Are Women More Likely to Die After Heart Attacks?

If you?re a woman, it should be a cause for concern to know that women are more likely than men to die from a heart attack (myocardial infarction). These types of heart attacks are caused when blood flow to a certain part of the heart is blocked long enough for that part of the heart to become damaged or die, according to A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia.

Researchers analyzed data from 5,000 patients included in the Observatoire Regional Breton sur l?Infarctus du myocarde (ORBI) registry over a six year period in Brittany in France. The research concluded: ?Women have a worse prognosis (outcome), possibly due to longer management delays and less aggressive reperfusion (restoration of blood flow to an organ/tissue) strategies.? They found that 1,174 patients- 23 percent were women- according to a report of FirstPost.com.

The Gender Discrepancies

MedPageToday.com also offered the following data gathered from the study:

• Women experienced inter-hospital myocardial infarction at 9 percent compared to men at 4.4 percent
• Women had a longer delay between MI signs and calling for medical assistance
• Women had longer delays between hospital admission/reperfusion therapy, including treatments upon discharge

Until health care professionals can mitigate the gender inequalities of extended ischemic time and MI fatalities with aggressive treatments, women need to be proactive about the management of their health. With health awareness and lifestyle modifications, women can recognize what the onset of a heart attack looks like and help prevent it from occurring.

The Latest | Fighting the Heart Attack by Blocking Inflammation

Typically high blood pressure and cholesterol are the primary causes of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks. Reported by The Wall Street Journal, studies by the National Institutes of Health will analyze the treatment of inflammation as a strategy for reducing the risk of heart attacks. Inflammation is part of the body?s natural healing response.

Moreover, chronic inflammation is when irritants and injuries cause the system to work in overdrive, which can lead to a heart attack. Beyond conventional strategies for prevention, anti-inflammatory drug methotrexate and antibody canakinumab are being tested for the reduction of serious cardiovascular problems.

Until blocking and lowering inflammation become a solid prevention strategy for cardiovascular problems, women need to increase their MI awareness and adopt conventional methods of prevention and treatment, such as exercise, diet and lifestyle changes that control cholesterol and blood pressure. Whether you?re a young woman in your 20?s or past 60 living in one of the best retirement communities, it?s never too early or too late to start giving attention to your health to prevent chronic inflammation, heart disease and a heart attack.

Diet & Nutrition | A Healthy Lifestyle to Prevent Heart Disease

A healthy and happy heart is your future. A healthy heart requires ongoing exercise, a nutritious diet filled with superfoods and a commitment to really care about your future. To decide what to fuel your body with, remember these heart-healthy essentials:

• Vegetables and fruits (benefits: vitamins, minerals, fiber)
• Whole grains; e.g. pasta, 100 percent whole-wheat bread, high-fiber cereal, ground flaxseed (benefits: fiber, blood pressure regulation, lower blood cholesterol)
• Protein; e.g. lean poultry, fish, low-fat dairy, legumes (benefits: omega-3 fatty acids, fat and cholesterol reduction)

Be cautious of the following:

• Unhealthy, saturated and trans fats, e.g. butter, margarine, shortening, lard, creamy sauce (risks: high blood cholesterol levels, plaque buildup, coronary artery disease)
• Sodium, e.g. canned/processed foods, frozen dinners, condiments (risks: high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease)

Starting Now | Preventing Heart Disease with a Healthful Lifestyle

Everyday lifestyle choices are what determine your prosperous health in the future. Protect your long-term health by following these tips for disease prevention:

• Exercise: Regular physical activity contribute to weight control, which reduces serious heart conditions, including ?high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes,? according to MayoClinic.com.
• Chronic Emotional Stress: Stress speeds heart rates, constricts blood vessels and can contribute to increases in inflammation; mostly, stress precipitates factors that can lead to heart disease and problems.
• Don?t Smoke or Use Tobacco: Any amount of smoking significantly increases risks of heart disease. Smoking damages the heart and blood vessels, which narrows arteries and causes a heart attack.
• Get Regular Checkups and Tests: Screening your health for signs of high blood pressure and cholesterol ensures that you?re heart healthy.

Medical Attention | Recognizing the Preemptive Signs of a Heart Attack

Because of the alarming and risky delay in time for seeking medical attention, women are highly encouraged to recognize the early signs of a heart attack and to not dismiss those symptoms. Call for health care assistance immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain that may move to other parts of the body (tight squeezing, heavy pressure, crushing); mild or severe ? sporadic or lasting for longer than a few minutes
• Shortness of breath and heart palpitations
• Nausea or vomiting
• Lightheadedness and fainting
• Anxiety and clammy sweats

Keep in mind that ?silent heart attacks? are just as serious, can be just as damaging and can lead to more severe, undetected heart attacks. A silent heart attack may occur without recognizing any typical symptoms. Give attention to mild signs of a heart attack, including ?indigestion, dizziness, weakness, sweating and sudden fatigue,? according to LiveStrong.com. Routine screenings can also help detect any signs of unrecognizable heart problems.

Related posts:

1. Calcium Supplements Linked to Heart Attacks?
2. Severe Heart Attacks May Be Less Life-Threatening
3. Soda Consumption Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Attacks
4. Running and Heart Attacks?Can Running Kill You?
5. Heart Attacks More Prevalent in Areas with Loud Traffic

Source: http://www.hivehealthmedia.com/are-women-more-likely-to-die-after-heart-attacks/

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Power sputters back in New York following Sandy

NEW YORK (AP) ? More New Yorkers awoke Saturday morning to power being restored for the first time since Superstorm Sandy pummeled the region, and those whose lights were back on celebrated it, but patience was wearing thin among those in the region who had been without power for most of the week.

From storm-scarred New Jersey to parts of Connecticut, a widespread lack of gasoline frustrated people who were just trying to get to work or pick up a load of groceries. Gas was to be rationed starting at noon Saturday in northern New Jersey, where drivers will be allowed to buy it only every other day, the governor declared.

The ongoing recovery also forced the cancellation of Sunday's New York City Marathon. Mayor Michael Bloomberg reversed himself Friday and yielded to mounting criticism that this was no time to run the race, which starts on hard-hit Staten Island and wends through all five of the city's boroughs.

Bloomberg, who as late as Friday afternoon insisted the world's largest marathon should go on as scheduled Sunday, changed course shortly afterward amid intensifying opposition from the city comptroller, the Manhattan borough president and sanitation workers unhappy they had volunteered to help storm victims but were assigned to the race instead. The mayor said he would not want "a cloud to hang over the race or its participants."

Many runners understood the rationale behind the decision. The death toll in the city stood at 41 and thousands of people were shivering without electricity, making many New Yorkers recoil at the idea of police officers protecting a foot race and evicting storm victims from hotels to make way for runners.

But the suddenness of it all forced runners to deal with an unexpected twist: what to do with no race.

Well over half of the 40,000 athletes were from out of town. Their entry fees were paid. Their airline tickets were purchased. Their friends and family had hotel rooms. And all week the race was a go, even after Sandy came ashore Monday.

"I understand why it cannot be held under the current circumstances," Meb Keflezighi, the 2009 men's champion and 2004 Olympic silver medalist, said in a statement. "Any inconveniences the cancellation causes me or the thousands of runners who trained and traveled for this race pales in comparison to the challenges faced by people in NYC and its vicinity."

ING, the financial company that is the title sponsor of the marathon, said it supported the decision to cancel. The firm's charitable giving arm has made a $500,000 contribution to help with relief and recovery efforts and is matching employee donations. Sponsor Poland Spring said it would donate the bottled water earmarked for the marathon to relief agencies, more than 200,000 bottles.

"When you have a significant amount of people voicing real pain and unhappiness over its running, you have to hear that. You have to take that into consideration," said Howard Wolfson, deputy mayor for government affairs and communications.

"Something that is such a celebration of the best of New York can't become divisive," he said. "That is not good for the city now as we try to complete our recovery effort, and it is not good for the marathon in the long run."

Each day has brought signs of recovery in the region. Fewer than 1 million customers in New York were without power Saturday, the lowest the number has been since the storm hit.

Aida Padilla, 75, was thrilled that the power at her large housing authority complex in New York City's Chelsea section had returned late Friday.

"Thank God," said Padilla, 75. "I screamed and I put the lights on. Everybody was screaming. It was better than New Year's."

Asked about whether she had heat, she replied, "hot and cold water and heat! Thank God, Jesus!"

NYU Langone Medical Center, one of two New York hospitals that had to evacuate patients at the height of the storm, said it would reopen Monday, though some doctors would see patients at alternate sites.

Seven backup generators at the hospital failed during the storm surge on Monday night, forcing the evacuation of 300 patients.

At Bellevue Hospital Center, some 700 patients had to be evacuated after the power failed. An official there said Thursday the hospital could be out of commission at least two more weeks.

In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie announced that he would make public a list of when utility companies intend to restore power to each community. Even if they end up working faster or slower, he said, residents will have a sense of when they will have power restored so they can plan their lives a bit better.

Commuter rail operator NJ Transit said it would have more service restored in time for the workweek to start Monday, most of Atlantic City's casinos reopened, and many school districts decided to hold classes next Thursday and Friday, days previously reserved for the New Jersey Education Association's annual conference, which has been canceled because of the storm.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/power-sputters-back-storm-weariness-mounts-131658190.html

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GM facing bigger uphill battle in Europe than Ford

Though both of Detroit's biggest automakers have a long road of recovery ahead of them in Europe, a new report indicates that Ford's position is a bit stronger than General Motors'.

The comparison brings back memories of 2008 and 2009, when Ford narrowly avoided bankruptcy, unlike GM and Chrysler. This time, however, Ford isn't leveraging its iconic blue oval. Instead, the automaker's restructuring plan announced recently is much more aggressive than GM's, a move that analysts say could help it emerge from the European crisis faster.

Ford is planning to close three plants and lay off thousands of workers, but GM's money-losing Opel unit continues to resist making major cuts. Opel has agreed to work with France's PSA - the makers of Peugeot and Citroen - but the cost-cutting moves anticipated by that deal's future platform-sharing won't be realized for several years. In addition, Opel's relationship with its unions in Europe has long proved tenuous, a potentially major hurdle the automaker will have to overcome if it wants to shed jobs and production facilities.

"We hope GM will take similar steps [to Ford]," Fifth Third Bank portfolio manager Mirko Mikelic told Reuters.

Still, both Ford and GM face numerous obstacles to recovery in Europe, where a stagnant economy and increased debt loads are having a measurable impact on new car sales.?