UHS raises awareness for women's heart health
Friday is National Wear Red Day dedicated to the prevention and treatment of heart disease among women.
UHS Faculty and staff held a news conference and turned the UHS main lobby into a sea of red this morning.
One speaker, Ms. Kintner, received a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement procedure at UHS, also known as TAVR, and says she no longer feels like there is an elephant sitting on her chest.
The Vice President of Development at the American Heart Association, Jami Wood says women are less likely to receive life-saving CPR than men.
'Some people are afraid of hurting a woman when performing CPR or they have a misconception that it's harder to perform on a woman. But we can close that gender gap by getting as many people familiar with CPR as possible. If you see a teen or an adult collapse, one, you're going to call 911 and two, you're going to push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help can arrive,' said Wood.
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. even more than all forms of cancer combined.
During the news conference, UHS and the Heart Association donated CPR training kits to local school districts and non-profits.
Wood says you can be certified in hands only CPR as early as 9 years old.
AmarA*JK presents 'Where Are We Going and Why Am I In This Basket?'
Where do your taxes go in Binghamton?
UHS raises awareness for women's heart health
Manner of death for two Binghamton men declared homicide
Hung jury leads to mistrial in Aissa murder case
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Medscape
7 hours ago
- Medscape
More Than a Number: Sleep Quality Next Target for CV Health
From the Dalai Lama's claim that it is the 'best meditation' to Benjamin Franklin's insistence that it makes a person 'healthy, wealthy, and wise,' a good night's sleep has long been touted as the secret to a healthy life. And the American Heart Association (AHA) agrees. In 2022, the AHA added sleep duration to Life's Simple 8, their checklist for optimal heart health. This was on the basis of strong evidence from epidemiologic studies linking sleep duration to poor cardiometabolic outcomes, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. But emerging research suggests that it's time for cardiologists to consider more than just sleep duration. 'Lack of sleep has been long known to be associated with coronary heart disease,' said Martha Gulati, MD, the director of Preventive Cardiology in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai, in Los Angeles. Gulati emphasized that achieving adequate sleep (between 7 and 9 hours) has also been associated with healthy traits, such as better blood pressure, better cholesterol control, and healthy weight. Martha Gulati, MD However, the number of hours a person sleeps each night just scratches the surface she said. Research has shown that consistency and preferred timing of sleep, known as sleep chronotype, are important as well. In a 2023 UK-based study, middle-aged adults who considered themselves night owls — the evening sleep chronotype — had signs of potentially detrimental cardiac remodeling on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging compared with morning folks. And the damage may start early. In a recent study in adolescents, shorter sleep duration was associated with adverse markers of left ventricular wall remodeling and liver fat accumulation suggesting a cumulative effect on health, according to the authors. The MESA Sleep Ancillary study found that people with greater irregularity in sleep patterns — such as falling asleep at different times each night — had a higher coronary artery calcium burden than those with more regular sleep patterns. Because sleep is associated with a range of cardiometabolic diseases, Julie Marcus, MD, a cardiologist at Weill Cornell Medicine/New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, said addressing poor sleep has become an important but underappreciated aspect of maintaining a healthy heart. Julie Marcus, MD She added that patients also need to be aware that poor sleep can affect their health and what the various components of healthy sleep are. 'Beyond saying do you snore [or] stop breathing at night and do you sleep between 7 and 9 hours, there's so much more to sleep that is important,' Marcus said. Expanding the Definition of Sleep Health Early this year, the AHA published an updated scientific statement that addresses multidimensional sleep health. This includes duration, timing, regularity, sleep-related daytime functioning, satisfaction, continuity — the ability to initiate and maintain sleep — and sleep architecture, or the amount and timing of the various sleep stages. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD, a sleep health researcher and lead author of the AHA statement, explained that it was developed to promote the breadth of new research. 'We want to let people know that sleep is more than just how long you sleep at night,' said St-Onge, who is the director of the Center of Excellence for Sleep and Circadian Research at Columbia University, New York City. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD For example, she explained excessive daytime sleepiness has been associated with cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Similarly, sleep disturbances have been linked to hypertension, arterial stiffness, and coronary heart disease. Understanding Poor Sleep's Mechanism of Action St-Onge emphasized that new research has also increased understanding around the associations between poor sleep and worsening cardiometabolic outcomes. Her research has shown that sleep restriction increases oxidative stress in the lining of the arteries that could lead to endothelial dysfunction. Short sleep also impairs the body's ability to counteract this oxidative stress. 'We see immune suppression from poor sleep duration and poor sleep quality,' St-Onge said. In addition, we have found links between sleep regularity and eating patterns, St-Onge noted. Gulati believes that the AHA statement represents an opportunity to raise awareness among patients, cardiologists, and clinical researchers about the importance of better understanding these causal effects of poor multidimensional sleep health. 'I think it is also a call to action to improve the assessment of sleep, particularly in research so we can rigorously assess these components,' Gulati said. 'We need to know what interventions can improve components of sleep as well, and their effect on cardiovascular health. Those knowledge gaps need to be closed.' Talking About Sleep Health Those knowledge gaps are why the statement did not offer guidance for clinical approaches, but St-Onge emphasized the importance of educating and discussing this topic with patients now. She recommended asking an open-ended question: 'How's your sleep?' 'That opens up a conversation for people to express exactly what's bothering them with their sleep.' For example, she said, 'It may be they get plenty of hours of sleep, but they lie there awake for way too long, or they're having a hard time falling asleep, or they get a lot of sleep, but they still wake up not feeling refreshed during the day.' Starting the conversation — and documenting it in clinical notes — will be the first step to helping patients with poor sleep health, she said. Marcus agreed that cardiologists should make time to discuss sleep health with patients, even though it can be more complicated than addressing cholesterol or blood pressure because 'sleep is not a number.' Still, she said that understanding a patient's poor sleep health can also provide physicians with new modifiable risk factors for improving their cardiovascular health. 'Sleep is the next target,' Marcus said. 'We know it impacts health, and it's just a matter of how do we screen for it.' Gulati reported financial relationships with Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Medtronic, Merck & Co., New Amsterdam, and Zoll.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
The #1 Breakfast to Reduce Your Risk of Stroke, According to Dietitians
Reviewed by Dietitian Kelly Plowe, M.S., RDKey Points A bowl of oats with nuts and berries is one of the best breakfast options to help lower stroke risk. This meal packs potassium, soluble fiber, anthocyanins and other blood-pressure-friendly nutrients. Regular exercise, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol can also help reduce your risk of a healthy breakfast each morning is about more than just fueling up for the day ahead. It also impacts your long-term health, including your stroke risk. If you're looking for the best breakfast to reduce your risk of stroke, registered dietitians suggest you start your morning with a bowl of oatmeal topped with nuts and berries. This simple combination is packed with nutrients that keep your blood vessels healthy and your blood pressure in check, both of which are key in lowering your stroke risk. 'High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke,' says Romy Nathan, M.P.H., RDN. 'The DASH—Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension— trial showed that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy, and low in saturated fat, added sugars and sodium can lower blood pressure as effectively as some medication.' Curious to learn exactly how a simple breakfast can reduce your risk of stroke? Here's what you need to know. Why Dietitians Love Oatmeal with Nuts and Berries for Breakfast to Help Reduce Your Stroke Risk Here are a few reasons why oats topped with nuts and berries is a solid choice if you're looking to lower your risk of stroke. The Breakfast is Rich in Potassium Oats, nuts like almonds and walnuts, and berries all provide potassium and can contribute to a heart-healthy diet.,, Potassium is an essential nutrient for several reasons, including its ability to help lower blood pressure. The World Health Organization and the American Heart Association recommend eating potassium-rich foods to lower blood pressure. The current recommendations are 3,400 milligrams per day for men and 2,600 milligrams per day for women. Potassium plays a crucial role in various physiological processes that impact blood pressure, including maintaining fluid balance, balancing acids and electrolytes within the body, and supporting normal cell functioning. Interestingly, increasing dietary potassium can also reduce the effects of sodium. As you eat more potassium, more sodium is lost through urine. 'Potassium causes the kidneys to excrete excess sodium from the body,' says Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN. 'Keeping sodium levels low can help lower blood pressure. Oats Are Loaded With Soluble Fiber Oats are rich in beta-glucan, a type of heart-healthy soluble fiber that binds with bile acids in the digestive tract, helping remove cholesterol from the body. 'This in turn helps to lower your LDL levels and keep less atherogenic plaque from accumulating in artery walls,' Nathan says. With less fatty plaque build-up in the arteries, there's a lower risk of stroke. Berries are Rich in Antioxidants and Other Blood-Pressure-Friendly Phytonutrients Berries are rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients, both of which may help reduce the risk of stroke. 'Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation in blood vessels, ultimately protecting the lining of blood vessels from damage,' Nathan says. Meanwhile, the deep blue, red and purple hues in blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries come from anthocyanins, which are a type of flavonoid that can lower blood pressure, improve blood vessel function, and reduce inflammation. Other Strategies to Reduce Your Stroke Risk Cut back on processed red meat. Research shows that eating processed meat can increase your risk of stroke and other forms of cardiovascular disease. 'Saturated fat is the primary culprit for increased LDL levels, and reducing it in one's diet is the first step to healthier blood lipid levels,' Nathan says. 'Replacing some animal-based meals with plant-based options can reduce saturated fat intake.' Eat more anti-inflammatory foods. 'Anti-inflammatory foods help reduce stroke risk by protecting the blood vessel lining from damage caused by chronic inflammation, which can be triggered by aging, poor diet, and other lifestyle factors,' Nathan says. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can raise your blood pressure (which can increase your stroke risk), so it's best to keep your drinking in moderation. This means one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. Research published in the journal Stroke finds that among heavy drinkers, reducing alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk of stroke. Stay physically active. Among people who are sedentary, stroke risk goes way up, research shows. However, regular physical activity, even daily or every other day, can make a significant difference in reducing stroke risk. Our Expert Take A satisfying bowl of oatmeal topped with nuts and berries is one of the best breakfast choices you can make to lower your risk of stroke. This meal packs potassium, soluble fiber, anthocyanins and other nutrients to keep your blood pressure in check and your blood vessels healthy. You can also reduce your stroke risk by eating less processed red meat, filling your plate with more anti-inflammatory foods, cutting back on alcohol, and exercising regularly. While eating a healthy breakfast and making lifestyle changes are excellent, proactive choices for your health, it's important to speak with a licensed doctor if you have any health concerns, including about your stroke risk. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
These 4 habits in middle age have the ‘greatest impact' on your heart health: study
Menopause may end a woman's monthly cycle, but it can also trigger a slew of unpleasant health risks, from sleep disorders and depression to metabolic syndrome, inflammation and heart disease. 'In the late 40s, around the time of the menopause transition, women undergo many significant changes in their cardiovascular health,' Samar R. El Khoudary, professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, told Medical News Today. 'There's an increase in visceral fat, which we know has implications for heart health. There is an increase in risk of metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of three out of five factors including waist circumference, glucose, triglycerides, HDL (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and blood pressure. Advertisement 3 A new study shows only one in five menopausal women have ideal scores on the American Heart Association's health-assessment tool Life's Essential 8 (LE8). Wesley/ – 'There's a change in vascular health, with increasing thickness and stiffness in the carotid artery. And with the symptoms of menopause, sleep can suffer, as well.' Worse yet, El Khoudary and her team recently learned only one in five menopausal women have ideal scores on the American Heart Association's health-assessment tool Life's Essential 8 (LE8) — and four of the factors can have a huge impact on heart health. Advertisement The LE8 tracks eight key health metrics: physical activity, cholesterol, diet, sleep, blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and tobacco use. Researchers analyzed the health data of about 3,000 women to find that four of these factors — sleep, blood pressure, blood glucose and smoking — are the heaviest hitters in predicting heart problems later down the road. 'This finding is important because it highlights key areas … that may have the greatest impact on future heart health for women,' El Khoudary said. 3 The LE8 tracks eight key health metrics: physical activity, cholesterol, diet, sleep, blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and tobacco use. InsideCreativeHouse – Advertisement 'However, our study did not test whether targeting these specifically leads to better outcomes than focusing on other factors. This is an important question for future clinical trials to explore.' Unfortunately, these findings indicate that women, especially those in the menopause stage, need to adopt healthier habits in order to keep their ticker happy — although of course that's easier said than done. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women, according to Northwell Health cardiologist and American Heart Association volunteer medical expert Dr. Stacey Rosen, who is based in New York. Advertisement Nearly 45% of women over 20 years old are actually living with some form of CVD, Rosen told Fox News Digital. 3 Researchers analyzed the health data of about 3,000 women to find that four of these factors — sleep, blood pressure, blood glucose and smoking — are the heaviest hitters in predicting heart problems later down the road. bertys30 – And some of the classic symptoms — such as pain radiating down from the left arm — might not necessarily occur in women, who might instead experience extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea and indigestion. Jaw, neck and back pain are also symptoms that are easy to dismiss. The good news is that the majority of CVD is preventable through lifestyle changes, heightened awareness and education, Rosen said — which means that 'your heart health is in your hands.' 'Know your numbers — cholesterol, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar — as all are important risk factors that can be modified,' she said. Additionally, experts recommend eating a diet that is high in fiber and antioxidants, shooting for getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week and quitting smoking.
