I ran across this article regarding CPR in a recent bulletin. No author was listed but I thought we should all be aware of changes.

CPR Streamlined
Now that CPR techniques have been simplified, more people should be able to perform the livesaving procedures for victims of sudden cardiac arrest.
The American Heart Association’s new guidelines for CPR-cardiopulmonary resuscitation-call for more chest compressions and fewer mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths, for a ratio of 30 compressions to two breaths. Studies show that chest compressions increase blood flow through the heart to the brain and the rest of the body in the crucial minutes after heart function is impared.
Seventy-five percent of the 330,000 U.S. deaths from sudden cardiac CPR,” says Michael Sayre, M.D., associate professor of emergency medicine at Ohio State University. He helped draft the guidelines, which were published in the Nov. 28 issue of Circulation.
Learning the technique just got easier too: The Heart Association has reduced its CPR training course from four hours to only 20 minutes.

On this day before Valentine’s Day.  Please take the time to listen and view this wonderful video.  It is my gift to you!  My wish for unconditional love for all of mankind, today and for all days to come.  See it……Feel it…….Live it!

http://www.delfin.org/sl/positive_pause.html

 In keeping with our topic of the month devoted to the HEART, I ran into the following quote in an article based on studies at the Institute of HeartMath.  Just think of the implications! 

“People studying neurocardioloy, a new field, are discovering that the heart has a mind of its own. It has a brain-like grouping of neurons, and secretes oxytocin, the bonding chemical. There are certain perceptions that are first processed by the heart, not by the brain.”—Marc Barasch

FYI:  Oxytocin is a hormone secreted by the Pituitary Gland and is sometimes called the “love hormone.”  WOW! Who would have thought; who knew??  For more information regarding this finding, visit the folks on-line at the Institute of HeartMath or click this link:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11023208/

Every adult should be concerned with the maintenance of good heart health.  It is relatively common knowledge that as we age, levels of heart healthy nutrients decrease in our bodies, making the heart, arteries, and vessels more vulnerable to less than optimal functioning.  Further, with our hectic lifestyles we tend to forget to take time out for ourselves. 

So what can we do for ourselves to improve our heart health? 

Here are a few simple things to start with:

                        1-Lose and/or maintain a healthful weight

                        2- Improve your cholesterol levels

                        3-Manage your blood pressure

                        4-Manage your daily stresses

Oh, but where to begin?  Evaluate your lifestyle and redesign it where needed.  Commit to a lifestyle that helps you not only lose weight, but aids in building strength and endurance, while reducing stress. 

Instead of jumping on the band-wagon and trying every fad diet out there, be sensible.  Look towards tailoring your meals by establishing a plan that fits you – not you trying to fit into a plan! 

Select healthful foods you like and will eat!  Create a food diary.  Food diaries are very revealing and serve as a genuine reality check.  Another biggie is to plan a menu!  Write your menu down on paper and post it up on the refrigerator with one of those cute little magnets.  Make a shopping list from your planned menu and stick with it.  Perhaps you will find that you not only lose weight but also save money.  Just a thought.

Don’t forget to target your heart with supplements designed to increase the components lost due to the normal aging process.  There are several heart smart supplements to consider,  with vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), and beta carotene as just a couple to consider.  An essential cardiac supplement is CoQ10 (Ubiquinone).  To find out more about this and other heart essentials, contact me through my website at www.wilori.com.  When you get there, just click on the health and wellness questionnaire, complete it and submit it for my review.   

Create activities that interest you and that you will stick with.  In other words focus exercises specific to the areas on your body that need trimming down.  Yes, target those little fat pads!  As we are focusing on heart health here, select an activity program with a proper balance of cardio, strength and stretching exercises.  Your goal here is to build stamina, strength and a healthy cardiovascular system. 

A couple of pearls here – Keep a daily exercise journal.  Create a log of your exercise routine and mix it up so that boredom does not encourage you to skip it.  If you function well with others and they can help you stick to the plan, than perhaps you can form a group and meet in a different home each session to exercise together.  You can even meet at the mall or the local track.   

Remember to relax.  Set aside time for meditation and don’t forget breathing and visualization exercises.  Get connected with your mind, body and spirit.

Implementing some of these steps into your daily routine is a smart way to enhance your heart health.  These are just a few of the things I cover with my coaching clients on their life journey striving for optimal health and wellness.  Consider making some of these baby steps for yourself as it is a good beginning toward living a longer and more energetic life! 

When you are ready for more, visit me at www.wilori.com and I will help you address all of your health and wellness issues. 

Here is to your taking control over the ‘matters of your heart!

Your health advocate,

Dr. Laurie Cribben

Because February is the month of Valentine’s Day, let’s focus on the HEART!  I found this little poem and thought it might be a good start for our subject for the month.                                    

The heart pumps blood from head to your toes

Through arteries and veins the blood smoothly flows

It goes round and around and around and around

From side to side

And up and down

The heart can beat slowly or it can beat fast

But good food and exercise will make it last

So be sure to eat all your veggies today

And when you are through

Just go out and play

These are the things we all need to do

Then your heart will be healthy…

And so will you too.

…R.F.Harlow, Ph.D.