Living Well January 2015

LIVING WELL January 30, 2015

Matters of the Heart

Page 2 — Friday, Jan. 30, 2015

Muskogee Phoenix

Living Well

‘Widow maker’ leads to changes

By Harrison Grimwood Phoenix Staff Writer

Scott Shields proposed to his wife on Thanksgiving Day in front of all of his family.

“You ain’t seen nothing yet, just wait till Christmas,” he said.

On Christmas Eve, he survived a heart attack — “the widow maker” — the deadliest type of heart attack.

The widow maker is an artery in the left ventricle of the human heart, pushing out about 50 percent of the body’s oxygenated blood.

“Very few people walk away,” said Shields, a retired Muskogee police officer. “Two others came in from the widow maker at the same time and neither of them made it out.”

It is known as the widow maker because of how quickly it can kill.

Every year about 720,000 Americans have a heart attack. Of these, 515,000 are a first heart attack and 205,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Having a heart attack is probably one of the most excruciating pains you can go through,” he said.

Shields went into work, an archery shop, Christmas Eve morning with feelings of indigestion. He didn’t have any other symptoms.

“A co-worker said ‘Scott, you all right? You don’t look like yourself,’” Shields said.

Shields drove to Walgreens for the indigestion, but realized as he arrived that he was having a heart attack.

He drove himself to the hospital, walked in, and told the receptionist what was happening. She asked him how he knew.

“I’ve had a heart attack before. I know what it feels like,” he said. “I had just got the words out of my mouth, then I lost all strength in my legs and fell to my knees.”

Shields struggled to tell his wife, Brenda Shields, while suffering from the widow maker.

“ER. Heart.” That was the text message she received. Brenda Shields said she jumped in her car and drove straight to the hospital after he didn’t answer.

Brenda saw Scott for about five minutes before they rushed him into surgery.

“He just kept saying ‘I’m sorry,’” Brenda said. “Sorry for putting us through this.”

Scott Shields, a few hours into what was supposed to be a one-hour surgery, woke up. He saw his heart on a surgical monitor.

“I said, ‘oh man, look at that — this is cool,’” Shields said. “The doctor started explaining things to me. We were having a conversation during the surgery.”

After two stents failed, the third one stuck. He came out of surgery to recover in an intensive care unit.

“The best part was my fiance, sons, parents were there waiting for me when I came out of surgery,” Shields said. “It was just an overwhelming feeling to be able to see everybody there.”

Brenda and Scott Shields got married Jan. 17, at his parent’s 54th anniversary

Submitted photos

Scott and Brenda Shields pose together on their wedding day. Below, Scott and Brenda Shields pose in front of a Christmas Tree, just before his heart attack.

dinner. Brenda Shields lost her first husband three years ago to the widow maker.

“I fell apart as soon as I found out what happened to Scott,” she said.

When Scott returned home, she took his boots, keys and pants.

“She grounded me,” he said.

Shields was eager to get back to work. But Brenda wouldn’t allow it, she said.

They made immediate lifestyle changes when they returned home. They stopped drinking soda, cut out pasta and red meats and started more cardio exercises.

“I was drinking four to five Cokes a day,” Shields said. “The doctors said it’s

probably the worst thing you can do to your body.”

Shields said the biggest change he made wasn’t a physical one.

“Don’t let a day go by without letting somebody know you love them, know you care about them,” he said.

Brenda Shields said because of the story of her late-husband, a friend’s life was saved.

“Get checked,” she said.

“Get your EKG, get your stress test.”

She described what happened to her husband as a “ticking time bomb.”

Reach Harrison Grimwood at (918) 6842926 or harrison.grimwood@muskogeephoenix .com.

Living Well

Muskogee Phoenix

Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 — Page 3

Is your stress killing you?

EASTAR physician says stress is implicated in many health problems

By Mark Hughes Phoenix Staff Writer

The next time someone says, “this stress is killing me,” they might be right.

“Over time, (stress) leads to increased heart disease and heart attacks, strokes, depression, sleep disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic headaches, just to name a few,” said Dr. Lori Arney, internal medicine physician Arney with EASTAR Health System.

And if you have a job, “stress in the workplace can be bad due to increased incidence of ‘burn-out’ and the loss of interest in doing the job,” she said.

Working a 60- to 80-hour work week may give one person stress while not even affect another. Arney said if a person loves their job, feels no adverse pressure while doing it and gets their self-worth from their job, a 60- to 80-hour work week may not be stressful at all.

“However, change one aspect, and it may make it incredibly stressful,” Arney said. “If a spouse is at home and needs help taking care of the children, this may be stress evoking while working long hours.

Stressors which are debilitating for one person may not be problematic for another.”

This doesn’t mean you want to be stress free, though.

“When presented with danger, stress hormones are released in the body to aid in emergency action,” Arney said. “These hormones are partly responsible for the sharpness of thought when giving a presentation, the quick reaction time during a would-be car accident or increasing muscle precision for the game-winning goal.”

Exactly what is stress?

Stress “is a specific response of the body to a stimulus which threatens its well-being,” Arney said.

The stress that most people discuss are the “day-to-day events such as work demands, relationship issues, the complexities of raising children, a

busy lifestyle, and financial struggles,” she said.

Uncontrolled stress, as compared to heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and diabetes, is rated as a higher health threat.

Additionally, multiple research articles published in recent years have linked stress to multiple types of cancer, Arney said. Stress has also been implicataed as having a role in the development of and exacerbation of alcoholism and drug addiction.

Chronic stress in juveniles has a more devastating impact, as children’s brains are still developing, said Crystal Byrd, clinical director of Song Byrd Behavioral Health. “This type of stress includes vio-

lence in the home, abuse, neglect and bullying, which all inhibits brain development.

Children exposed to ongoing stress tend to have lower IQ’s.”

Some common symptoms of child and adolescent stress include irritability, hyperactivity and impulsivity, trouble concentrating or sleeping, experimenting with drugs or alcohol and isolating from family or friends, Byrd said.

When it comes to relieving stress, there are several options.

Unplug from the electronic world and spend time with individuals who support you, exercise or get a massage, Arney said. Or plug back in and listen to music that relaxes you.

“Allowing for a good night’s sleep is also invaluable when dealing with stress,” Arney said. “New studies have indicated seven hours of sleep per night is ideal.”

Stepping away from the situation temporarily, taking deep breaths, muscle relaxation, meditation, yoga, acupuncture and talk

therapy could also be helpful, Arney said.

Then there are some people who will literally have to live with stress.

In a study out of Duke University Medical Center, researchers found a variation in a DNA sequence in a gene that causes an extreme reaction to stress, she said. “This and other studies have uncovered the fact that stress response, at least in some individuals, is genetic.”

Reach Mark Hughes at (918) 684-2908 or mhughes @muskogeephoenix.com.

Page 4 — Friday, Jan. 30, 2015

Muskogee Phoenix

Living Well

Quick facts about heart health America’s heart disease burden • About 600,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year–that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.1 • Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2009 were in men.1 • Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, killing nearly 380,000 people annually.1 • Every year about 720,000 Americans have a heart attack. Of these, 515,000 are a first heart attack and 205,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack.2 • Coronary heart disease alone costs the United States $108.9 billion each year.3 This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Warning signs Heart attacks have several major warning signs and symptoms: • Chest pain or discomfort.

• Upper body pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach.

• Shortness of breath.

• Nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Americans at risk High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. About half of Americans (49 percent) have at least one of these three risk factors.

Several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also put people at a higher risk for heart disease, including: • Diabetes.

• Overweight and obesity.

• Poor diet.

• Physical inactivity.

• Excessive alcohol use.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Protect your heart Lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol will reduce your risk of dying of heart disease. Here are some tips to protect your heart: • Follow your doctor’s instructions and stay on your medications.

• Eat a healthy diet that is low in salt; low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol; and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Take a brisk 10-minute walk, three times a day, five days a week.

• Don’t smoke. If you smoke, quit as soon as possible. Visit www.cdc.gov/tobacco and www.smokefree.gov for tips on quitting.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Living Well

Muskogee Phoenix

Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 — Page 5

Nutrition is essential to heart health

By Harrison Grimwood Phoenix Staff Writer

Chris Vestal’s mother drastically changed her diet and lifestyle after she had a heart attack.

“She said, ‘I’ve been through too much to kill myself with my fork,’” said Vestal, a registered nurse at Cornerstone Hospital, formerly Solara Hospital.

Vestal said people changing the way they look at their food, controlling what and how they eat, is the toughest challenge in living a hearthealthy diet.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 600,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. every year, about one of every four deaths.

Tonya Smith, a dietitian at the Salina Clinic in Tahlequah, said the word ‘diet’ has put a bad taste in people’s mouths.

Dietitians prefer to think of health changes more along the line of setting small goals that will help develop healthy eating and exercise habits, something that will last a lifetime.”

The term “diet” has long since been misunderstood.

And a “heart-healthy diet” falls along side it.

A heart-healthy diet is designed to prevent heart disease and promote a

healthy lifestyle.

Debra Hofer, a dietitian at Cornerstone Hospital, said she doesn’t normally call it a diet.

“I call it a meal plan, something for a person to follow for life,” she said.

Hofer said once a person figures out what they need in their meal plan, they can change it to suit their tastes and stay healthy.

“One of the biggest misconceptions about a hearthealthy diet is that you can’t eat anything,” Hofer said. “It’s not a hard diet to follow as long as you pay attention to how you buy food, pay attention to food labels, how you prepare it.”

Hofer said the three most important things to a heart-healthy diet are low fat, low sodium and low cholesterol.

“All three affect the heart in some way,” she said.

Hofer works with her patients to find substitutes to satisfy their palates. She recommends egg whites instead of whole eggs. If that isn’t suitable, she recommends mixing a whole egg with two or three egg whites.

She said cutting red meats and sugary drinks also are important.

Vestal recommends experimenting with spices and seasonings

Metro Creative

A healthy diet and good eating habits are key elements in maintaining heart health.

when one of her patients is having trouble adjusting to a new diet.

“Try different types of cooking like grilling or broiling. Try different herb combinations,” Vestal said.

Smith helps her patients make the dietary transition by telling them to “play” with their food.

“Get creative and try new recipes, add new seasonings to your vegetables, salad, chicken or fish,” Smith said. “Buying a heart healthy cookbook or go to the American Heart Association website for recipes would be a good place to get some fresh ideas.”

Time constraints can hamper people’s health decisions, Smith said.

“We live in a fast-paced world, and sometimes

that makes slowing down to evaluate our eating and exercise habits difficult,” she said.

Lindsey Hansen, communications director at American Health Association in Tulsa, recommends for those in a time crunch to think about what they order or buy.

“If you have to get drive-through, get the grilled chicken, try to avoid the soda and the fries,” Hansen said.

All the dietitians said, next to a healthy diet, smoking cessation is just as important.

Vestal said if a person was to make one lifestyle change, quitting smoking would be most advantageous.

(See FOOD, Page 9)

Staff photo by Harrison Grimwood

Debra Hofer, a dietitian at Cornerstone Hospital, working at her desk on a meal plan for one of her patients.

Page 6 — Friday, Jan. 30, 2015

Muskogee Phoenix

Living Well

EMT: Everyone should learn CPR

By Kandice Lawson Phoenix Staff Writer

Everybody should take the time and learn CPR, said Mechele Cruz.

“CPR is meant to save lives,” said Cruz, National Registered Emergency Medical Technician intermediate. “So many people think it’s just for health care professionals to learn. It is not. A high number of times someone comes in and takes the Staff photo by Kandice Lawson class and in the near Emergency Medical Technician Basic Gavin Wood shows how to put hands prop- future uses that CPR skill erly in place to perform CPR on a victim. on a loved one, close friend, neighbor or somebody they know.”

According to the American Heart Association, 88 percent of cardiac arrests occur in the home.

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, can double a victim’s chance at survival, but according to American Heart Association, 70 percent of Americans do not know how to administer CPR or their training has significantly lapsed.

“We need to stress the importance of coming in and learning the skills,” Cruz said. “Many times when people come in and take the class it’s because there’s been an instance where there was an emergency in their family and they weren’t aware of the importance of knowing that skill prior to the event taking place. After that event ,they then come in and take the class.

If you go WHAT: CPR/First Aid/AED Courses WHEN: Various times on Mondays, best to call to pre-enroll 48 hours prior to class.

WHERE: Muskogee County Emergency Medical Service, 200 Callahan St. INFORMATION: (918) 683-0130 or e-mail Delsie Lewis at cpr@mcems.us

Awareness is something that we really try to work on to get people to take these courses and learn these skills prior to that event and not following.”

A misconception people have about CPR is that they fear they are putting the person in more danger by performing the act, but Cruz says there’s no need to worry.

“There are few instances where it does happen,” Cruz said. “Its not as common as people think. There is a chance they could fracture a sternum or rib, but its better to save a life. Medical attention can be administered for whatever might have occurred during CPR.” Cruz says another misconception is that it’s just adults who should take CPR classes.

“Teenagers do great taking the classes,” Cruz said.

“As medics, we see when teens and older children are the ones doing the skills with the dispatcher’s instructions on how to

do so in an emergency event and they do very well. It’s important for everybody to learn.”

Cruz often hears that people do not want to share breaths, but there are other options.

“There is a compressiononly CPR designed for people who are in public who refuse to do breaths,” Cruz said. “However, we still recommend if at all possible that compressions and breaths are given. In the event that someone absolutely refuses to do breaths mouth to mouth, compression-only CPR could possibly save that life, and there has been documented cases of that, but compression and breaths are shown statistic wise to save more lives.”

Cruz said that a lot of times common mistakes are made when attempting to perform CPR. “They don’t provide quality compressions or breaths,” Cruz said.

“Making sure they get the appropriate depth per age of the victim. Also, when giving the breaths they aren’t able to get the air to go in due to the lack of knowledge of how to properly do that. By not tilting the head back, so many times they can’t get the air to go in to make the chest rise. Small mistakes like that, if they would come in and take the class, it would be so easy to do.”

(See CPR, Page 10)

Living Well

Muskogee Phoenix

Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 — Page 7

Easy ways to live healthier Simple changes can bring about dramatic improvements Metro Creative

Contrary to popular belief, adopting a healthy lifestyle is not a difficult undertaking.

The following are some easy ways to start living healthier every day.

• Eat more fruits and vegetables. Instead of unhealthy snacks like potato chips and cookies, snack on a piece of fruit, and never sit down to a meal unless you include some vegetables to go along with the main course. The United States Department of Agriculture notes that

people whose diets are rich in fruits and vegetables have a lower risk for heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.

• Slow down your eating routine. Some people may already be eating the right foods, but they may just be eating too much of them.

While eating, try to limit distractions that can take your attention away from how much you're eating. If you're always watching television or checking email while eating, try a few days of distraction-free, careful eating, and you may find yourself eating less and feeling more energized after a meal.

• Skip the second glass of wine. If you already drink wine, limit yourself to one glass per day. If you are not

a wine drinker, then it’s important to note that many doctors believe the potential benefits of drinking wine do not outweigh the potentially negative consequences associated with alcohol consumption, which include neurological problems and an increased risk for heart disease.

• Get more sleep. The Harvard Medical School notes that studies have linked insufficient sleep to type 2 diabetes, as the body's ability to process glucose can be compromised by poor sleeping habits. Other medical conditions that have been linked to insufficient sleep include obesity, heart disease and mood disorders.

Get at least seven hours of sleep each night.

Page 8 — Friday, Jan. 30, 2015

Muskogee Phoenix

Living Well

Your heart loves fitness

By Cathy Spaulding Phoenix Staff Writer

Push-ups, pull-ups, walking, weights.

With so many free opportunities available, everyone should be getting fit.

The biggest benefit to exercise could be how it strengthens the heart and circulatory system, said Doug Walton, coordinator for the Muskogee County Food and Fitness Initiative.

“And walking helps burn calories. That’s a real benefit,” Walton said. “And it helps concentration.”

He said another major motivation for exercise is “it makes you feel better.”

“When you’re done, you feel better,” Walton said.

“It gives you a sense of accomplishment. You’re prepared to take on what’s in front of you.”

The Mayo Clinic website cited seven benefits of regular exercise: • Controls weight by burning calories.

• Combats health conditions and diseases.

• Improves mood.

• Boosts energy.

• Promotes better sleep.

• Puts spark back into sex life.

• Can be fun.

The website said it’s good for the heart because it boosts “good” cholesterol and decreases triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity —

Staff photo by Cathy Spaulding

Personal trainer Sherry Smith demonstrates an advanced form of doing push-ups. She said push-ups help develop upper body strength.

walking, swimming, cycling — a week and strength training exercises at least twice a week.

“Walking is probably the least expensive solution,” Walton said. “It’s easiest to do and doesn’t require a gym membership.”

Muskogee abounds with walking opportunities, Walton said. Major city parks such as Honor Heights, Spaulding, Robison and Civitan have walking trails.

The

Centennial Trail begins at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, winds around Love-Hatbox Sports Complex and ends at Main Street, just south of Arby’s.

Muskogee also is beginning to offer better opportunities to bicycle around town. Walton said the city has new bike lanes through some neighborhoods.

Weight training also plays a part in a complete exercise program, said

personal trainer Sherry Smith, operator of Third Rock Inc. She said weight training helps the heart, muscles and bones.

“Weight training is especially important for those trying to lose weight,” she said. “For every pound you lose, 80 percent is fat and 20 percent is muscle. You need to weight train to put the muscle mass back on.”

It also helps build bone density, she said.

“You have to show the

bones they have a purpose,” Smith said. “It makes your heart stronger so your heart can pump less times to do more work.”

Smith compared how heart fitness can affect simple tasks, such as walking.

“An unfit person, for them to walk around the block, their heart is racing,” she said. “For a fit person, a walk around the

Calories burned Calories by a 160pound person in one hour while performing various activities.

• Low impact aerobics, 365.

• Water aerobics, 402.

• Leisure bicycling, 292.

• Ballroom dancing, 219.

• Golf, carrying clubs, 314.

• Hiking, 438.

• Weight training, 365.

• Running, 606 to 861.

• Stair treadmill, 657.

• Lap swimming, 423 to 715.

• Walking, 204 to 314.

• Yoga, 183.

SOURCE: Mayo Clinic.

(See FITNESS, Page 9)

Living Well

Muskogee Phoenix

Food Continued from Page 5

Coronary disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Smoking causes it.

Smokers are two to four times more likely to have

Fitness Continued from Page 8

block is just going from here to there.”

People don’t need fancy equipment for weight training, she said. For example, push-ups and pull-ups help develop upper body strength.

People also can lift weights with full bottles

Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 — Page 9

heart issues than nonsmokers, according to the CDC. Smith recommends working with a medical doctor and dietitian to make these changes, saying there is no ‘one fits all’ solution for people.

“They can have a routine work-up and evaluation completed,” she said.

“This will help guide that person, the doctor and the dietitian in a direction that will benefit the person most and help them reach their health goals.”

Reach Harrison Grimwood at (918) 6842926 or harrison.grimwood@muskogeephoenix. com.

ranging from 16-ounces (one pound) to one gallon, she said.

The Mayo Clinic website said people can see significant improvement in strength with two or three half-hour weight training sessions a week.

People don’t even have to “do exercises” to get exercise. The city of Muskogee, as well as many private teachers, offer dance programs.

The Kiwanis Senior Center offers line dance classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“Just dancing for exercise gets your heart rate up, and it’s good cardio work, said Esther Mitchell, the center’s recreational program supervisor.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at (918) 684-2928 or cspaulding@muskogee phoenix.com.

Page 10 — Friday, Jan. 30, 2015

Muskogee Phoenix

Living Well

Did you know?

Metro Creative

Though laughter is often referred to as “the best medicine,” no definitive study has been conducted to determine the effects of laughter on overall human health, leaving open the possibility that maintaining a good sense of humor and a positive attitude are just as important, if not more important, than finding time to laugh each day. But even if laughter is not medicinal, its benefits can mimic

CPR Continued from Page 6

The best way to know exactly how to save a life is to take the courses provided by Muskogee County EMS, she said.

“Our focus is high quali-

those of exercise.

When a person laughs, his or her pulse and blood pressure increase, and people tend to breathe faster when they laugh. Faster breathing sends more oxygen to the tissues, which can help the heart and lungs work more efficiently.

In addition, a Vanderbilt University study found that between 10 and 15 minutes of laughter can burn as many as 50 calories. Finding time to laugh may also indirectly

improve the body’s immune system response, as studies have suggested that infection-fighting antibodies might be more abundant in people who can use humor to combat stress.

ty CPR to increase our survival rates,” Cruz said.

“Don’t wait until there is an emergency event in your home, church or workplace. Take CPR and first aid, know how to respond, know what to do before the emergency occurs. We teach many classes here at Muskogee County EMS, and also, we

are able to go out and set up other classes such as church youth groups, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, all kinds of groups. It’s all a possibility. It’s better to know it before and not be too late.”

Reach Kandice Lawson at (918) 684-2914 or kandice.lawson@muskogeephoenix.com.

• • • Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia, which is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat during which the heart can beat too fast, too slow or with an irregular rhythm.

Living Well

Muskogee Phoenix

Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 — Page 11

Ideas on cholesterol, heart disease change Inflammation is now thought to play larger role in heart problems Metro Creative

High cholesterol levels have long been directly linked to heart disease.

But as more research into cholesterol and its relation to heart disease is conducted, some doctors are shifting their views on the relationship between the two.

Statistics from the American Heart Association indicate that 75 million Americans currently suffer from heart disease. And even though one-quarter of the population takes cholesterol-lowering medication and have reduced the fat content of their diets, the AHA estimates that more Americans will die of heart disease than ever before.

More revelations are coming to the forefront regarding cholesterol and heart disease.

New research has shown that statin drugs are ineffective at reducing mortality rates in most populations.

Furthermore, according to the Framingham Heart Study, which is the longest-running and most comprehensive study on heart disease to date, it was demonstrated that cholesterol intake in the diet had no correlation with heart disease. The study found that men and women with above aver-

age cholesterol levels had nearly identical rates of heart disease compared to those with below average cholesterol rates.

Another potential eye opener is that, in addition to cholesterol not affecting heart disease risk, eating high-cholesterol foods does not elevate blood-cholesterol levels as doctors once thought.

Ancel Keys, who is considered the “father” of the theory that cholesterol contributes to heart disease, now says that there’s no connection between cholesterol in food and cholesterol in the blood.

If not cholesterol levels and the foods one eats, what, then is responsible for heart disease? Many medical professionals and researchers now believe the primary causes of heart disease are inflammation and oxidative stress.

According to Dr. Dwight Lundell, a heart surgeon and author of the book, “The Great Cholesterol Lie,” foods like refined sugars and vegetable oils used to preserve processed foods may lead to the inflammation that ultimately causes heart disease. Inflammation is the body’s immune response to a foreign invader. Foods high in sugar and saturated fat can exacerbate

inflammation. Bacteria and other unwanted substances in the body also contribute to inflammation.

To combat inflammation, people can adopt a healthy eating style. Fatty fish, whole grains, leafy greens, fiber, and nuts can help reduce inflammation.

Exercise also can reduce Metro Creative inflammation. Research from Mark Hamer, PhD, Cholesterol levels may not have the same relationship to heart disease as once an epidemiologist at believed.

University College London, found that, regardless of BMI or weight, study participants who completed 2.5 hours of moderate exercise each week — about 20 minutes a day — lowered their markers of inflammation by at least 12 percent.

When a person exercises, muscle tissue releases a protein molecule called cytokine, which likely prompts an inflammation drop. Just about any type of workout that raises heart rate is effective in helping with inflammation.

The public may have been misinformed about just how vital it is to reduce cholesterol levels.

Contrary to popular belief, high cholesterol may not have the same connection to heart disease as doctors once thought. In fact, inflammation may be the bigger component in heart disease risk.

Page 12 — Friday, Jan. 30, 2015

Muskogee Phoenix

Living Well