Joe the Plummer!

Ok...I just have to post this. My daughter was all excited when she got home from school today. My dad was too! As my Dad was driving home he said Jocelyn screamed....hey, there's John McCains bus! It was at a small business not far from our home. So, they got out to investigate and it was Joe the Plummer! He was going around small businesses in the area talking about Obama's tax plan and how it will hurt small businesses. They listened for a bit but then Jocelyn got cold so they came home. She said.....Sunday, I saw Cammie Dierking and today Joe the Plummer....who's next? You never know!

Listen up Ladies!

Ok...since I know some of this information got lost in my last post, I wanted to post it again. I've heard it said you have to hear or see something 7 times before it really sinks in. I have to say I was amazed during the health fair at Jungle Jims just how many women still do not realize their number 1 health threat. In one span of about 20 minutes, I would see 7 or 8 women that never knew heart disease was our number 1 killer (and I could tell some of them were not taking it serious even after you tell them) and then in another span of 20 minutes, I would hear stories from 7 or 8 women about how heart disease has touched them personally. It is so important to know this information but just knowing won't save your life. It takes ACTION. Why is it we are so good about getting our yearly mamograms and paps but we never give our heart a thought? So, here are some statistics concerning women and heart disease that I think are worth repeating:

**1 in 5 women have some form of cardiovascular disease.
**Since 1984, the number of cardiovascular deaths for females has exceeded those for males. The difference in deaths is now more than 58,200 a year.
**Final 1998 mortality for cardiovascular disease was 503,927 for females (this is in 1 year!) compared to 445,692 for males.


*****IN the US, cardiovascular disease claims the lives of 504,000 females annually: all forms of cancer combined claim 259,000. Breast cancer 41,700, lung cancer 64,500. So you can see, we need to start taking care of our hearts and really taking this more seriously!

**There is one death per minute for women

**Coronary heart disease is the single largest killer of American females.
**42% of women who have heart attacks die within a year compared with 24% of men.
**In 63% of women who died suddenly of coronary heart disease, there were no previous symptoms of this disease (so take your symptoms serious if you have any!)

Women don't recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and arrive too late at the hospital, causing more heart damage, death, or heart failure.

Many medical professionals (still) don't recognize the symptoms of a heart attack in women and take too long to make the diagnosis. If you are having symptoms........push your doctor to check your heart. You really have to be your own advocate!

**Review of the symptoms in women

**Fatigue
**Chest pain or discomfort can appear anywhere in the chest, abdomen, or below the rib cage. Even jaw pain can be a symptom of the heart. Some women have upper back pain.
**Heart palpitations or a "fluttering" heart beat
**Chest pain/discomfort develops during activity but subsides with the activity stops.
**Pain may appear during the night or in the morning and then subside.
**Shortness of breath, breathlessness
**Nausea, indigestion, gas (sometimes after eating)

If you have any of these symptoms, insist on a thorough check of your heart....not just an EKG......a thorough check of your heart is in order and not too much to ask. I never had pain.....only fatigue, nausea and shortness of breath and my doctor thought I was just doing too much and that I had asthma. I repeat......INSIST on a thorough check of your heart if you have any of those symptoms. Never let a doctor tell you that you're too young for heart disease or that you just need to slow down without first ruling out heart disease. It may save your life!

A Day at the Spa and some alarming statistics

ok....I have NEVER been to a spa before so today was an absolute treat for me. The Mandarine Hair, Foot & Body spa sponsored a Go Red for Women Girlfriends event for heart disease survivors and anyone wanting to learn about heart disease. I took my daughter Jocelyn with me and we both had a bit of pampering. After all....us women take care of everyone else in our lives without ever really taking the time for ourselves. Some pampering from time to time is needed! So, Jocelyn and I had our make up done at the spa and Jocelyn had her nails done, in red, of course! We had some yummy chocolate covered strawberries and a few other little treats. I am not one to wear makeup so this was a real treat for me. So, after our day at the spa, we had a pastor appreciation dinner at church. Steve had to drive seperately since Jocelyn and I came straight from the spa. So, Steve looks at me an says.....you have a lot more makeup on than you usually wear. I looked at him and said, any makeup they put on me is more than I ever wear. He knows I don't wear any and it's because he doesn't like it that I don't! Men! Oh well! Jocelyn and I had a good time and it was fun just getting to spend some "alone" time with Jocelyn. She's growing up so fast and I cherish those times spent with her chatting about what's going on in her life. It seems like just yesterday she was playing dress up and messing in my make up and now she's 14 and is wearing makeup. It was a nice event for the Madarine to put on. Cammy Dierking from channel 12 news was there. I love her on the news but I didn't want to bother her so didn't go up and introduce myself. Sometimes I just think they need to have their "spa" time too without being bombarded with strangers wanting to have pictures made with them or whatever else. That has to feel so strange to them. Ok...enough about the spa time. Now to some alarming statistics about heart disease that were shared with us this evening.

**1 in 5 women have some form of cardiovascular disease
**Since 1984, the number of cardiovascular deaths for females has exceeded those for males. The difference in deaths now is more than 58,200 per year.
**Since 1998 mortality for cardiovascular disease was 503,927 for females compared with 445,692 for males.
**In the US, cardiovascular disease claimse the lives of 504,000 annually: all forms of cancer 259,000. Breast cancer 41,700 per year, lung cancer 64,500 yet many women still believe breast cancer is their greatest threat.
**This equals one death per minute for women.

**42% of women who have heart attacks die within a year compared with 24% of men.
**In 63% of women who died suddenly of coronary heart disease, there were no previous symptom.

**Reasons wome have worse outcomes after heart attack
Women don't recgnize the symptoms of a heart attack and arrive too late at the hospital, causing more heart damage, death or heart failure.

Medical professionals don't recognize the symptoms of a heart attack in women and take too long to make the diagnosis.


Heart disease symptoms in men (typical symptoms):
**Lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath
**Severe pain, heavy pressure, fullness, or a squeezing sensation of the chest
**chest discomfort
**Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck, or down the arm (usually the left arm)

Heart disease symptoms in women (atypical symptoms):
**Fatigue
**Chest pain or discomfort can appear anywhere in the chest, abdomen, or below the rib cage.
**Heart palpitations, or a "fluttering" heart beat
**Chest pain/discomfort develops during activity (walking, exercise) but subsides when the activity stops
**Pain may appear during the night or in the morning and then subside.
**Shortness of breath, breathlessness
**Nausea, indigestion, gas (sometimes after eating)

The most important thing to focus on is a symptom (no matter what, where, or how minor) that occurs with activity or stress and goes away with rest. A symptom of this type should be checked out immediately to avoid a heart attack, heart damage, or death.

I look back over years before I was finally diagnosed with heart failure and can remember times when I felt my heart "flutter" and as a child I was usually more fatigued that other kids my age. I would have to take naps, even as a young adult. I never had pain but I realize now these were symtpoms of my heart that if I had known were serious, could have saved my heart from the severe damage it has now. Please, take these symptoms seriously. If you are not getting answers from your doctor, seek a second opinion. Make sure you get the answers you need. I had severe fatigue and nauseaness days before my trip to the ER when I was finally properly diagnosed. By that time, the damage had already been done. Please don't allow this to happen to you. Be aware of the symptoms of heart disease and seek attention early. It could save your life, or the life or your mother, aunt, daughter or friend.

Health Fair

If you are in the Cincinnati area, today Jungle Jims is having a health fair from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. There will be free health screenings available. Go Red for Women will have a booth with information about women and heart disease. I'll be there from 2:30 -4:00! Hope to see you there. There will be lots of goodies!

Yesterday's Dr. visit

Ok....the ups and downs of having heart failure! Yesterday, I went to see my heart failure specialist. The doctor from Ohio state Univ has increased one of my drugs once again to try and improve my heart function. My last echo in September still does not show improvement despite taking higher doses of the drug that is supposed to help with this. So, the specialist wants me in this study where they do the heart net. This has been mentioned to me several times before. So, if I get into this study, there is no guarantee that I'll get the heart net. I could be put in a group that has drug therapy and device therapy (pacemaker), which is what I am currently already doing. So, I need to really pray about this to see what God would have me do. On one hand, I feel somewhat excited because this could really help people in the future once we get FDA approval. It's exciting to think you could be a part of a new treatment that could really improve the lives of so many down the road and at the same time help your own heart. On the other hand, I'm not thrilled at the thought of surgery, athough this surgery is not as invasive as open heart surgery. They actually go through a small incision in your side, they do not have to break the rib cage. I have mixed emotions. Even though I'm not thrilled at the thought of surgery, I feel like it would be a waste to be in the study and get picked for the placebo group. Right now, I'm not really sure what to do so I'd appreciate prayer. I've really got to pray and be still and listen. If anyone reading this has been in this study and has the heart net.......let me know how it was and if the procedure has helped you. The doctor doesn't give me a whole lot of information and I am an information person! I want to know more about it before I decide. Of course, I may end up not qualifying. They want to do another metabolic stress test on me......I just did one back in June and I didn't qualify then so I don't know why they want to do another one so quickly. I think they really want me in this study.....not sure if it's so much for me or if it's more to help get FDA approval. I have real mixed emotions here! OH, if you want to read the little info I have on this, go to www.bigheartstudy.com. They are doing this in Cincinnati at the lindner Center and at the Ohio State University in Columbus.

Apple Streusel Cupcakes

I love apples in the fall so thought I would post a recipe for a cupcake that is pretty low sodium. Each cupcake has about 144 mg of sodium

Streusel Topping:

1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal (quick-cooking or regular)
2 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons canola or corn oil
1 1/2 teapsoons water
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cupcakes

1 9-ounce box single-layer yellow cake mix
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
Whites of 2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 medium apple, such as jonathan or McIntosh, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch cubes (about 3/4 cup)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pa with paper muffin cups or lightly spray the pan with vegetable oil spray.

In a small bowl, stir together the streusel topping ingredients until crumbly.

In a medium mixing bown, beat the cake mix, applesauce, egg whites, and cinnamon with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in the apples. Fill each muffin cup about 3/4 full with batter. Sprinkle the topping over the batter.

Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until a cake tester or wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Place on a cooling rack. Enjoy!

Back from Vacation

Ok...today was back to reality. Back to work and the daily grind. We had such a nice vacation and I really didn't want to come home! We stayed in Nashville, Indiana inside the Yellow wood state forest. We were miles from another person. I absolutely loved it. I could live that way, well, at least as long as I'm only about 30 minutes from some shopping! We shopped the shops of Little Nashville. They have about 250 little shops with a variety of different things. There is something for everyone. It takes a good 3 days to really get thru all the shops. If you've never been, I recommend it for those that love to shop! We relaxed a lot at the cabin, which had no phone! I could live without a phone too! We did have TV but we rarely turned it on. That's another thing I could live without too. There's nothing on that's worth my time to sit down and watch anything anymore. We turned it on for the news just to check out the forecast for the next day and that was it. We fished and my daughter, Jocelyn, outfished the guys! She's a really good fisher woman! She yelled out that she had one and before I turned around to look, she had it reeled in already! It was probably about a 10 pound large mouth bass. So, she has a fish story to tell that is real! Last year, she caught a huge catfish that took her about 20 minutes to reel in, but she got it in! I was in heaven there. I love to cook so I got to cook breakfast, lunch and dinner while we were there and just pamper my parents. They deserve it for everything they have done for me over the years. I could never pay them back but I know they do it because they love me! We take our own food since I have to watch my sodium and I do the cooking. I absolutely love doing that! If I didn't have to work, I'd do that every day! We did eat dinner out one day and went to the Artist Colony. If you get a chance to go to Nashville, Indiana, make sure to eat there. It's one of my absolute favorites because everything is homemade. Lots of things that fit into a low sodium diet too. So, for a few days we got away from the hectic, busy lives we all tend to live. We made memories that will last a liftime. Do the same with your family!

When we got home, we had relatives in from Virginia and West Virginia and we spent a long weekend with them. Those are the times I cherish!