Early Warning for our Hearts

David Mendosa Living With It Medical Journalist Living with Diabetes and Author of Fitness and Photography for Fun, www.mendosa.com/fitnessblog After earning a B.A. with honors from the University of California,... Send Message Subscribe: David Mendosa

Sunday, May 24, 2009
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We now have an early warning that can help people with diabetes prevent heart attacks and strokes. Until now, for many people the first symptom of a heart attack has been having one. I don't think that I have ever written about the complications of diabetes without offering some way to deal with the...

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Early warning?
Bill
Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 08:57 PM

So what is the fix if the tests are negative?

My wife has just had a mini stroke and all the doctor had was a very expensive pill for the rest of her life called Plavix($188/month). Been on it for 7 days and is getting bruise marks all over her arms.

re: Early warning?
David Mendosa
Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 10:27 PM

Dear Bill,

I am so sorry! As Dr. Yen says, the most important thing, whether or no your wife has diabetes or not, is to step up her activity level. And since she has already had a stroke, it is probably even more important to prevent additional ones. However, she certainly needs to consult with her physician about the type and amount of exercise that she needs to get.

Best regards,

David

re: re: Early warning?
Bill
Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 11:02 PM

Thank you David

Endothelial dysfunction leads to the "other" ED
Karen LaVine
Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 09:39 PM

Endothelial dysfunction also leads to erectile dysfunction (sexual dysfunction for women).

Thanks for the info
Gail
Monday, May 25, 2009 at 11:25 AM

Glad to see you got to try it out first hand. Heart disease and stroke run in my family. I would love to see that device in my doctor's office. I exercise but would still like some kind of measure of placque. My grandfather had hardening of the arteries which I guess is really peripheral artery disease. I have signs of pain in my lower legs while using the treadmill. Isn't placque one of the contributors there?

Gail

58 yo

T2 since June 07

Janumet

exercise 3Xweek

PS glad to have you in my Reader

re: Thanks for the info
David Mendosa
Monday, May 25, 2009 at 12:05 PM

Dear Gail,

The pain in your legs might be from the buildup of plaque. This would be a good thing to discuss with your doctor and to get tested.

Best regards,

David

vascular endothelial function
Anonymous
Sunday, June 07, 2009 at 11:27 PM

Interesting.

Where that equipment may not be available I imagine that an indication of vascular recovery could be obtained from a heart watch...although not as exact and as definitive.

Lots of people...myself included ...now wear heart watches such as the Polar whilst exercising. Some weeks/months into regular scheduled exercise there is a noticeable "training effect" where the heart rate recovers to a normal resting rate faster than previously noted.

This is not a one-off effect but ongoing which is a positive assurance that you are exercising to a beneficial level.