield Medical Center; and several individual contributor. The 14-foot training unit is equipped with CPR manikins and AED training devices. The mobile unit will travel to community events for hands-on training, and has already been booked for many events this summer. Matt Wideman, executive vice president of Fairfield Federal Savings and Loan and the Business Champion of Community Heart Watch, said the unit will be "an invaluable asset to the community for years to come." "We are grateful for the support of our sponsors and their recognition of the importance of making our community more heart safe," Wideman said. FMC cardiologist John Lazarus, MD, PhD, Clinical Champion of Community Heart Watch, said bystander intervention can double or triple cardiac arrest survival rates. Unfortunately, less than 15% of the community is trained in CPR and AED use, with even lower rates in rural areas. “Our innovative new mobile unit will bring training to those in our community who wouldn’t normally seek out training on their own, or who live in rural areas where they do not have access to training,” Dr. Lazarus said. Greenfield Township Fire Chief Brad Smith, EMS Champion of Community Heart Watch, said the best outcomes for cardiac arrest, which affects nearly 356,000 Americans each year, occur when CPR is started and an AED is used within 4-6 minutes of collapse. “On average, it takes emergency medical services 7-8 minutes to arrive on the scene of an emergency and even longer in more rural areas, so it is critical that community members who witness a cardiac arrest call 911 immediately, start CPR and locate the closest AED while waiting for EMS to arrive,” he said. For more information about Community Heart Watch, visit fmchealth.org or contact community outreach coordinator Teri Watson at teri.watson@fmchealth.org.
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5/27/2023 3:14:00 PM by Saving American Hearts, Inc
4 Ways Your Feet Are Telling You That Your Heart's in Trouble Avoiding tobacco, staying physically active, and eating a balanced diet are all good practices to help keep your heart healthy. Other tips for preventing heart disease may not be as obvious, such as flossing your teeth on a regular basis, or keeping an eye on your feet. When you think about cardiac wellness, your mind probably doesn't automatically go to your feet. But even though they couldn't be further from your heart, your feet can actually tip you off to certain types of cardiac trouble.
What kind of signals from your feet should you be paying attention to when it comes to your heart health? Read on for five surprising signs that your ticker could be in trouble. 1 Change in hair growth on your toes
Thinning, graying, split ends… The hair on our heads can tell us a lot about our general wellness. But have you ever paid attention to the hair on your toes? According to Erum N. Ilyas, MD, MBE, FAAD, board certified dermatologist and CEO and founder of AmberNoon, you should. Decreased hair on the toes may be a message about your heart health. Loss of hair on the toes can signal poor circulation, which can result in "a decrease of blood flow to the small blood vessels that support hair growth," says Ilyas. That includes the hair on your toes: "The added swelling in the legs can also cause hair thinning or loss on the toes and feet." Ilyas explains that an "increase in the thickness or rough texture to hair on the toes is generally indicative of either improved circulation, hormonal change, or genetics"—but it can also be a symptom of an ovarian or adrenal disorder. To be safe, bring it up with your healthcare provider. 2 Swelling in your feet and ankles Whether it's due to pregnancy, certain medications, or consuming too many salty foods, swelling in the feet and ankles (also known as edema) can have a lot of potential causes. It manifests in puffy feet with stretched-looking, shiny skin that may display an imprint after being pressed down on for several seconds—and can indicate a range of issues, including cirrhosis and kidney disease. But swollen feet can also have an important connection to the heart, according to the Mayo Clinic. "If you have congestive heart failure, one or both of your heart's lower chambers lose their ability to pump blood effectively," their experts explain. "As a result, blood can back up in your legs, ankles and feet, causing edema." When swelling occurs in the stomach, fluid may collect in the lungs and cause pulmonary edema. Shortness of breath can result, as well as chest pain and difficulty breathing.
3 Cold feet If you're one of those people who love cozy socks and fuzzy mittens, chances are you're familiar with the sensation of cold hands and feet. "Many people frequently have cold feet, as well as cold hands," William Kormos, M.D. tells Harvard Health, adding that in some, it may be an inherited trait. But, he explains, "the main medical problems that cause cold feet are decreased circulation in the extremities and nerve damage [because of] atherosclerosis, where arteries are narrowed by fatty deposits and impede blood flow in the limbs." In addition to feeling cold, "your feet may appear blue or purple when you are sitting, and pale or white when you are lying down. You may feel pain in your calves when you walk." This could be a sign of peripheral artery disease (PAD), which can also cause pain in the legs while walking.
4 Purple or blue toes Blue or purple toenails can occur when you've stubbed the heck out of your foot. But your nails can tell you a lot about your health, and if you haven't suffered a recent injury, blue toenails can indicate cyanosis. This condition occurs "when you have blue, grayish, or purple skin because your blood isn't carrying enough oxygen," according to Verywell Health. This can happen in the nail beds as well as other parts of the body, including the lips. "Cyanosis means your muscles, organs, and other tissues may not be getting the oxygen they need to operate properly," they say. Cyanosis can point to a number of issues; three serious conditions are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary hypertension (a complication of COPD), and congestive heart failure. Verywell Health recommends seeking treatment immediately if you experience symptoms such as blue skin, nail beds, or mucous membranes, as well as difficulty breathing.
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5/15/2023 2:35:00 PM by Saving American Hearts, Inc
Frequent marijuana smoking linked to higher risk of heart attack, study suggests People who smoked marijuana more than once per month were more likely to have their first heart attack before age 50, new research found.
Smoking marijuana at least once a month is linked to an elevated risk of heart attack, according to a new study among nearly 160,000 people in the U.K. The research, published Friday in the journal Cell, looked at more than 11,000 people between ages 40 and 69 who said they smoked marijuana at least once a month. The scientists then compared that group to 122,000 other people in the same age bracket who did not smoke marijuana at all, and nearly 23,000 more who smoked less frequently. The study authors controlled for age, gender and body mass index — three factors that influence the risk of heart disease — and found that people who smoked marijuana frequently were more likely than people who did not to have a first heart attack before age 50. Having one heart attack increases the lifelong risk of having another or developing heart failure.
Smoking marijuana at least once a month is linked to an elevated risk of heart attack, according to a new study among nearly 160,000 people in the U.K. The research, published Friday in the journal Cell, looked at more than 11,000 people between ages 40 and 69 who said they smoked marijuana at least once a month. The scientists then compared that group to 122,000 other people in the same age bracket who did not smoke marijuana at all, and nearly 23,000 more who smoked less frequently. The study authors controlled for age, gender and body mass index — three factors that influence the risk of heart disease — and found that people who smoked marijuana frequently were more likely than people who did not to have a first heart attack before age 50. Having one heart attack increases the lifelong risk of having another or developing heart failure.
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6/1/2023 4:21:00 PM by Saving American Hearts, Inc
Maine woman says CPR saved her young daughter's life For this month’s Heart Health 8 in partnership with the American Heart Association, WMTW sat down with a Maine woman who likely saved her daughter’s life through CPR. “I think about it every day, I run through it,” Sandi Dwyer said. “When I go to sleep at night, I run through that whole morning."
It's been eight years since Sandi had to perform CPR on her daughter Whitney. “She was a very active, normal 13-year-old,” she said “and all the sudden she dropped.” It was a normal Monday morning. The Dwyer family was getting ready for work and school when her youngest daughter heard Whitney fall and couldn’t get her back up. “It just felt like I had never woken up,” Whitney describes it, “it just felt like one long dream.” “We got on the phone with 911 and I started CPR,” said Sandi. Sandi performed CPR with help from dispatchers until rescue crews got there and rushed her to Maine Medical Center. “We found out she had a very sick heart,” Sandi said, “we eventually found out it was from a virus, and she had suffered cardiac arrest.” It’s a stark reminder that heart disease affects anyone at any age. She says it’s also a reminder that knowing CPR saves lives. “95% will die from cardiac arrest,” she said. “For every minute CPR is not performed, it reduces to another 10, 7%. You think it might be a stranger that you’re going to help, but more likely, it’s in your circle.” She is so grateful to have her daughter her today as Whitney is focused on helping the next person. She’s now in school to be a cardiovascular technician. “I just really wanted to help everyone like me. Everyone seemed happy and it seemed like a great work environment,” Whitney said.
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5/31/2023 8:04:00 PM by Saving American Hearts, Inc
Diets high in protein, zinc and vitamin B3 boost heart health, study finds
People who consume a Mediterranean-type diet high in nutrients such as protein, zinc and vitamin B3 may see improvements in heart health, a study presented Tuesday found. After one year on a weight-loss program that included personalized exercise plans, as well as nutrition modifications centered around a "low-calorie, high-protein" form of the Mediterranean diet, 72 participants saw 9% reductions in body weight, the researchers said.  In addition, their measurements on several key indicators of heart health -- including assessments for arterial stiffness, carotid artery thickening and blood flow -- also improved, data presented Wednesday during the European Congress on Obesity in Maastricht, the Netherlands, showed. All of the participants had metabolic syndrome -- or at least three of these medical conditions: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high serum "bad" cholesterol and low "good" cholesterol -- at the start of the study, according to the researchers. This placed them at increased risk for heart disease and other heart-health problems, including heart attack and stroke, the researchers said. "We found changes in the consumption of specific food components to be linked to better vascular structure and function," co-author Brurya Tal, clinical dietitian at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel, said in a press release. Historically, improvements in metabolic and heart health seen after weight loss in people with obesity have been attributed to either the weight loss or the resulting changes in blood sugar and blood pressure levels, Tal and her colleagues said. However, it is also possible that the make-up of the diet itself, and specific nutrients in that diet, are also involved, the researchers said. For this study, the Israeli researchers recruited 72 adults with metabolic syndrome and obesity who had an average age of 53 years at the start of the study. Participants agreed to engage in regular exercise and adhere to a nutrition plan based on the Mediterranean diet, a diet made up largely of foods available in countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, the researchers said. The Mediterranean diet includes plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes as well as "seasonally fresh, locally grown" olive oil and low to moderate amounts of fish and poultry, according to Harvard Medical School. Previous studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk for heart disease in those who follow it.
Diet and exercise plans were personalized for each participant and included regular meetings with a physician and dietician, according to the researchers. Participants were asked to fill in a detailed dietary questionnaire a week before starting their diet and exercise plans and a year later, the researchers said. Stiffening in the walls of the arteries, which carry blood from the heart, has been linked with an increased risk for heart disease in earlier studies. So, in this research, the authors used it as a "proxy" for heart health, which they based on the measures pulse wave velocity -- essentially the rate at which blood travels through the circulatory system -- as well as carotid artery intima media thickness and flow mediated dilation, they said. These latter two measures assess the thickness of the carotid artery, or the main artery from the heart, and the diameter of an artery that causes blood flow to increase, respectively, according to Emory University. After one year on the diet and exercise plan, participants' body mass index -- a measure of body weight against height -- fell by more than 9%, on average, while average flow mediated dilation improved by 47%, the data showed.
In addition, participants' average pulse wave velocity improved by 13% and carotid artery intima media thickness was enhanced by 1%, the researchers said. The improvements in pulse wave velocity were associated with reductions in calorie and saturated fat intake as well as increases in zinc intake, as zinc boosts blood vessel health, they said. The improvements in carotid artery intima media thickness were linked with reductions in calorie and saturated fat intake as well increases in protein, according to the researchers. Finally, the improvements in flow mediated dilation were attributed to increases in intake of niacin, or vitamin B3, which is known to dilate blood vessels, the researchers said. "A Mediterranean diet, rich in protein -- lean dairy products, fish, poultry, and eggs -- [and] rich in vegetables, nuts, seeds and with moderate consumption of fruits and grains, can contribute to protecting the cardiovascular system," Tal said. "The zinc-rich foods in the diet plan were sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, nuts and meat, [with] meat and fish provid[ing] niacin," she said.
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6/4/2023 2:08:00 PM by Saving American Hearts, Inc
'I am a very lucky man': Portland man survives after two 'guardian angels' perform CPR Ron Rhodes' recovery is a testament to how CPR can increase someone’s chance of survival, if given within the first few minutes after sudden cardiac arrest.
Ron Rhodes calls them his guardian angels. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about the event,” the 72-year-old said. Rhodes was out walking his dog on a dark, rainy morning last November when his heart stopped. He doesn’t remember leaving hom, or anything about that morning, but he remembers waking up in the hospital hours later.
But Megan Carpenter remembers it vividly. Carpenter was also out with her dog, Ava, on the field behind Beverly Clearly School in Northeast Portland when she saw Rhodes collapse. “He suddenly just slipped,” Carpenter said. “I knew that something was wrong in that split second and I ran over to him as quickly as I could.” That’s when Carpenter’s CPR training, which she learned in college, kicked in.
Carpenter immediately called 911, turned Rhodes onto his back in the mud, then started chest compressions. “I hear a voice saying, ‘Do you need help?’” Carpenter recalled. “And I said ‘Yes!’ because at that point, [three minutes later], I was getting tired.” That voice belonged to Hilary Bennett, who took over compressions. Carpenter and Bennett then worked together, trading off and encouraging one another until an ambulance arrived four minutes later. Rhodes, who has since fully recovered, said he believes if the two women hadn’t sprang into action as quickly as they did, he wouldn’t have survived. “I don’t know what you can do for somebody that… saves your life,” he said. “I mean, there’s not enough money in the world.”
First few minutes can mean life or deathThe survival statistics weren’t in Rhodes' favor. Studies show around nine out 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital don’t make it. According to the American Red Cross, more than 300,000 people die of sudden cardiac arrest in the U.S. every year. It usually occurs in adults, though it can happen to anyone. But CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which mimics the pumping action of the heart, keeps oxygen rich blood flowing to the brain.
While a person’s chance of survival drops about 10% every minute they’re left waiting for first responders, according to the Red Cross, quality CPR can double or even triple their chance of survival. “Those first few critical minutes, before the EMS personnel arrive, can really mean life or death for someone,” said Jennifer Kenagy, who’s been teaching CPR with the Red Cross for over two decades. Kenagy puts it like this: “You’re giving them the best fighting chance they possibly can.” She said she was once teaching an infant CPR class in Kenya when she suddenly had to put her skills to use on a newborn baby boy. “We worked on him for a good half an hour, but he was kind of inside momma too long,” she remembered solemnly. Kenagy said she’s passionate about empowering her students, and about making sure they don’t get caught up in numbers and instruction manuals, but instead, in the big picture. “I do really believe that most people that leave my classes, I trust could save my life,” she said.
Practice makes perfectIt turns out, learning CPR is both straightforward and simple. More than 2.4 million people across the country take some form ofRed Cross CPR or first aid training each year. Some do it to meet work requirements, while others are curious and want to build enough confidence to know how to step up in an emergency. Training in the Portland area begins, for non-first responders, with online learning. It’s a small commitment: two to three hours of videos and interactive exercises, with requisite tests paced throughout to pass to the next stage. Throughout, there's a constant reminder of the three basic Red Cross steps that apply in nearly every emergency:
- Check (that the scene is safe and the person is nonresponsive)
- Call (911 for help or designate someone specific to do it on your behalf)
- Care (for the person).
“You wouldn’t be expected to just jump into the pool and start swimming,” Kenagy explains. “When you get to practice it in class, you get to feel it.” Participants take turns playing responder and coach, watching each other closely for the proper hand placement for adult compressions: center of the chest, heel of one hand planted, the other hand threaded over the top, fingers up, elbows locked, shoulders and body weight over the hands. The lifelike mannequin below the participants is created to feel like the real thing. It lights up red across the forehead to show participants that they're hitting their target, and crucially, going deep enough with compressions at least two inches for an adult. The participants learn about giving two breaths for every 30 compressions, each using own one-way plastic breathing barrier and sanitizing the mannequin’s mouth as they trade off. “In a real situation, your adrenaline is going to pumping behind. Anxieties are going to be high. There’s a lot of distractions,” Kenagy said. “So really focus on calming yourself down and thinking about what you’re doing.” Hands-only or compression-only CPR is an option, Kenagy explains, though the Red Cross doesn’t teach it and it isn’t compliant with certain labor regulations. And while the science supports that full CPR — with 30 compressions alternating with two breaths — is most effective, Kenagy said, in the world outside classroom walls, she believes giving something is better than nothing.
‘The greatest accomplishment’Dawn Johnson with the Red Cross presented Megan Carpenter and Hilary Bennett with their National Lifesaving Award.
Including Carpenter and Bennett’s awards, it’s only been handed out six times in the region in the last three years. “What you did was nothing short of remarkable,” Johnson said, while Ron Rhodes, who nominated the pair for the award, looked on and applauded with friends and family. It’s the second time Carpenter has had to perform CPR. The first was on a man who collapsed in front of her mother’s home. He didn’t survive. “It was really healing, actually, to be able to save [Ron] after losing someone,” Carpenter said. She’s now advocating that anyone who is able to get CPR trained, do so as soon as possible because they’ll never know when they’ll be called on to help. And Rhodes, who has stayed in touch with both Carpenter and Hilary Bennett, couldn’t agree more. “It was the willingness to put [their] hands on a total stranger,” Rhodes said. “[They’re my] two guardian angels, [who made] sure this wasn’t my last day here.” “It makes me feel great,” Carpenter said. “I think it’s the greatest accomplishment that I’ll ever have in my life.”
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6/3/2023 2:27:00 PM by Saving American Hearts, Inc
Mother Waiting for a Heart Transplant Helps Others as a 'Go Red for Women' Ambassador Mother of two, Zuleyma Santos, is working with the American Heart Association to raise awareness about the dangers of heart disease in younger adults. On paper, you’d think Zuleyma Santos, now age 37, had it all. Two new children born in as many years. A career in retail she loved. A dedicated and loving husband who despite having cancer was always there for her and a huge, nearby, and supportive family. It should have been the time of her life. But within those happenings came a blockbuster: Santos developed a rare and often deadly heart ailment caused by pregnancy. That’s why today she smiles as she adjusts the always-there backpack on her shoulder that holds 10 pounds of batteries, constantly at work to keep the device that keeps her heart pumping in action as she awaits a heart transplant. While there were signs — and a diagnosis — after her second child was born in 2019, no one picked up on the seriousness of the situation, and Santos, immersed in beginning her life as a parent as well as focusing on her husband’s cancer treatments, didn’t push. “I feel there were symptoms that were unanswered,” she told Healthline. “I’ve always been a strong individual. You’ll never hear me say ‘oh I’m hurting.’ That’s just not me. That “get to it” attitude could have proven fatal with the birth of her second child. But it’s also launched her into a space she never thought she’d be in — spokesperson for the American Heart Association. “I felt I needed a way to reach people. To help them know to speak up for themselves.” “I never thought I’d have heart failure, or my partner would have cancer, at least not when our kids are babies with dirty diapers running around between my hospital bed. But here I am. And if I can be the voice they hear — to know there are resources out there — then so be it.” peripartum cardiomyopathy, they told her, a form of heart failure that happens during the last month of pregnancy or in the first few months postpartum. The baby went home, but Santos stayed in the hospital for four more days. She was stabilized and told to rest and see a cardiologist as a follow-up once home. She did, but since at each cardiology visit they told her she passed all the exams and put her on meds that stabilized her, she made a decision. “It was time to get back to normal life,” she said. “I was like ‘I feel good. Why are you telling me I have this?’ So I went back to my life: working, taking care of the kids, and taking care of my husband.” No one blinked or tried to steer her in another direction, she said. In March, the pandemic shutdown hit, a “blessing,” she said because while it was hard to lose her job, it was great to “be home and take care of the kids” while her husband went back to the hospital to battle his cancer. As stressful as it all sounds, she said, she felt good being home and felt confident in her health. Then summer came. By July, she was struggling, “I was feeling fatigued, worn down and I could not eat right,” she said. But the postpartum heart diagnosis didn’t cross her mind. “I didn’t really think it was my body,” she said. “I thought it was the summer heat. And you know, taking care of two babies and a husband battling cancer. It takes its toll.” Then, it got worse. “I couldn’t even lift my daughter’s legs to change a diaper,” she remembered. She went to the ER — mid pandemic — with swollen legs, nausea, and exhaustion. Despite being told of the earlier diagnosis, she said, they sent her home and told her to try eating differently. Concerned, she tried to get in with a cardiologist but the pandemic shutdown made that challenging too. She secured an appointment for late October and hoped for the best. Five days after that ER visit, she suddenly spiraled downward and realized she was in trouble. “I told my husband to call an ambulance,” she said. The last thing she recalls is being intubated. She woke up on Nov. 3 and was told she was in stage four heart failure and would need a heart transplant. “It was very hard to hear,” she said. “I didn’t understand how me — at my age — got to this point.”
Dr. Eugene DePasquale, a cardiologist with Keck Medicine of USC, who is treating Santos, told Healthline.
“The number one cause of death in the United States [based on data gathered pre-COVID-19] is heart disease,” he said. “But when people search [based on their symptoms] they search ‘cancer’,” he said. He said data suggests that less than three percent of people who are searching for symptoms online search about heart disease. The media, he said, pushes information about suicide, terrorist deaths, and cancer, but not as much about heart disease. In addition, he said, younger heart patients tend to present with different symptoms, more focused on the GI Tract. “Young patients, in particular, may be missed,” he said of heart diagnosis. “Not only by the patient but by the [medical experts] as well. That’s why he and his team are thrilled she’s sharing her story while working toward a heart transplant. “She’s a special woman,” he said. “We’re very grateful for her. She’s been through quite a lot, but she’s still doing things like this. She’s a part of our family and vice versa.” HeartMate Pump, which will do the work of a heart until she gets a transplant. DePasquale said because Santos developed antibodies during that second pregnancy that spurred on the heart disease, making her pool of donor hearts very small. The Friday before Mother’s Day, they were to begin working to remove those antibodies from her. She came home hopeful about that and thankful to be alive, as well as ready to take back over for her ailing husband, who had cared for the kids with family help while she recovered in the hospital. “I could sense he was on hold for me — holding on to his health to take care of things until I could,” she said. She was right. She arrived home on Dec. 29. On Jan. 16 they hosted a joyful third birthday party for their son. A week later her husband checked himself into a hospital. By Feb, 27 he was home in hospice care where he passed away soon after. Still, Santos is thankful and positive. “He gave me the strength to do this,” she said of raising two children as a widow, battling heart disease while waiting for a transplant, and being a spokesperson for heart health. “He did it for me, and now it’s my turn to do it for him. I’m going to keep this family going, keep these kids happy.” She’s working hard with her doctors to get to the heart transplant, and speaking out. Said DePasquale, she’s making a difference in more ways than she may even know. “We’re so grateful to her,” he said. “She helps put this into perspective and encourages others to be proactive and fight to have symptoms recognized.” She also, he said, gives visibility to how well heart pumps can work. The HeartMate Pump has been used by folks as well-known as former Vice President Dick Cheney, he said, but the power image of an everyday woman living with one could help many. “It’s not as scary as some people think,” he said. “She may help people become more accepting of that.”
The future
Santos looks to the future and a new heart with hope. Doctors told her she probably had signs of heart disease after her first child was born. And while perhaps that could have meant avoiding some of the extreme illnesses, it also would have changed something else. “They would have told me to not have any more children,” she said. “I would have maybe not had my daughter. And you know, I wouldn’t change that for the world.”
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6/2/2023 6:41:00 PM by Saving American Hearts, Inc
Woman describes surviving sudden cardiac arrest at age 22: "It can happen at any time to anybody" Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. Each year, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur around the country. Studies show women are less likely than men to receive CPR from a bystander and less likely to survive a cardiac event. CBS News senior medical correspondent Dr. Tara Narula, a cardiologist with Northwell Health, spoke with one woman who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at a young age and credits CPR with saving her life. Celebrating another year of life is something Jenylyn Carpio does not take for granted after she almost died in 2005. Jenylyn was visiting her mother Jocelyn with her then 2-month-old daughter when she decided to take a nap. Jocelyn was trained in CPR, but she never expected that she would use it to save her own daughter's life.
"I was 22 years old when I became a new mom. I was a new wife and I was a college student. And next thing I remember, my mom frantically pumping at my chest, yelling at me to wake up," Jenylyn told Dr. Narula. "A police officer was shining a light in my eyes and my mom had said that, 'You just experienced a sudden cardiac arrest.'"
About 90% of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die, but performing CPR more than doubles someone's chance of survival. At the hospital, doctors discovered Jenylyn had an undiagnosed genetic heart condition that can cause irregular heart rhythms – putting her at risk for sudden cardiac death. "I was shocked," she said. "I had to process that this was going to be a lifelong thing."
Surgeons implanted a defibrillator in Jenylyn to detect and shock her heart when abnormal and dangerous heart rhythms are detected. She has now had four defibrillator replacement surgeries, the most recent in 2020. With this device, Jenylyn is living a near-normal life and using lessons learned from her own experience to bring awareness to sudden cardiac arrest and the importance of CPR. "What I would like other people to know in regards to sudden cardiac arrest is it can happen at any time to anybody, and that knowing CPR is a life-saving skill," she said. "And that is why I'm here today." Jenylyn is now a volunteer spokeswoman for the American Heart Association and she hopes her story will help encourage others to learn CPR.
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6/7/2023 3:01:00 PM by Saving American Hearts, Inc
Heroes at home: How 2 wives used CPR to save their husbands' lives CPR is one of those skills we all know we should learn. But the truth is, 70% of Americans don't know how to respond during a cardiac emergency, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Many of us feel it's something we'll never have to use. But that's not true. Home is where 4 out of 5 cardiac arrests occur, according to the AHA. That means the life you save is likely to be a spouse, a child, a parent or a friend. It's important to know CPRBut does it really help, you ask? When performed immediately, CPR can double and even triple a person's chance of survival. "The sooner CPR is performed, the higher the chances of survival and the less chance there is for permanent heart damage," says Anthony Castleberry, MD, Nebraska Medicine cardiothoracic surgeon. Nearly 45% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims survived when CPR was administered by someone close by, reports the American Heart Association. Daniel Villarreal, 47, and Matthew McFadden, 56, are two of those survivors. They are both here today after experiencing potentially fatal heart attacks, thanks to the quick action of their wives. They both performed CPR on their husbands until an ambulance arrived on the scene. Daniel and Katrina Villarreal's storyKatrina, Daniel's wife, still remembers that warm day in July 2020 when the two of them decided to drive to a local park in Bellevue, Nebraska, to go for a run. Katrina didn't always join Daniel, but fortunately, on this day, she decided to come along. After completing the run, Daniel turned and gave Katrina a congratulatory high-five. That's when he seized up. "His whole body tensed up as he fell to the ground," recalls Katrina. "He started having seizure-like symptoms. There was another vehicle close by so I yelled to them to call 911." Katrina's past training in CPR kicked in. "I just started going through the motions and began compressions immediately." Shortly after, the ambulance arrived. Daniel's heart had gone into a lethal rhythm. He was resuscitated twice with an automatic external defibrillator (AED) as the ambulance made its way to Bellevue Medical Center. Daniel's condition was critical. He was immediately put on ventilator support when they arrived at the hospital. Cardiac catheterization performed the next day confirmed that he had a "widowmaker" heart attack due to 100% blockage of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and 80% blockage to another artery. The LAD is a major artery on the left side of the heart that moves blood to the heart. This type of heart attack is called the widowmaker because without emergency treatment, most will not survive. Later that day, Daniel was transferred to Nebraska Medical Center to prepare for an advanced double bypass surgery procedure using multiple arterial grafting performed by Dr. Castleberry. "This procedure uses arteries from other areas of the body to bypass the occluded artery rather than using veins," says Dr. Castlebery. "There is growing evidence that this technique is more durable and longer lasting than the conventional method." Several days later Daniel underwent a second surgery to place an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) that would help detect and stop any irregular heartbeats in the future.
Matthew McFadden and Gayle Kerr-McFadden's story Matthew and his wife Gayle Kerr-McFadden experienced a similar set of circumstances. Matthew had just finished a 15-mile bike ride. As he was putting his bike away, he felt an intense pressure in his chest. "It was uncomfortable enough that I knew something wasn't right," he says. Matthew was able to step into the house and alert his wife that he needed to go to the hospital. Shortly after he got into the passenger seat of the car and dialed 911, he blacked out. "911 instructed me to recline him and begin CPR as quickly as possible," says Gayle. The sound of sirens never sounded better, recalls Gayle. "I was physically tired from doing compressions," she says. "It didn't take them very long to arrive but it seemed like forever." Matthew was carried into the ambulance where he was resuscitated twice with an AED on the way to the hospital. A CT scan revealed that he likely had a heart attack. A heart catheterization performed the next day confirmed it. Matthew too, had a major blockage to the widowmaker artery. Double bypass surgery with arterial grafting was performed by Dr. Castleberry. A few days later, an ICD was implanted. As scary and emotional as the experience was, Gayle says it was comforting to be at the Nebraska Medical Center. "The med center has some of the top doctors in the area and the best reputation for heart care," says Gayle. "Everyone on the medical team made us feel so reassured that we were in the right place." Genetics play a role in heart healthIn both Daniel's and Matthew's cases, genetics likely play a large role in their heart attacks, says Dr. Castleberry. The fact that both men were in good shape and exercised regularly probably helped them survive the incident and endure both surgeries and recovery with excellent results. "The quick and heroic work of their wives and the fact that they were able to respond so quickly in a crisis situation was incredible," says Dr. Castleberry. "They truly saved the lives of their husbands because they knew CPR. Myself and the rest of the care team were very inspired by their stories and to see them recover and get back to their normal lives is truly rewarding." If you're worried you might be genetically predisposed to heart problems, consider scheduling an appointment with our Heart and Vascular Genetics Clinic. Learn more about cardiovascular genetics. Where to learn CPRSimply watching a CPR instructional video can significantly increase your success at administering life-saving resuscitation. Hands-only CPR (CPR with just chest compressions) has been proven to be as effective as CPR with breaths in treating adult cardiac arrest victims and has been recommended by the American Heart Association since 2008.
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