Circadian Surprise: How Our Body Clocks Help Shape Our Waistlines
Just yesterday I wrote about the importance of sleep on our overall health and specifically on its influence on our weight. How timely then that this segment appeared on NPR this morning. I hope you enjoy and find it helpful. Circadian Surprise: How Our Body Clocks Help Shape Our Waistlineshttp://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/03/10/389596946/circadian-surprise-how-our-body-clocks-help-shape-our-waistlines (Source: Dr Portnay)
Source: Dr Portnay - March 10, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
The Importance of Sleep
On the way home from a trip to Rhode Island, my wife and I listened to an amazing TED talk by Russell Foster titled "Why do we sleep."I am aware of the link between sleep deprivation and obesity. I am aware of the link between sleep in teenagers testing scores and employees productivity and creativity. I spend a lot of time talking to my patients about sleep but in the past, the conversation mostly focuses mostly focuses on their risk of sleep apnea, If they do no have sleep apnea, I typically have let sleep issues fall by the way side. Now, it is clear to me that sleep needs to be discussed along with not smokin...
Source: Dr Portnay - March 9, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
Best Health and Fitness Apps (According to me)
I love technology, especially the smartphone. I specifically love how the smartphone can be used to improve and track fitness, health, nutrition and even emotional well being. My current smartphone of choice is the Apple iPhone 6. Below you will find a list of iPhone Apps that I recommend for health and fitness. I have tried them all but the ones I currently use are starred (*) and at the top of each category. Please let me know if these are helpful and if you have found others to add to the list. Fitness TrackersApple's Health App (iPhone 5s/6/6 plus) *MovesNike+ FuelFitbitJawbone UpExercise TrackersRunkeep...
Source: Dr Portnay - February 26, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
"I'm working out but still not losing weight"
I hear this complaint frequently from my patients. Here are some reasons why this may be occurring:You are eating too much - weight loss is all about math - you must be burning more than you are consuming You are eating the the wrong foods - eat a well balanced whole food/whole grain/mostly plant based diet, try and avoid all processed food and simple carbohydratesYou are not working out hard enough - High Intensity Interval Training is the key - it keeps the metabolism revved up for hours afterwards. Remember, the harder you train the shorter your workout need to be. You are doing too much cardio - too much...
Source: Dr Portnay - February 3, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
Blizzard of 2015
After the Blizzard of 2010, I wrote a blog about the dangers of shoveling snow. Please read. http://drportnay.blogspot.com/2010/12/snow-shoveling-and-heart-attacks-is.html?m=1 Please be careful tomorrow. Here in the Fairfield County, Connecticut forecasters are predicting the Blizzard of 2015. (Source: Dr Portnay)
Source: Dr Portnay - January 26, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
Medications After a Heart Attack
From: www.secondscount.orgYour heart attack recovery will include medications. Taking these medications exactly as prescribed is one of the best tools at your disposal for avoiding death in the months following a heart attack. According to an article published in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, heart attack patients who had not filled any of their prescriptions within 120 days of being discharged from the hospital had 80 percent greater odds of death than those who filled all of their prescriptions.Medications you are likely to be prescribed after a heart attack fall int...
Source: Dr Portnay - January 23, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
From kevinmd.com: About to be discharged from the hospital? Here's 3
things you should know.
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Source: Dr Portnay - January 21, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics - 2015 Update
The American Heart Association has published its 2015 update - here are some take home pointsFrom 2001 to 2011, death rates attributable to cardiovascular disease (CVD) declined 30.8% and stroke rate declined by 35%CVD still accounted for 31.3% of all deaths and about 25% were <65 years of age. About 1 million hospital discharges for heart failure occur yearly, which has not changed.There continues to be strong data that that we must continue to prioritize health behaviors (healthy diet pattern, appropriate energy intake, physical activity, and nonsmoking) and health factors (optimal blood lipids, blood pressure, g...
Source: Dr Portnay - January 15, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
Heart Disease ans Stroke Statistics - 2015 Update
The American Heart Association has published its 2015 update - here are some take home pointsFrom 2001 to 2011, death rates attributable to cardiovascular disease (CVD) declined 30.8% and stroke rate declined by 35%CVD still accounted for 31.3% of all deaths and about 25% were <65 years of age. About 1 million hospital discharges for heart failure occur yearly, which has not changed.There continues to be strong data that that we must continue to prioritize health behaviors (healthy diet pattern, appropriate energy intake, physical activity, and nonsmoking) and health factors (optimal blood lipids, blood pressure, g...
Source: Dr Portnay - January 15, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
Food Rules
My all time favorite and most important#64 Break the rules once in a while (Source: Dr Portnay)
Source: Dr Portnay - January 13, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
Food Rules
I'm a big fan of Michael Pollan's Food RulesHere are just a few of my favorites from his 64 rules discussed in his book:Avoid food products that contain more than 5 ingredientsAvoid food products with ingredients that a third grader cannot pronounceDon't eat anything your great-grandmother would't recognize as foodEat only food that will eventually rotStop eating before you are fullEat mostly plants (Source: Dr Portnay)
Source: Dr Portnay - January 13, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
Using weights to target belly fat | Harvard Gazette
This study underscores the importance of weight training in reducing abdominal obesity, especially among the elderly," said Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at HSPH and senior author of the study. "To maintain a healthy weight and waistline, it is critical to incorporate weight training with aerobic exercise."Other HSPH authors include Anders Grøntved, Walter Willett, Eric Rimm, and Edward Giovannucci.The study was supported by National Institutes of Health grants. (Source: Dr Portnay)
Source: Dr Portnay - January 10, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
Lifestyle Changes for Lower Blood Pressure
Get moving - with regular exerciseFocus on nutrition - Dash/Mediterranean Diet - mostly plant based and whole grains, make healthy choices and be mindful of portion sizes Cut the salt - read food labels and aim for 1500mg sodium or less per dayTake your medication - if you are superscribed medicine for high blood pressure, take it every dayCheck you blood pressureLose weight - losing just 10 pounds can make a big differenceCut back on alcohol - men; not more than 2 drinks/day and women; no more than one. Don't smoke - if you smoke, stop!De-stress and sleep well (Source: Dr Portnay)
Source: Dr Portnay - January 10, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
What to eat...
"Eat food, not too much, mostly plants" - Michael Pollan (Source: Dr Portnay)
Source: Dr Portnay - November 18, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
Testosterone and Heart Disease
There has been much written lately about the potential link between testosterone therapy and heart disease.Some study's have shown an increased risk of heart problems but others have not. A group of American Endocrinologists recently called for a retraction of one of these papers that showed an increased risk. A European Medicines Agency (EMA) has reviewed the evidence and has concluded that testosterone does not increase the risk of heart disease in patients with confirmed hypogonadism. The FDA's final review is still pending. But until that time, the EMA's review is reassuring that testosterone treatment is pro...
Source: Dr Portnay - October 15, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
