Information and opinions on health from Rebecca Fortunato at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/582243/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/582243/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/582243/index http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/c/582243/121625/don-sick Sat, 09 Oct 2010 00:16:49 -0400 Rebecca Fortunato Is that supposed to be a compliment?  I guess it depends upon who you're talking to.   It's hard for me to express my true feelings when the inevitable response is, "But you look so good!"  Ummm, thanks?  I sometimes wonder why people bother asking how I am.  Apparently I look fantastic!  That being said, I guess I can't fault them.  After all, the people in my life must care about me; otherwise they wouldn't... http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/c/582243/121625/don-sick http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/c/582243/120708/1000women Sun, 26 Sep 2010 20:54:41 -0400 Rebecca Fortunato When I was diagnosed with heart disease in 2007, it took me a while before I could wrap my head around it.  While I was glad to finally know what was wrong, I was completely overwhelmed as to what it all meant.   Overcome by feelings of worry and fear, I started to panic.  With these thoughts swirling through my head, my darling husband suggested that I write them all down.  I'll never forget what he said that day in... http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/c/582243/120708/1000women http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/c/582243/120314/disease Tue, 21 Sep 2010 19:58:41 -0400 Rebecca Fortunato I ask that question because the term ‘heart disease' is generic.  Heart disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of different diseases affecting the heart.  It covers all things wrong with the heart, from coronary heart disease to ischemia to heart failure.  This shouldn't surprise us, however, as the same can be said for cancer.  The term ‘cancer' obviously covers the nature of the disease. ... http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/c/582243/120314/disease http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/c/582243/119181/suspense Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:12:24 -0400 Rebecca Fortunato My doctor calls it "a flare up".  I call it a nightmare.  I've spent the last two weeks wondering whether or not I should go to the emergency room.   I've learned to deal with the usual symptoms; pressure in the chest, extreme fatigue and the stomachache.  That's everyday stuff - the stuff I wake up to.  It's when the unusual symptoms begin that I get a little nervous; things like intense dizzy spells and shoulder... http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/c/582243/119181/suspense http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/c/582243/111843/research Mon, 17 May 2010 12:39:58 -0400 Rebecca Fortunato As I exited the Cath Lab, I felt a sense of relief wash over me as I realized the procedure was over.  An angiogram with adenosine-stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging isn't the most comfortable procedure to endure; especially if you have to ‘use the bathroom' twice during the procedure.   Wheeled on a gurney into recover, my two doctors, Drs. C. Noel Bairey Merz and Chrisandra Shufelt followed.  Once I came to a... http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/c/582243/111843/research