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Heartline Magazine April - June 2005
Cardiolink - News from the Cardiac Support Group
This year again the members of the Cardiac Support Group
participated in the Healthy Lifestyle Extravaganza, held at Queen’s Park. The
group also participated in the two Health Fairs, one at the St Barnabas Church,
and Mall International at the Kellogg Two Weeks Challenge Promotion. The Cardiac
Support Group will be hosting the World Heart Day event in September. We will
continue our outreach programme throughout the year.
Nutrition In Eating Disorders
Nutrition has been closely associated with psychological
disorders of body image as manifested in the eating disorders of Bulimia and
Anorexia. There is evidence that zinc deficiency may be one of the causes for
anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. This is due to a variety of reasons,
namely, lower dietary intake of zinc, impaired absorption, vomiting, diarrhoea
and bingeing on low-zinc foods. Zinc deficiency results in decreased food intake
and this could exacerbate the altered eating behaviour in bulimics and
anorexics.
Vitamin B deficiency has been shown to be associated with
obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Effects of Nutrition on HIV/AIDS
Despite these effects of HIV on nutrition, it should be
noted that even PLWHA (People Living with HIV and AIDS) in hospital can consume
up to 70% of basal energy needs and 65% of protein needs. Importantly, the
amount of food intake increases for less ill patients (out of hospital)
especially when the diets are well planned, creative and well chosen.
Nutritional support can therefore improve the nutritional status of PLWHA, as it
is a function of intake, absorption and metabolism.
Heart Disease in the Diabetic Patient
With two to three greater risk for heart disease, eighty
percent of diabetics die of coronary artery disease. A person with diabetes is
much more likely to have heart disease, blood vessel disease, heart attack or a
stroke than a non-diabetic person. Commonly silent, heart disease is often first
manifested as acute Myocardial Infarction (MI) or cardiac death. In diabetics,
heart disease is more likely to show disease in more than one vessel at
diagnosis of first MI. Among women, heart disease is the number one cause of
death, and the nine million American women with diabetes are at an even greater
risk. Women with or at risk for diabetes are also at risk for heart disease.
Extract from American Society of
Nuclear Cardiology
Cardiovascular Training
Cardiovascular training is an important component of general
conditioning. It refers to exercise that strengthens the heart, lungs, and
circulatory system. You can get your cardiovascular training in the gym, by
moving rapidly from one exercise to another, but it is more efficient to run,
swim, cycle (or exercise), hike, or walk briskly. You should also do some type
of cardiovascular activity for a least 30 minutes, three times a week. A good
time is a day when you are not weight training.
A typical order of exercise:
1. Abdominals 2. Thighs 3. Chest 4. Back
5. Shoulders 6. Triceps 7. Biceps
Here are some questions and answers from another member of
the Cardiac Support Group, who travelled abroad to have her surgery performed.
Q. What is the name of the procedure
you had undergone some 16 years ago?
A. The name of the procedure is a mitral valve replacement,
and aside from this replacement I also had a valvular angioplasty.
Q. Where was it done, and what is the
name of the hospital ?
A. The operation was done in Manhassett, Long Island, New
York at the Northshore University Hospital.
Q. How long did the procedure take,
and what did it involve?
A. The procedure took approximately six hours. It involved
the removal of the mitral valve with the replacement of an artificial metal
valve and the repair of another.
Q. How do you feel now that you have
the device implanted in your heart?
A. I feel ‘no way’! My relatives are the ones who are most
aware of my valve ticking. As for me, I hear nothing.
Q. How has it changed your lifestyle
since the operation some 16 years ago?
A. It hasn’t change my life one bit, my recovery was
remarkable thanks to our wonderful doctors who took care of me when I returned
home to Barbados.
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