Monday February 18th 2008

Happy Family Day !!

12:10: The Health Roundup with Jay McQueen.

12:13: It is the first ever Family Day here in the province of Ontario. Many of you have it off…many do not. If you’re lucky enough to be off today and listening to this program on this station, we’re going to serve you up some great suggestions in terms of things to do with the fam, especially the kids!
Guest: Robin Stevenson, Editor, Canadian Family Magazine.

12:20: Currently, 1 in 13 Canadians over the age of 65 live with Alzheimer’s disease. With early treatment, many patients can remain at home with good quality of life for many years. Now, the first-ever once-a-day patch to treat Alzheimer’s disease is available and can slow the progression of the disease.
Guest: Dr. Sharon Cohen, Behavioural Neurologist Director, Toronto Memory Program.

12:35: Depression among our Canadian soldiers is a big issue and it is being addressed right here in Hamilton. A psychiatrist at the St. Joseph’s Mountain campus is training health care workers in the Department of National Defence to help soldiers deal with this issue.
Guest: Dr. Irene Patelis-Siotis, psychiatrist at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.


12:45: Rexall Radio Health Matters segment.
Guest: Hilton

Heart Disease & Meds !
Heart disease is a general term used to describe a wide range of heart and blood vessel diseases that affect the functions of the heart. The heart’s primary function is to pump oxygenated blood from the lungs to the rest of the body. Damage to the heart tissue is often caused by heart disease. This disrupts the electrical system of the heart which produces electrical impulses that tell the heart muscles to contract. When the muscles contract, blood is pumped to the rest of the body. If this function is impaired, the result can be reduced quality of life, hospitalization and sometimes death. Heart disease is the #1 killer of women & men in Canada. Researchers believe over 250 genes may be involved in heart disease. Several of these genes are involved in cholesterol metabolism, while others determine the characteristics of an individual’s blood vessels.
There are many types of heart and blood vessel diseases;
• Atherosclerosis; is the hardening and thickening and narrowing of the inner walls of the arteries due to buildup of plaque.
• Ischemic heart Disease or Coronary Heart Disease occurs when there is inadequate blood flow through the narrowed coronary arteries to the heart over a long period of time.
• Arrythmias; are abnormal heart rhythms. There are two main types, bradycardia when the heart rhythm is too slow and tachycardia when the heart rhythm is too fast.
• Hypertension or High Blood Pressure; is when blood pressure (the force of the blood pushing against the walls of arteries is abnormally high.) It is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke.
• Heart Attack or Myocardial Infarction; occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscles is severely reduced or completely stopped. This often results from the blockage of one of the coronary arties.
• Heart Failure; is when the heart is unable to pump blood as well as it should. Consequently the body does not get all the blood and oxygen it needs.
Medications;
• ACE inhibitors; are becoming increasingly popular for the treatment of hypertension
• Beta blockers; this class of drugs works to block adrenaline. Adrenaline increases stress to the heart. By blocking the nerve impulses to adrenaline the heart is relieved of some of its workload. Can also slow the heart rate and relieve angina (chest pain).
• Diuretics; like Thiazide are also prescribed for treating hypertension (though not exclusively) to lessen the heart’s workload, instead of controlling adrenaline or enzymes it reduces the amount of fluids in the body by increasing urine floe.
• Digitalis; used to improve heart strength, improve heart efficiency and control heart rhythm and rate.
• Nitrates; are used in congestive heart failure treatment to relax the smooth muscles of blood vessels, dilate veins, reduce left ventricle filling pressure, decrease the hearts oxygen demand, lower vascular resistance, improve blood flow.

Foxglove!
Native to Europe this plant can be found throughout the world, growing in woodland areas and on roadsides. This herb is cultivated for medicinal purposes. The drug’s originated in Ireland, and then went to Scotland and England before reaching Central Europe. It was originally used to treat ulcers in the lower abdomen, boils, headaches, abscesses and paralysis and externally for healing wounds. The main action of foxglove was used for cardiac insufficiency, especially in cases of high blood pressure. It is considered a cardiac regulator and at the same time it stimulates urine production which lowers the volume of blood, lessening the load in the heart.

Nadine Janacek
Blog Reporter Rexall #202