Just what is a heart attack?  What is a Cardiac Arrest?  It is the same and involves the blocking of the flow of oxygen rich blood to a part of the heart muscle.  If the flow of blood does not get started quickly, that part of the heart muscle begins to die.  In this illustration Figure A shows dead heart muscle caused by a heart attack.  Figure B is a cross section of a coronary artery with plaque buildup and a blood clot.

 

Although a lot of progress has been made, heart attacks are still the leading killer of men and women in the United States.  1.2 million people in the United States have heart attacks each year.  Many die but more could survive if they got help faster.

Acting fast can save a life and limit damage to the heart.  Symptoms can include but are not limited to:  Chest pain or discomfort; upper body discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or upper part of the stomach; shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort; nausea, vomiting, light-headedness or sudden dizziness, or breaking out in a cold sweat.

Do you know what to do if someone near you goes down with a heart attack?  Hopefully someone near you will know how to do CPR.  What if no one else is around you that can help?  And do you know that CPR is not the recommended procedure anymore for heart attacks.  Now you can apply CCC.  That stands for Continuous Chest Compression.  Continuous Chest Compression can be done by anyone with no training whatsoever.  Although it is somewhat like CPR, it is not the same.  This new procedure was pioneered in Arizona at the Sarver Heart Center.   Through the SHARE (Save Hearts in Arizona Research and Education) program, research shows a higher survival rate when CC is used versus CPR.  CPR is still better than nothing but is fast becoming the second choice for bystanders who want to help.  Please note that CPR – the traditional method – is still recommended for respiratory arrest.

This short video illustrates how to use CCC.

I hope you learned something new today – I sure did!  Please leave your comments about this new procedure and let us know what you think?

Monday, January 16, 2012 is a national holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.  I must admit I do not know a lot about this man but I remember when he was shot and the civil rights movement that started with Rosa Parks on that bus in the 50’s and the law outlawing separate but equal, Brown vs the Board of Education in 1954.  So, if you are off work because it is a holiday, see if you can answer the following questions about Dr. King Jr.

1.           What was his first name?

a)  Martin

b)  Michael

c)  Matthew

d)  John

2.           What was his father’s occupation?

a)  Garbage Collector

b)  Policeman

c)  Preacher

d)  Farmer

3.           How old was he when he graduated from High School?

a)  18

b)  15

c)  20

d)  17

4.           MLK Jr was the first in his family to graduate from college?

Yes

No

5.           MLK Jr received his doctorate from which institution of High education?

a)  Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA

b)  Crozier Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania

c)  Boston University in Massachusetts

d)  Howard University

6.           MLK Jr received an international honor – what was it?

a)  Freedom Medal from the UN

b)  Nobel Peace Prize

c)  Pulitzer Prize for literature

d)  Pulitzer Prize for Peace

7.           Who and When was MLK Jr Day declared a National Holiday?

a)  Lyndon Johnson in November 1967

b)  Gerald Ford in 1975

c)  Jimmy Carter in 1978

d)  Ronald Reagan in 1983

8.           MLK Jr was named Time Magazine Man of the Year in which year?

a)  1962

b)  1963

c)  1968

d)  1970 Posthumously

9.           Which of the following quotes are not from MLK Jr?

a)  Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love

can do that.

b)  Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase’

c)  You must be the change you want to see in the world.

d)  A lie cannot live.

10.        Where did MLK Jr give his “I Have A Dream” speech?

a)  Atlanta

b) Washington DC

c)  Memphis

d)  Birmingham

 

Answers:           1 –     b Michael.  He changed it to Martin later.

2 -     c  MLK Jr was the 3^rd generation of Preachers in this family

3 -     b  age 15

4 –     No  both his father and grandfather also graduated from college

5 -     c  Boston University

6 –     b – Nobel Peace Prize – the youngest ever to receive it – at the age of 35.

7 -     d – Ronald Reagan in 1983

8 -     b – 1963

9 –    c – a quote from Gandhi

10 -   b – Washington DC

 

I hope you enjoyed this little quiz and perhaps learned something about this great leader who was taken from us at a very young age.  Please enjoy this rendition of a wonderful song about Abraham, Martin and John by Dion.

What are some of your memories of Martin Luther King Jr.?  Share with us please?

 

Information for this little quiz was taken from the following sources:

 

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html

 

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html

 

http://www.aei.org/article/politics-and-public-opinion/polls/what-you-may-have-missed-in-the-polls-martin-luther-kings-birthday-race-and-the-2012-election/?gclid=CLqGrK7c0K0CFRECQAoduF_PoQ

 

http://www.thekingcenter.org/history/about-dr-king/

 

 

 

When it comes to fitness, BLT means Body Leverage Training. 

Just what does that really mean?  Leverage can have several meanings, depending on the context of the conversation.

 

 

For Example,

in fund raising you hear that word used a lot – how to “leverage” a major donation into more money for the organization.  When it comes to your body, it most likely means how to use your body as resistance rather than use another piece of equipment.  It becomes something like a functional training as you begin to realize there is more to fitness than just what you read or see.

 

 

For example, a gymnast uses BLT to prepare for meets and other athletes do the same.

Using Leverage on the Parallel Bars

In many respects, BLT is movements the body was meant to perform, in a safe and effective way.  Sara Haley, Reebok Creative Coach and a JUKARI Fit to Fly instructor in New York City, says that body leverage training can be as effective as it is fun. “Body leverage training helps improve muscular endurance and strength, balance, flexibility and joint stability and offers easy adjustments and options.”  It’s like learning to use your body in space, becoming aware of your body and listening to your body.  Using your own body rather than another piece of equipment is what makes this safe.  Learning how to use leverage and body mechanics can enhance your workout and eventually your fitness level.  Watch this short video for an introduction on how to use BLT in an exercise routine.

 

Having the right equipment is essential for this kind of BLT – as well as a qualified instructor.  This is intriguing and not well known, at least in the Midwest anyway.  Gives a new meaning to “being fit”.  Let us know if you have heard of this before and especially if you know where to use this kind of BLT – something you use – not eat?

BLT is gaining in popularity and Baby Boomers are at the forefront of this trend. 

You can find more information here:

http://www.texaskali.org/articles/lev_mech.htm

 

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/getfit/2011/08/boomers-influence-fitness-trends/

 

Keep a Sleep Diary:

• When did you go to bed (not when did you go to sleep) and when did you get up?  Record the number of hours you slept.
• How long were you awake before you went to sleep?
• How many times did you wake up during the night?
• If you did wake up, how many minutes elapsed before you went back to sleep?
• How many minutes were you asleep after you fell asleep?

Do this for a week and establish a baseline for measuring your progress in improving your sleep.

Sleep in a Dark Room

The darker the room, the better chance of not only getting to sleep earlier, but staying asleep for longer. More melatonin is secreted when you are in total darkness.

Sleep in a Quiet Room

Light keeps you awake but so does noise.  Create a nice quiet environment so a noise won’t wake you up.

Avoid Caffeine or Energy Drinks After Midday

Caffeine can contribute to sleeping problems.

 

It should be avoided in the afternoon and night time.  Stimulating your body will keep you awake at night. Limit your overall intake to get a better sleep later on.  Only one cup of coffee with caffeine in the AM will leave 140 mg of caffeine in your system until you go to bed at night.

Shift Work

 

You are at a disadvantage because your natural sleep patterns are thrown out.  You may even have SWSD or Shift Work Sleep Disorder.

Make your room as dark as possible and using a pair of eye covers will help to block out light. This will help you to get to sleep easier, as the darkness will help to produce more melatonin. It will be a challenge to get a nice quiet environment to sleep in during the day.  Get a white noise generator which should help to block noise that might wake you up.

 

What About Pills?

Here’s a short video about this one.

What hints and tips can you share with us?  Let us know please?

 

 

 

 

 

OK – it’s that time of year again – a beginning, if you will, of new opportunities, new doors opening and a chance at doing something different that is supposed to be good for you.  Something like a new diet, more exercise, friendlier, saving money, quitting smoking or drinking etc.   How does one go about making a resolution? 

 

 

Here are some tips.

So you make a resolution to either do…or not do….  A resolution.  A New Year’s Resolution.

Just what does that mean?

There are two other words at work here.  Resolve and Resolute.  Resolute has many meanings and there is a town or city named Resolute somewhere in this continent.  Let me know if you know the answer to where it is located?  Being resolute means you are pretty committed to following through with whatever you are trying to do.  Resolve – another interesting word with many meanings.  There’s even a cleaner with that name.  It probably means you have the stamina to see something through.

Ah – but…Resolution… That means you not only have the stamina but also the commitment to see something through…for at least a week anyway.

 

 So What are your New Year’s Resolutions?