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New “real-world” cardiovascular guidelines for women Exercise 150 minutes a week. Eat heart-healthy food. Health advice is easy to dole out, but for many women, it’s more easily said than done. The American Heart Association (AHA) is hoping to change that with its new 2011 cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines, which offer practical, “real-world” advice. They take into account, for instance, the fact that “real” patients may be older or sicker than patients in the research settings in which past guidelines were developed. Some women may also live in poverty or suffer depression, which can affect their ability to make lifestyle changes.    The guidelines also recognize that women from different ethnic backgrounds have different heart risks. For example, African-American women are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure. The guidelines focus on three categories: lifestyle interventions, such as helping women quit smoking and considering the use of omega-3 supplements for those with high cholesterol and triglycerides major risk factor interventions, which target issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes preventive drug interventions, such as using aspirin to reduce heart risks    The AHA hopes that by recommending effective, practical changes women can make, they’ll have more success keeping heart-healthy. Whole grains may ward off the grim reaper There’s yet another good reason to opt for whole-grain bread instead of white: It could add years to your life. In a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers found that an increased intake of dietary fiber reduced the risk of death in both men and women. Eating fiber dropped the risk of dying from specific ailments including heart disease, infection and respiratory diseases by 24 to 56 percent in men and 34 to 59 percent in women. Men also get an added bonus from fiber—a reduced risk of dying from cancer. Researchers didn’t find the same effect in women, however. If you’re looking to boost the amount of fiber in your diet, you may want to consider these whole grains: barley brown rice buckwheat bulgur (cracked wheat) millet oatmeal popcorn whole-wheat bread, pasta or crackers wild rice    The next time you’re grocery shopping look for the word “whole” on packaging, be certain that “whole grains” is near the top of the ingredient list and look for items with at least 3 grams of fiber per serving to improve your health. Adults in the South and Appalachia the most sedentary Those who want to help sedentary adults get moving may want to focus on parts of Appalachia and the South. A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that residents of Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee are the least likely to exercise outside of work. In most counties in these states, 29 percent or more of adults get no exercise outside of their jobs. Conversely, the most active people in the country were on the West Coast, Colorado, Minnesota and parts of the Northeast. These estimates were generated from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which collects information through telephone surveys. The results of the CDC report should be a call to local organizations and policymakers to help get their communities moving. Regular exercise can reduce the risk for serious chronic health conditions such as diabetes and obesity. One in four Americans has high blood pressure If you have high blood pressure, you’re not alone. A quarter of Americans ages 18 and older were diagnosed with high blood pressure in 2008. That’s 59 million adults, says an analysis by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure can lead to cardiovascular problems such as a stroke or heart disease. The study also found: Those who are overweight, obese or morbidly obese are twice as likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure. About 32 percent of those who didn’t exercise for 30 minutes at least three times a week had high blood pressure. This compares to 21 percent among those who did exercise regularly. Only 14 percent of those without health insurance were diagnosed with high blood pressure. That’s much lower than the rates among those with public or private health plans, which were 29 and 19 percent respectively. Nearly 60 percent of those ages 65 and older had been diagnosed with high blood pressure. High blood pressure diagnoses were higher among certain ethnic groups. In the study, 32 percent of African-Americans, 27 percent of Caucasians and 18 percent of Hispanics had been told they had high blood pressure.    Lifestyle changes can lower high blood pressure and help reduce its impact. Take the time to exercise, eat a healthful diet, maintain a healthy weight and reduce stress. Check out McCullough-Hyde's hospital happenings! McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital has a new, updated website. Check out our work in progress at www.mhmh.org. Visit McCullough-Hyde's at www.mhmh.org and click on "Calendar" for a complete event listing, including our monthly Lunch & Learn series. McCullough-Hyde offers vascular ultrasound screenings Monday through Friday. Vascular ultrasound screenings could help you avoid possible stroke, heart disease or death. Call 513-524-5400 to schedule your appointment. A physician's order is not required, and test results are sent to you and your physician. Cost for all three ultrasounds (abdominal, carotid and legs) is $75. 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	McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital 110 N. POPLAR ST. / OXFORD, OH 45056 / 513-523-2111 / www.mhmh.org Community Health is designed to provide general health news and wellness information. This information is not designed to, nor should it, be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or nutrition or exercise program.
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