(ARA) – While heart disease continues to receive a lot of attention, certain myths surrounding the disease persist.

A couple of the most common myths are that heart disease is more common in men than women, and that the first signs of a heart attack are the same for both men and women, says Dr. Mary Ann McLaughlin, medical director of the cardiac health program at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in men and women in the United States, affecting both sexes relatively equally. “Women are more afraid of dying from cancer,” says McLaughlin. “But in fact, they are much more likely to die from heart disease.”

Also, the first signs of a heart attack can manifest themselves in different ways between men and women. While both men and women can experience the more well-known symptoms like chest pain or tightness and a shooting pain in the left arm, here are the most common differences in symptoms by sex, according to McLaughlin.

The more obvious symptoms are more prevalent in men, which might be why research shows that men go to the emergency room with symptoms much earlier in than women.

More subtle symptoms are more likely in women. These include shortness of breath, sweating or dizziness, nausea, severe fatigue, sudden sleep disturbances, pain radiating through the jaw, small of the back or between the shoulder blades.

“Women with diabetes are about twice as susceptible to heart attacks as men with the condition,” says McLaughlin. “Increased risk factors for women also include having an autoimmune disorder and a history of gestational diabetes or preeclampsia during pregnancies.”

Knowing the first signs of a heart attack is important, but reducing your risks for heart disease is the best way to avoid experiencing one. McLaughlin offers the following tips for a healthy heart:

* Reduce salt intake. Limiting your consumption of processed foods can help with this, as they are often high in salt.

* Choose your fats wisely. Use olive oil instead of butter, snack on nuts instead of other sugary and high-fat snacks, and take supplements like flax seed oil that can boost your levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce artery inflammation. Consuming more omega-3s can also help you reduce your LDL (bad cholesterol) levels.

* Get regular exercise. A good rule of thumb is when balanced with a proper diet, 30 minutes of exercise a day will help you maintain your current weight, while 60 minutes will help you lose weight. If that seems like a lot, try to work exercises in to your daily tasks by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking or biking to work. Maintaining a healthy weight lowers your risk for cardiovascular disease.

* Ask your doctor whether a daily regimen of low-dose aspirin would be appropriate for you, as it could lower your risk of a heart attack.

* Maintain a daily intake of 1,000 mg of vitamin D, which can be found in some of the same fatty fish that contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Vitamin D supplements can also help you achieve this, as low levels are associated with heart disease and high blood pressure. Exposure to sunshine also helps your body produce vitamin D, but don’t forget your sunscreen.

* Know your numbers. Your doctor can help you get your readings and give you advice on how to meet the following goals for optimum heart health:

Total cholesterol: less than 200
LDL (bad cholesterol): less than 100
HDL (good cholesterol): greater than or equal to 40
Total cholesterol to HDL ratio: less or equal to 4.4 for women and less than or equal to 5 for men
Triglycerides: less than 150
Blood pressure: less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic
Non-fasting glucose: less than 120
Fasting glucose: less than 100
Hemoglobin A1c: less than 7

To learn more about heart disease and care, and to hear stories from patients who have experienced heart disease, visit www.mountsinai.org/heart.

(ARA) – Today, health professionals encourage parents of even very young children to actively confront the childhood obesity epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention find that obesity rates for children ages 2 to 5 have more than doubled over the past 30 years, and The White House Task Force on Obesity reports that more than half of obese children became obese by their second birthday.

“With the obesity epidemic looming large, it’s absolutely crucial for parents to instill healthy habits right from the start,” says Dr. Laura Jana, pediatrician and award-winning parenting author. “While this may seem like a tremendous responsibility for those still adjusting to diapers, play dates and the many other demands of new parenthood, it’s not hard to help children grow up healthy by committing to some simple yet important lifestyle changes.”

Jana recommends some tips:

Downsize your plate, upsize the veggies.

An easy way to cut down on unhealthy eating is to use a smaller plate. Portion sizes are now two to five times larger than in years past, and studies have shown that the bigger the serving dish, the bigger the serving is likely to be. “The more we heap on our children’s plates, the more likely we are to unintentionally encourage them to overeat. Avoiding large plates can help you avoid serving supersized meals,” Jana says.

What belongs on that healthier-sized plate? The USDA MyPlate program recommends making half your plate fruits and vegetables and the other half protein and grains. Other important recommendations include serving fat-free or low-fat (1 percent) milk to children older than 2, choosing lower-sodium foods and skipping sugary drinks. This simple, fresh-plated picture-of-nutritional-health program even comes with online tools to create a customized food plan for your little one.

Swap screen time for playtime.

Young children thrive and learn best through interacting with others and playing with real objects in their environment. While watching TV may be fun and entertaining, or even appear to be educational, the American Academy of Pediatrics reports it does not support learning for children younger than 2. In fact, evidence suggests that screen time may interfere with young children’s healthy development and encourage sedentary behaviors and poor sleep – both are habits implicated in the obesity epidemic.

Dr. Mary Zurn, vice president of education for Primrose Schools, recommends independent play as an alternative to TV. “The early years are critical to a child’s development, so it’s important to ensure that children have opportunities to explore their surroundings and find out what they can make happen,” Zurn says.

Singing songs, drawing, playing with puzzles and stacking blocks are fun, “unplugged” activities children can do on their own that also support their creative, problem-solving and reasoning skills.

Get moving.

Pediatricians recommend children ages 1 to 3 get 60 to 90 minutes of physical activity every day, while preschoolers need 90 to 120 minutes. Regular exercise helps children grow to a healthy weight, build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints, and strengthen their hearts.

There are many fun ways to add physical activity to your family’s daily routine: turn a casual stroll into a scavenger hunt, play tag, race through the sprinklers or simply get up and dance. “I love getting children to dance because it not only gives them a healthy dose of exercise, it also supports their creative development and self-expression and, as a bonus, enhances positive family time,” says Jana.

Need more motivation to get your family up and moving? You could win as much as $5,000 and a $30,000 donation to your Children’s Miracle Network Hospital by entering the national Family Dance-off. Entering is easy. Film your family’s best dance moves and upload your video to FamilyDanceoff.com between Feb. 25 and March 23. Visit the contest website for full details.

For more parenting tips, visit www.DrZandFriends.com.

(ARA) – For expectant parents, the 18-week ultrasound marks an exciting milestone. For most, it is the first time they get to see their child, they can learn the sex of the baby and the doctor makes sure development is progressing normally. Mike and Katherine Mulligan of Cincinnati, Ohio, went for their first ultrasound in September 2000, and like most parents-to-be, expected to hear only good news. Instead, their dreams were dashed when they learned their unborn baby had spina bifida.

The Mulligans’ baby had myelomeningocele (MMC), the most common, yet most severe form of spina bifida, in which an opening in the back exposes the fetus’ developing spinal cord to progressive damage. They were told that a baby with this condition, even with surgery after birth, would likely face lifelong disabilities, including paralysis and cognitive impairment. But the Mulligans found hope in what was at the time an experimental fetal surgery available at The Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), an internationally recognized leader in fetal surgery and fetal care.

Led by Dr. N. Scott Adzick, surgeon-in-chief of CHOP and director of the Center, team members had pioneered a surgical procedure to repair MMC before birth and had been performing it at CHOP since 1998. The team’s nearly 30 years of work in the laboratory and with patients strongly suggested that operating on the baby in the womb, months before birth, could reduce the need to divert fluid from the brain, improve neurologic function and increase the likelihood that a child would be able to walk independently.

The Mulligans contacted CHOP, and after extensive testing and counseling, Katherine became the 29th patient for prenatal spina bifida repair at the center. For the surgery, a team of specialized doctors worked together to operate on the baby in the uterus. The spinal lesion was repaired and surgeons closed the skin to protect the spinal cord from additional exposure to the amniotic fluid. On Dec. 28, 2000 – his father’s birthday – Sean Mulligan was born, weighing a healthy six pounds, seven ounces, with nothing more than a scar where his MMC lesion had been. “He came out kicking and screaming, so to speak, and he’s been doing that ever since,” Katherine says.

Sean’s case was one of 58 fetal surgeries for spina bifida the CHOP center performed between 1998 and 2003. Their research helped lay the groundwork for the seven-year federally funded Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS), a nationwide, multi-center, randomized prospective clinical trial, that compared prenatal surgery to postnatal surgery. Although the goal was to enroll 200 patients, the National Institutes of Health ended the trial in December 2010, after 183 surgeries because, by that point, the effectiveness of prenatal spina bifida surgery had been conclusively established. In February 2011 the results of the MOMS trial were published in the “New England Journal of Medicine” and fetal surgery for spina bifida became a standard of care at CHOP.

One year after the study’s publication, CHOP’s center had received more than 200 fetal spina bifida referrals from all over the world, and performed more than 100 evaluations and nearly 30 prenatal spina bifida surgeries. The team currently performs about three fetal surgeries for spina bifida each month.

“What was once just an idea is now a standard of care,” says Adzick, “The path to get here has been long and fraught with extraordinary challenges. But the beauty of medicine is that, with determination and perseverance, we can change and improve practice to offer new hope.”

Today, Sean is a healthy 11-year-old. He excels in school, and participates in Cub Scouts, soccer, basketball, tennis and swimming. He loves to play baseball and hang out with his three younger brothers. Sean’s progress is followed yearly through a spina bifida clinic near his home. He has never needed a shunt and his bowel and bladder function are good. Because of this important medical research and surgical advances, more children now have access to the fetal surgery for spina bifida that Sean received – and all the possibilities it provides.

(ARA) – While many people take their vision for granted, those with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) certainly do not. AMD Awareness is important because the condition deteriorates central vision, affecting everything from seeing faces clearly to literally having a large “blind spot” in the center of your vision, yet many people are unfamiliar with AMD.

AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss in Americans over age 50, according to the American Optometric Association. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate 1.8 million have AMD and another 7.3 million people are at risk. As our population ages at an ever-increasing rate, the incidence of AMD is expected to triple by 2025.

Key risk factors for AMD are age, family history, smoking (past or present), low macular pigment, poor diet, light skin and eyes, high body mass index, and Caucasian women are also at slightly higher risk. And while we cannot change our age, we can proactively manage some of the risk factors and take steps to maintain or improve our vision.

Published in the November 2011 issue of the Journal of Optometry, the Zeaxanthin and Visual Function (ZVF) Study was conducted by Dr. Stuart Richer of Chicago. The study included 60 early AMD patients who consumed a daily dose of 8 mgs of dietary Zeaxanthin for one year. The patients’ vision improved in the areas of: high contrast visual acuity (reading, needlepoint, etc.), which improved by 8.5 letters on an eye chart; central scotomas or “blind spots” were resolved; foveal shape discrimination was enhanced (ability to discern shapes at varying distances); and finally, a significant percentage of the group reported an improvement in night driving.

As we age, our eyes degrade – a process that begins when we are children. Harmful blue light from the sun, indoor lighting, and even computers, along with poor diet, smoking, and high body mass index can all affect our central vision – but there is good news, too.

A protective pigment in the back of the eye called macular pigment absorbs harmful blue light that can adversely affect eye health. Think of macular pigment as “internal sunglasses” that protect the photoreceptors in the back of the eye – specifically the cones, which are responsible for central vision, color, sharpness, and sensitivity to bright light, among others.

The two key protective pigments in your internal sunglasses are Zeaxanthin (pronounced zee-uh-zan-thin) and Lutein. In order to keep the internal sunglasses thick and dense, it is important to replenish Zeaxanthin, the predominant protective pigment in the center of the macula where the concentration of cones is the highest.

Unfortunately, Zeaxanthin is scarce in the average daily diet, and most people do not consume enough kale, corn, collard greens, spinach, or peppers to naturally replenish what the eyes need most. For example, one would have to eat approximately 20 ears of corn to get a recommended daily dosage of 8-10 mg of dietary Zeaxanthin.

Healthy macular pigment does more than just protect. It can help adults with sensitivity to bright light, glare while driving at night, seeing well in low light environments, and discernment between contrasting colors.

The early AMD patients in the ZVF Study increased their MPOD levels from an average of .33 to .51 – a direct correlation with their visual improvement. MPOD or Macular Pigment Optical Density is a measurement of the macular pigment in the back of the eye, and is performed by many optometrists throughout the country.

Eye vitamins like the EyePromise brand of nutraceuticals help rebuild macular pigment through unique nutritional formulas that feature the highest levels of all natural, dietary Zeaxanthin, derived from special paprika peppers.

“Education is the first step in fighting AMD,” says Dennis Gierhart, PhD, and co-founder of ZeaVision. “Science demonstrates that low macular pigment is an important AMD risk factor, and it’s encouraging to know that dietary Zeaxanthin is helping people maintain and enhance their vision.”

AMD Awareness is about educating people about AMD risks and being proactive to improve vision. Proper nutrition and supplementation can greatly affect eye health and quality of life. Ask your EyeCare Professional about having your macular pigment measured to protect and enhance your central vision.

(ARA) – When it comes to eggs, dietary cholesterol and heart health, what you think you know may be a bit scrambled. Concerns over dietary cholesterol and its impact on heart disease keeps many people from eating eggs, despite their nutritional benefits. However, more than 40 years of research shows healthy adults can enjoy an egg every day without significantly impacting their risk of heart disease.

Cracking the cholesterol myth
Enjoying an egg a day as part of a healthy diet balanced with fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy, falls well within current cholesterol guidelines. In fact, according to USDA data, one large egg is 14 percent lower in cholesterol than previously recorded, down from 212 mg to 185 mg, and is also 64 percent higher in vitamin D, with 41 IU per large egg. Moreover, one large egg contains six grams of high-quality protein and 13 essential nutrients for 70 calories.

“Research shows that saturated fat may be more likely to raise a person’s blood cholesterol than dietary cholesterol,” says Neva Cochran, registered dietitian, nutrition writer and researcher for Woman’s World Magazine. “Eating a balanced breakfast with high-quality protein foods like eggs, along with other nutrient-rich foods like fruit and whole grains, is the best way to start the day. Unlike sugary foods, eggs have no simple sugars and contain no carbs, providing steady and sustained energy.”

Additionally, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recognize eggs as a nutrient dense food and state that the consumption of one egg per day is not associated with risk of coronary heart disease or stroke in healthy adults. And, eggs provide high-quality protein that helps build muscles and increases satiety for all-day energy, which can help maintain a healthy weight, an important factor in promoting overall health.

Incredible egg benefits
Cochran also points out that at an average of 15 cents a piece, eggs are an affordable, versatile, nutrient powerhouse that contribute to a healthy diet in many ways:

* Breakfast boosters: Research shows that eating high-quality protein foods for breakfast, like eggs, can help increase satiety, maintain long-lasting energy and improve cognitive skills like memory recall time.

* Sunshine supplement: Eggs are one of the few foods that are a naturally good source of vitamin D, meaning that one egg provides at least 10 percent of the recommended daily allowance. Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium absorption, helping to form and maintain strong bones.

* Weight-loss companion: Research shows that eating eggs for breakfast can help overweight dieters lose more weight, lower their body mass index and shrink their waist more than eating a bagel of equal calories for breakfast.

Eggs are easy
Adding eggs to your breakfast routine can be easy, even on busy weekday mornings. Whether you’re craving scrambled eggs, an omelet or an egg sandwich, microwaves can be an incredible time-saving tool, so you can start every day with a nutritious breakfast. Try this quick and easy recipe next time you’re in a rush:
Egg and Cheese Breakfast Burrito

Ingredients:
1 flour tortilla (6-inch)
1 egg
1 tablespoon shredded Mexican cheese blend
1 tablespoon salsa

Directions:
1. Line 2-cup microwave-safe cereal bowl with microwave-safe paper towel. Press tortilla into bowl. Break egg into center of tortilla. Beat egg gently with a fork until blended, being careful not to tear tortilla.
2. Microwave on high 30 seconds; stir. Microwave until egg is almost set, 15 to 30 seconds longer.
3. Remove tortilla with paper towel liner from bowl to flat surface. Top egg with cheese and salsa. Fold bottom of tortilla over egg, then fold in sides.

For more information on the nutrition benefits of eggs or recipe ideas, visit www.eggnutritioncenter.org or www.IncredibleEgg.org, “Like” the Incredible Edible Egg on Facebook or follow @IncredibleEggs on Twitter.

(ARA) – Whether you are at risk for, have been recently diagnosed, or are living with diabetes, it is essential to make sure you have the information necessary to manage your disease. It can also be overwhelming caring for someone with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association aims to make it easier and the organization’s EXPOs are a great place to start.

American Diabetes Association EXPOs are free and held in 11 major cities across the country. They have everything consumers need to know about diabetes, products, healthy eating and exercise.

One person who appreciates these EXPOs is Steve Shaffer of Denver, Colo. Shaffer has had type 1 diabetes for 33 years. “EXPO has been a great experience for me over the years I’ve attended, exposing me to a variety of useful information on diabetes and what’s going on in my community,” he said.

EXPOs include health screenings, cooking demonstrations, product and service exhibitors as well as leading experts talking about diabetes management and prevention. “I learned even more about diabetes from vendors, key speakers and professionals at EXPO,” Shaffer added. “It’s an educational event not just for individuals with diabetes, but also for those who help take care of a loved one with the disease.”

Shaffer is also an avid cyclist; he learned about the Association’s Tour de Cure cycling event at an EXPO and has been a volunteer for the cause ever since.

Type 2 diabetes can be prevented if you maintain a healthy diet, increase physical activity and maintain a healthy weight. If not controlled, diabetes can lead to complications such as blindness, amputations, and heart and kidney disease.

There are currently nearly 26 million people living in the U.S. with diabetes, 7 million of whom are undiagnosed. Visiting an EXPO event is one way you can become part of movement to Stop Diabetes.

For more information about diabetes or to find an EXPO in your area, call (800) DIABETES (800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org/expo.

(ARA) – Living to 100 years old is a remarkable feat in itself, but now 100 centenarians will have the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy that could radically change medical care for generations to come.

The X PRIZE Foundation and Medco Health Solutions, Inc. are searching for the Medco 100 Over 100 – a group of 100 vital centenarians whose genes could unlock the secrets of healthy aging and improve the way we prevent and treat disease.

These “genomic pioneers” will donate their DNA by way of a simple blood test to the Archon Genomics X PRIZE presented by Medco – a $10 million competition that pits world-class teams in a race to rapidly, accurately and inexpensively sequence the genomes of the Medco 100 Over 100. The results could identify rare genes that protect against disease and provide valuable clues to health and longevity.

“The Medco 100 Over 100 will represent a very special group of people who have lived an unusually long life and somehow beaten the odds against the common diseases of aging that substantially impact quality of life and longevity,” says Felix Frueh, president of the Medco Research Institute. “Discovering what makes them different from the rest of us could lead to important advances in prevention and treatment of disease – that’s quite a gift to give by participating in this research effort.”

The search for the Medco 100 Over 100 will span the globe looking for centenarians and “supercentenarians” (age 110 and older) to participate in this historic initiative. Anyone 100 years or older, who is cognizant, currently without any serious disease and is willing to share their story can be nominated to join the Medco 100 Over 100. While good health will be an important criterion for selection, special consideration will be given to supercentenarians, whose extreme longevity challenges the normal notions of aging. Centenarian nominations can be submitted at www.genomics.xprize.org/medco-100-over-100 and will be accepted through May 2012.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were more than 53,000 centenarians and only 330 supercentenarians living in the U.S. in 2010. The states with the highest number of resident centenarians are California, Florida, New York, Texas and Pennsylvania.

(ARA) – From eating better foods to getting an adequate amount of sleep and exercise, we’re a very health-aware society. So why is it that many Americans routinely overlook one of the cornerstones of good health?

While nearly 70 percent of Americans say they want to be healthier five years from now, just 51 percent recognize that foot health can be a key to achieving that goal, according to a survey from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

“Nearly eight in 10 adults have experienced some type of foot ailment in their lives. Yet despite the pain, close to three in 10 do nothing about it, simply choosing to live with their pain,” says Dr. Michael King, a podiatrist and president of APMA. “Meanwhile, more than half of those surveyed said they had endured foot pain at some point in their lives but have not sought treatment from a podiatrist.”

So what are the five most common types of foot problems and what causes them? Here are some tips from today’s podiatrists:

* Nail problems are one of the most prevalent foot woes in both men and women. These problems can range from ingrown toenails to fungal infections. Ingrown toenails – a condition in which the corners of sides of a nail dig painfully into the soft tissue of the nail grooves – is the most common form of nail problem. To avoid ingrown toenails, trim nails straight across and don’t dig into the corners. If a toenail becomes infected, see a podiatrist immediately for treatment. Those with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease and other circulatory disorders should seek a podiatrist’s care on a regular basis to help prevent complications.

* Sweaty feet and foot odor are two foot conditions that are often experienced together. While stinky feet are definitely embarrassing, feet that sweat excessively can lead to other foot problems, even creating an environment conducive to the development of athlete’s foot. Closed shoes make feet sweat, but in the winter you can’t avoid wearing them. Instead, practice good foot hygiene. Wash feet daily with soap and water, keep shoes and socks dry, and choose socks that wick away moisture. Change shoes and socks regularly and consider rubbing cornstarch or applying antiperspirant directly onto the soles of your feet.

* Pain in the ball of the feet – Nearly one-third of adults have reported pain in the balls of their feet. Pain in this location can be caused by over-exertion, injury or ill-fitting shoes. To avoid, always wear well-fitting, supportive and activity-appropriate shoes when walking, running or engaging in other physical activity. If necessary, replace the insoles that came in the shoes with ones that provide additional cushioning.

* Heel pain – This type of pain can have many sources, including weight gain, excessive foot flattening, muscle imbalance, injury or even improper footwear. To kick heel pain to the curb, always be sure to warm up and stretch properly before and after exercise. If wearing high heels, opt for heels that are no more than two to three inches in height. For persistent pain, treatment can range from prescribed orthotic devices and medications to cortisone injections, physical therapy and rarely, surgery.

* Bunions – A bunion is an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe. Treatments range from self-remedies such as using a bunion pad around the bony prominence, to ice packs to reduce the swelling, and avoiding shoes that could irritate the bunion and even make the problem worse. For persistent pain, see a podiatrist for a full range of treatment options.

“While foot problems are common, that doesn’t mean people should be resigned to living with pain,” King says. “Consulting today’s podiatrist can help people feel better sooner, and get back to living healthier lives.”

(ARA) – For many with seasonal allergies, the start of spring means itchy eyes and a runny nose, but for the almost 25 million Americans suffering with asthma, the season can be much more threatening. In fact, according to a recent survey, Asthma Insights and Management, conducted by the national public research organization Abt SRBI Inc., 21 percent of asthmatics note “pollen” as a trigger for their asthma symptoms.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways, and may cause chest tightness, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. When not properly managed, these symptoms may sometimes become life threatening.

For parents of the nearly 7 million children living with asthma, monitoring of the condition and identifying when symptoms are becoming problematic can be difficult any time of year, but can be even more challenging during allergy season.

“During allergy season, assessing whether my child symptoms are asthma- or allergy-related is even more stressful as exacerbations become more frequent,” said Denielle Goshinsky, mother of an 8-year-old asthmatic. “I’m often asking myself whether my child’s cough is from a cold or allergies, or whether it’s asthma-related and potentially more serious.”

But for parents of asthmatics, there is a new tool available to help monitor and assess their child’s symptoms anytime and anywhere. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently cleared to market Spiro PD, the first and only personal spirometer that allows patients to measure their lung function outside of the doctor’s office. The device measures the amount and speed of air individual’s exhale which helps evaluate how well lungs are working. It is easy-to-use, portable and affordable.

“While the National Institute of Health Clinical Guidelines call for regular spirometry, the location of the test was previously limited to doctor’s offices,” said Michael S. Blaiss, MD, the Board of Director of World Allergy Organization and a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Tennessee. “With the availability of Spiro PD, patients or parents of asthmatics are able to measure lung function and share data with their doctor anywhere and anytime, empowering patients to take an active role in managing their disease, always knowing exactly how their condition is doing and informing them as to when they may need to seek further medical attention.”

Other features of Spiro PD allow patients to view their lung function trends over time; manage medications; set reminder alarms to take medicine, run spirometry tests or do breathing exercises; and, quickly upload data to their computer and share it with their health care provider. For more information visit www.SpiroPD.com.

(ARA) – With heart disease the leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s time to listen to your heart and get the right kinds of fats into your daily diet. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends consuming polyunsaturated fats, specifically omega-3 fatty acids, for heart health. But what are these “good fats” and how do you make them a part of your daily nutrition program?

“Hundreds of studies from prestigious groups like the National Institutes of Health and universities like Harvard and Tufts, repeatedly and consistently show that when you add omega-3-rich foods or supplements to the diet, you help to lower your risk for heart disease,” says Elizabeth Somer, a registered dietitian and author of “Eat Your Way to Sexy.” “One important step is making sure your diet is packed with heart-healthy omega-3s. The omega-3s in fatty fish, especially DHA, keep blood vessels squeaky clean and reduce inflammation. They lower heart disease risk; raise HDLs – the good cholesterol; help stabilize the heartbeat and reduce blood clots, thereby curbing the risk for heart attack and stroke.”

Somer answers some questions about heart health:

Q: What are the main differences between “good fats” and “bad fats?”
A: We often hear that Americans eat too much fat, while people in other parts of the world aren’t eating enough. The truth is that, regardless of fat intake, very few people are eating the right fats. Fats to avoid are saturated and trans fats, which are solid at room temperature – like butter. In contrast, consuming polyunsaturated fatty acids – specifically omega-3s DHA and EPA found in fatty fish – are important for brain, eye and cardiovascular health.

Q: Doesn’t my body make all of the omega-3s needed to help maintain a strong heart?
A: Many experts have indicated that the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are essential nutrients due to the limited ability of our body to make enough of them and because of their beneficial health effects. That’s why we must get these nutrients from the foods we eat and supplements. The main dietary source of DHA and EPA is cold-water fish, such as salmon. Unfortunately, studies show the American diet includes far less than the ideal amount of DHA and EPA. For example, an average U.S. diet contains less than 100 milligrams of DHA per day. That is well below one expert’s recommendation of at least 220 milligrams of DHA per day. Studies show that the more omega-3s you consume, the healthier your heart.

Q: What if I don’t like eating fish – are there other ways to get DHA and EPA into my diet?
A: The most common sources of DHA and EPA omega-3s are fatty fish and fish oil. Interestingly, many people believe that fish produce their own DHA and EPA, but in actuality it is the microalgae in their food chain that make fish such a rich source of omega-3s. For those who do not eat significant amounts of fish due to dietary preferences, allergies, a vegetarian lifestyle or worries about potential ocean-borne pollutants, there are DHA/EPA supplements made from algae. One such supplement is Schiff MegaRed Plant-Omega, which is made from a vegetarian and sustainable source of DHA and EPA – algae. To learn more, visit www.schiffmegared.com.

Q: How much DHA/EPA should I get in my diet?
A: If you’re not getting at least two servings a week of salmon, mackerel, herring or sardines, and you’re not loading foods fortified with an algal-based DHA onto your plate, then make sure to take at least 220 milligrams of DHA in pill form. According to the American Heart Association, people with documented coronary heart disease (CHD) are advised to consume about one gram of EPA and DHA per day.