Yes, yet another study to alleviate my guilt of eating way too much chocolate. In a recent study discussed in the article
In One Study, a Heart Benefit for Chocolate, researchers in Sweden have found evidence that people who eat chocolate have increased survival rates following a heart attack. Even more interesting? The more chocolate they eat, the better.
In this observational study, scientists followed 1169…
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Added by Lisa on September 17, 2009 at 3:00pm —
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I am fighting bronchitis right now so I am on Azithromycin. I have been taking my vitamins: Vitamin D, Chelated Cal-Mag, Super B, CoQ 10, Lovaza – prescription strength fish oil. Except for this bout with bronchitis I’m almost 100% on a Mediterranean diet for my heart disease, limiting all white foods.
Unfortunately with ulcers and bronchitis there is nothing like a bowl of Canter’s chicken soup with a good bagel or piece of rye bread.
Daily I take Toprol to lower my blood pressure, Crestor &a…
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Added by lois on May 9, 2009 at 4:56pm —
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I have no patience left.
Insert from new book... I have no patience left. My body hurts everywhere and I am nauseous. Tonight I give myself another shot of Interferon alfa-2A for my Hepatitis C. Please stop being so argumentative with me. I think to myself I’m your mom and I’m sick, just listen for once. Did I really yell that loud, she is only nine? Oh gosh, that’s horrible, I feel terrible… we both cry.
I am writing a new book. I have the literary agent who will represent me.
This new book w…
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Added by lois on May 1, 2009 at 4:26pm —
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Let me help you understand my eagerness to shout to the world my awareness of the dangers of different diseases, medicines, etc. Before my heart attack, my top-priority concern had been breast cancer (as is true of so many women). So when I went to the gym I would wear my New Balance sneakers with the pink ribbon embroidered on the tongue. Underneath my sweat suit would be my Wacoal bra (The Awareness Bra) with yet another embroidered pink ribbon. This bra actually comes with a tiny brochure tha…
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Added by lois on April 28, 2009 at 8:05pm —
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My name is Lois Trader. I will disclose up front that I am a guilt-ridden, recovering altruistic, need a ‘purpose-driven-life’, unrelenting on myself, superbly gifted denial queen. I am very deliberative, I do not believe in the “Secret” and yet I believe to be an entertaining kind of gal. I enjoy making others laugh and sometimes I am the only one laughing, which in turn makes others laugh. I spent too many years not laughing. Those years are but a freckle compared to the joy my life holds now…
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Added by lois on April 28, 2009 at 8:03pm —
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Supposedly 500,000 women die a year from heart disease...
I read it once, but didn’t believe it.
Then I died on June 6, 2003.
With radiating pain in my upper back, I went to the emergency room. My intuition told me something very unusual was happening. Abnormal EKG's, nitroglycerin administered under my tongue, a lot of blood drawn, tears running down my face, it didn't seem good. About two hours later a cardiologist opened the curtain separating me from the man getting stitches, "You're youn…
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Added by lois on April 28, 2009 at 7:58pm —
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I realize I am a little late with posting this announcement. As per
The Congenital Heart Information Network announcement e-mail on March 17th, I quote the following:
"The Congenital Heart Futures Act was introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives yesterday! This bill calls for increased funding for research, a national registry, and funding for a national awareness and public education campaign."
To read the official announcement, you can find it…
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Added by Mom 2 Andre on March 23, 2009 at 5:00pm —
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How time flies! Andre will be turning 1 year old on May 1st. It's a milestone which I thought I would never experience. When I found that Andre was going to be born with a heart defect in February 2008, many thoughts raced through my mind. One of them was, how long will I still going to be a mom? It was a tragic way to look at things at that time. Thankfully, with the tremendous help from my DH and my family, I carried on with the pregnancy with better state of mind. I also decided to give it al…
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Added by Mom 2 Andre on March 18, 2009 at 7:30am —
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I came across a post from a heart mom called Jen. It was a photo montage of their journey with their little one, born with CHD. Well, at least, they knew of that fact, after they went home with their baby boy, he was not feeding well, and the doctors said it was normal...
As I watched it for the first time, I realized how lucky we were to have been informed of Andre's heart condition at 6 months gestation. I cannot imagine what it would be like taking Andre home, thinking that everything was fi…
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Added by Mom 2 Andre on March 11, 2009 at 5:00pm —
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I started my journey with echocardiograms in February 2008. I previously heard about the term from family and friends who had been through it. However, it hit home hard when I was transferred from Beverly Hospital to Boston, six months into my pregnancy. That was a sad day because by then, I was very comfortable with all the lovely ladies at my OB/Gyn office. At each appointment, they made me feel at ease, constantly reminding me I was doing a great job with my pregnancy. Days before my transfer…
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Added by Mom 2 Andre on March 4, 2009 at 2:40pm —
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Why me? If I only knew how life would have turned out when the day I learnt I was pregnant. I was told on numerous occasions, that life would not be the same when you have a child. I accepted it with a smile because I believed that God blessed my life. I was looking forward to the…
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Added by Mom 2 Andre on February 24, 2009 at 3:30pm —
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I wish I can have it more often except Andre won't; if he does, he sleeps for a short amount of time. I don't know if sleeping and napping are more problem for babies who have been the ICU so many times and/or were born with CHD. Though Andre has been sleeping through the night since he was 6 months old, after hardly sleeping 6 months prior, I guess we have reached a milestone in his sleeping habits. I am VERY thankful for that. However, his sleeping is very easily disrupted, from me talking on…
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Added by Mom 2 Andre on February 22, 2009 at 8:30am —
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I came across this video when I was visiting one of my CHD blogger's site I visit regularly. Therefore I thought I would share it with you.
For those who are familiar with the hospital scenes, you'll be able to relate to some, if not, all of it. For those who are not familiar with the hospital scenes, you will help you relate to the challenges we faced with Andre's first months of life. The video is well put together, so please take time to listen to the words of the song. It is very uplifting.…
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Added by Mom 2 Andre on February 12, 2009 at 9:35pm —
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On Friday, along with the WEGO Health staff, I wore red to work to raise awareness of women's heart health. The American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women Day" is celebrated nationwide by people of all types.
In Boston,
health advocates dressed themselves in red!
In North Adams,
Northern Berkshire Healthcare wore their red i…
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Added by Sarah on February 6, 2009 at 4:30pm —
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I’m not a super-human. I don’t idolize being a super-mom either because I believe that we’ve allowed society’s expectation put unnecessary pressure on our lives so that we can be "rightly" judged by people as to who we are and who should be, and worst of all, impress people around us with things that don't matter much. There is only one person we need to impress, that’s God. It’s my belief and you don’t have to agree with me on that. I always said to myself that, when I start a family, the needs…
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Added by Mom 2 Andre on February 5, 2009 at 12:00pm —
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When was the last time you gave yourself an awareness check about your primary intellectual body fat measurement tools? In other words, boost your weight loss endeavors with helpful knowledge and familiarity with your body composition, your body fat percentage, and your body mass index.
What comprises your BMI and how do you figure it out? Your "BMI" means your Body Mass Index, which is your body weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. That's the technical definition. Your…
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Added by Kenneth Gene Dockins on July 22, 2008 at 4:12pm —
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Recently an article reported that a
hard to recognize symptom of heart attack may be headache.
What surprised me was the mention that headache may be the
only reason the patient presents to the doctor or to the Emergency Room. Echoed in this…
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Added by Ellen S on May 13, 2008 at 11:30am —
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Thousands of people die each year waiting for organ transplants. Scientists continue to research on how to improve traditional allogeneic transplants and reduce the risk of rejection. At the same time, other possiblities are also being explored, with research into xenogeneic transplants and semi-synthetic / mechanical organs.
Recently, two experiments have garnered media attention. This
article reports on stromal ste…
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Added by Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD on April 28, 2008 at 12:12am —
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If you're a parent, maybe you've heard yourself utter the words, "It's a beautiful day, why don't you go outside and play?" If you haven't said those words, you should start saying them. This
article reports on a recent study that found sedentary kids are more likely to develop a condition called metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is the term used to label overweight or obese patients with weight-related condi…
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Added by Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD on April 6, 2008 at 4:00pm —
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Angioplasty is a common procedure where a physician threads a thin wire into an artery and inflates a tiny "balloon." The expansion of the balloon compacts plaque against the vessel wall, which opens up the passageway (lumen), restoring bloodflow. A stent, or spring-like mesh, is sometimes inserted to prevent the artery from narrowing again. This
tutorial can help you understand mor…
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Added by Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD on March 29, 2008 at 7:30pm —
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Chocoholics Rejoice!
Canter's Mish Mosh Soup
The CHD Community Has a Voice in Washington DC!
I wore my red!
Your Body Mass Index - Another Way To Aid Fat Loss
Headache as a symptom of heart attack and angina
Recycled hearts and menstrual blood
