DVT is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the lower limbs.  If a fragment of a blood clot breaks off, it can cause further complications, such as a pulmonary embolism in the lungs, where the blood clot blocks a pulmonary artery. 

 According to the Gerotziafas and Samama, approximately 2 million Americans are affected by DVT each year.  Complications from DVT cause more deaths in Americans than AIDS or breast cancer combined. 

 A Few of the Risk Factors for DVT include:

• Surgery
• Over age 40
• Family history of DVT or Pulmonary Embolism
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Intensive Care Unit Admission
• Chronic Lung Disease
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Varicose Veins
• Heart Disease or Circulation Problems
• Blood that Clots Easily

 Symptoms:

• Swelling of the leg
• Pain and tenderness of the leg, even difficulty pointing the feet
• Change in color of the skin
• Hot or warm to touch
• Leg Fatigue

 Prevention:

• Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle by incorporating fitness into your daily routine, as well as eating a balanced diet
• Know the signs and symptoms
• Maintain a Healthy Weight
• Quit Smoking
• Stay as Active as possible, even when Mobility is Limited
• Talk to you Doctor

Rocket Wellness:

With Spring just around the corner, and the weather warming up, do you need an extra incentive to get back into shape, get active and maintain a healthy weight?  Join Rocket Wellness in the Spring Challenge to help you have a Healthy Lifestyle.

 What:

Rocket Workouts:

Tuesdays

Cardio → 11:15 – 12:00 p.m.

Group Cycling → 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.

Thursdays

Power Ball → 11:15 – 12:00 p.m.

Power Toning → 1:00 –1:45 p.m.

Where:

• UT-HSC – Morse Center

 When:

• March 22, 2010 – May 14, 2010

 Cost:

• $15 for the entire program.

 To Sign-Up:

Phone: (419) 383-2348

RocketWellness@utoledo.edu

 References:

 Gerotziafas GT, Samama MM. Prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in medical patients. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2004;10(5):356-365.

 Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness. (2009). Accessed: March 15, 2010. Available: http://www.dvtawareness.com/dvt-risk/assessment.aspx.

Last month, UT’s Heart and Vascular Center sponsored the hospital’s monthly iCARE event. Andrea Jacobs works in the cardiology clinic and organized a heart-healthy recipe contest. Faye Sugheir, who also happens to work in the cardiology department, was the winner with her broccoli salad recipe.

View all submitted recipes.

I often dread attending anything before noon on a weekend. Between getting our little one up and around and getting myself up and around, I like taking my time when I can.

Dr. Iman Mohamed

But I am so glad I attended this event. It’s always so inspiring to be surrounded by other breast cancer survivors. To see so many women with super-short hairstyles, looking ultra-chic.

But I know why their hair is so short. They’ve been through a battle against cancer and chemo. And they’re proud of it!

UTMC is helping to bring Making Strides Against Breast Cancer to our community again in May. UT’s own Iman Mohamed, M.D., spoke on Saturday about how far breast cancer treatment has come, even in the last 15 years. It felt so good to know that I have benefited from the progress, and I owe so much to breast cancer patients before me who participated in trials to help progress research.

The American Cancer Society is funding nearly $2 million for cancer research at The University of Toledo. That’s money raised in northwest Ohio helping northwest Ohio.

UT already has a team formed for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. To join or for more information, visit the UT Rocket Walkers Team page.

          It can be healthy if you plan ahead, choose wisely, and you will find foods that fit your meal plan.  Many restaurants are trying to meet diners’ health needs.  So, ask for calorie and fat information on menu items.  Some restaurants will better meet your special needs if you phone ahead.  When you make your reservation, ask if your food can be prepared with canola oil, low-fat margarine, little salt, or no extra sauce or butter, and broil instead of fried.  If you like healthy options on a restaurant’s menu, let the manager know.  Restaurants want your business and most will do what they can to accommodate you. 

          If you eat out a lot, find ways to follow your meal plan.  Here are some tips to help you stick to that meal plan as much as possible:

• Pick a restaurant with a variety of choices to increase your chances of finding the foods you want.
• Order only what you need or want.  If you are trying to control food portions, avoid words like “value size” or “deluxe”.
• Ask for the “lighter” or “lunch portion” or a “child’s meal”.  It will often be a more reasonable portion and possibly cost you less.
• Split a meal with a friend.
• Ask for a to-go box when you order and place half of the food immediately in the box.  Take it home for another meal later.
• Eat slowly.
• Ask for sauces, gravy, and salad dressings “on the side”.  Try dipping your fork tines in the dressing, then spear a piece of lettuce. 
• Order foods that are not breaded or fired because they add fat.
• Ask for substitutions.  Instead of fries, ask for double portion of vegetables or a side of fruit.
• Ask for low-calorie items even if they are not on the menu.
• Know that the average fast food meal can run as high as 1000 calories or more.  Although there are some good choices, most fast-food items are high in fat and calories. 
• If you are having fast-food for one meal, let your other meals that day contain healthier foods, like fruits and vegetables.

Eating out can be one of life’s great pleasures.  Make the right choices, ask for what you need, and balance your meals with healthy meals at home.

I was standing in the driveway arguing with my better half just before Christmas. He had a list of complaints – I was grumpy, sleeping too much, not doing my fair share around the house. While every couple has complaints about their mate, you would have to know my husband to appreciate that it is not normal for him to cite them out loud. He is a very passive and sweet guy.

With some reflection I realized that I have been feeling run down, slowly declining in my workouts, feeling winded when I exert myself, feeling pressure in my chest,  and my gosh, my ankles were swelling leaving terrible sock imprints. Google those words in Web MD and you get HEART problems.

After a visit to my PCP I left with orders for blood work and a stress echo.

I opened the door to the new UT Heart and Vascular Center located off the lobby of the UT Medical Center and was greeted with a welcoming waiting area and prompt service. I was moved to the echo room and a team of three great ladies attended to my stress echo.

A couple days later I got a call from the Heart and Vascular Center for a second echo and a meeting with Dr. Samer Khouri, a UTMC cardiovascular physician. The center was so efficient at flagging a possible problem that they had me moved to an expert before my PCP had even contacted me with the results.

Samer J. Khouri, M.D.

I visited Dr. Khouri at the Perrysburg office. The warmth and professionalism of the staff was amazing. Dr. Khouri and his staff genuinely showed concern and care for me as an individual. Dr. Khouri patiently spent a lengthy bit of time talking about my test results and symptoms before decided I needed a heart cath to rule out the possibility of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Wow – it is a dreadful diagnosis to Google. But Dr. Khouri immediately told me how this rare disease was something he specialized in at the Pulmonary Hypertension Program and medications have come a long way in providing treatments. He has quite a calming and caring presence.

One cath later, performed by Dr. Utpal Pandya, I thankfully learned that I do not have PH. I still have another cardiology appointment with Dr. Khouri, more tests to pursue a diagnosis of my symptoms, but I have confidence that if it is a heart problem I am in the right place with UT Heart and Vascular Center.

As we celebrate American Heart Month, we can be proud to know that UT has the experts, compassion and care level to treat heart disease.

Become a fan of UT’s Cardiovascular Facebook page, I am!

** Sincere apologies to the staff, technicians, nurses and cardiovascular medicine fellows whose names I cannot remember but have witnessed their dedication and skills. **

 With spring approaching us, now is the best time to start a new exercise program.

Join Dr. Weldy and Dr. Winslow for a seminar on exercising safely on February 24^th, at 12pm on the Health Science Campus, room 105 in the Health Education building.  This seminar will review a lot of helpful exercise information including proper hydration and injury prevention.   

 My challenge to each of you is to find your motivation to make exercise a daily habit.  I have listed a few common motivators to help get you started.

 1)      Rewards can be anything including money, new clothes and relaxation time.  You can decide what would be beneficial enough to make yourself exercise and set that as your reward.

2)      Exercise partners are a must have for anyone just beginning an exercise program.  They are great for accountability and to help keep exercise fun and interesting.  Just make sure you find a partner that has similar goals and availability.

3)      Join an exercise class at your gym.  Classes are great because you have a built in support network and they help keep your routine on target.

4)      Keeping an exercise log helps you see your progress over time.  It also serves as a reminder if you have taken too many days off!

5)      Goal setting can be helpful when trying to stay motivated.  Make sure you set small, attainable goals so that you stay on target.  If you set goals that are unattainable, they will end up discouraging you rather than being motivating.

6)      Stay current with exercise trends and information by reading articles from reliable sources.  Articles can be motivating because they often have success stories or new ideas to help keep you going when you get bored.

Check out the interview.

In order to reduce your chance of heart disease, according to the National Institutes of Health, you should:
•   Understand your blood pressure and keep it under control
•   Know your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and keep them under control
•   Exercise regularly
•   Know your glucose levels and keep your diabetes under control
•   Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables
•   Quit smoking

Rocket Wellness is here to help you reach your goals. Join us for a 6 week wellness challenge.
February 1 – March 12, 2010

Six weeks to Wellness Program includes:
•   Heart Health Screening (total cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and BMI)
•   3 Personalized Wellness Coaching Sessions
•   Rocket Workouts
•   Educational Seminars
For more information, or to register, call 419-383-BFIT or email RocketWellness@utoledo.edu

My husband said he was glad he hadn’t read this before my radiation treatment began last fall.

But I knew I was in great hands. I was in the hands of Drs. John Feldmeier and Ishmael Parsai, and expert staff at UTMC. These people are pros in every sense of the word. These are the folks teaching the next generation of doctors. Right here in Toledo.

Jon Strunk wrote more about this over the weekend. Check out his post.

FACT: According to the American Heart Association, “Every 1 hour of regular, vigorous exercise could add 2 hours to your life expectancy”…so what’s holding you back?

Get Involved and Stay Committed

With both the Heart Walk and The Glass City Marathon held at The University of Toledo, why not get involved?

Enjoy Positive Support and Encouragement as you walk towards good health.  The Office of Community Wellness and Health Promotions has teamed up with Dave’s Running to offer you a walking group, held on Mondays at 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. To join, meet us on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. -12:45 p.m. at the Morse Center or email: Valerie.vanravenswaay@rockets.utoledo.edu  for more information.

Remember, the Glass City Marathon held on April 25, 2010, has events for the whole family. From the kids marathon (1/4 mile ages 2-3, 1/2 and 1 mile ages 4-12), to a 5K, to a Relay Marathon, to a Half or Full Marathon, there’s an event for you. For more information, visit: http://www.glasscitymarathon.org/

This year, the Heart Walk held on May 22, 2010. This year, on top of the 1 and 3 mile walks, the Heart Walk has added a 10K run. For more information, visit: http://heartwalk.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=321781

Hope to see you all walking towards good health and supporting great causes.