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 Four Great Summer Recipes
Try one or all of these great summer recipes that are so tasty and good for you! Use summer favorites like cantaloupe in a fresh chicken salad or sweet blueberries to make a tantalizing desert crisp.
Abdominal Fat Distribution Predicts Heart Disease
Abdominal obesity is a strong independent risk factor for heart disease, and using the waist-hip ratio rather than waist measurement alone is a better predictor of heart disease risk among men and women, researchers reported in a study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
 5 Top Heart-Healthy Foods
Take good care of your heart can be tasty! Getting regular exercise, not smoking, and controlling stress are just a few things health experts recommend, along with eating a variety of nutritious, heart-healthy foods that make up a healthy diet.
Where to start? Add these five "super-foods" to boost nutritional goodness while eating your way to a healthier heart.
 Protect Your Brain As You Care For Your Heart
Alzheimer's disease is becoming more prevalent as our society ages. With 5 million Americans suffering from the devastating brain illness, we all should understand the role that a healthy heart plays in keeping the brain healthy. The same good habits -- like regular exercise, not smoking, and a diet heavy in fruits and vegetables -- that improve the health of blood vessels leading to the heart also improve the health of blood vessels to the brain.
 2007’s Top 10 Cardiovascular Disease Research Discoveries
Each year the American Heart Association creates a Top 10 list of major advances in heart disease and stroke research. The 2007 list includes studies on genetics and stem cell research and on the use of stents to open coronary artery blockages.
 It’s 2008…Let’s Get In Shape!
Resolving to make a positive change in health and fitness has never been easier, thanks to U.S.A. Weekend Magazine’s fitness expert Jorge Cruise. In his new book, "The 12-Second Sequence,” Jorge outlines how exercising just twice a week can yield measurable results if performed correctly.
 Drug Industry Facing Many Patent Expirations
Over the next few years, the pharmaceutical business is forecast to hit a wall. Some of the top-selling drugs in industry history will become history as patent protections expire, allowing generics to rush in at much-lower prices. Drugs are granted 20 years of patent protection, although companies often fail to get a product to market before half of that time has passed.
Pfizer Inc. will be particularly hard-hit when the patent expires as early as 2010 on Lipitor, the cholesterol-lowering blockbuster that ranks as the most successful drug ever. By 2012, Merck & Co. will face generic competition to its three top-selling drugs, including the blood-pressure drug Cozaar.
 Heart Disease Claiming More Lives of Younger Women
For decades, heart disease death rates have been falling. But a new study shows a troubling turn - more women under 45 are dying of heart disease due to clogged arteries, and the death rate for men that age has leveled off. Heart experts aren't sure what went wrong, but they think increasing rates of obesity and other risk factors are to blame.
 Seasonal Foods & Diet Choices To Revitalize Your Heart
Summer is ripe! And with it come some fresh ideas from recent studies for seasonal foods and diet choices to revitalize your heart. Prevention magazine’s website features information on which foods are best: And check out their tasty recipes with summer squash. It's tasty, tender, and a prize for your eyes. The low-cal creations are loaded with antioxidants. Summer squash recipes:
 Heart Disease Treatments May Slow Alzheimer’s
Treatment of cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure might slow the progression of Alzheimer's, the incurable brain disease that causes memory loss and confusion in millions of people. That's the conclusion from a study presented recently at the second Alzheimer's Association International Conference on the Prevention of Dementia in Washington, D.C. The findings add to growing evidence suggesting that reducing the risk of heart disease might also shield the brain from a disease that will skyrocket in the coming decades.
 Driver Beware: Your Commute May Be Hard On Your Heart
The polluted air you're breathing, lengthy traffic delays and dodging accidents to and from work may be taking a toll on your health. Even as the stress mounts, we put up with it, since most of us can't afford to or don't want to live near our offices. "It's a lifestyle choice," says David Rizzo, author of Survive the Drive! How to Beat Freeway Traffic in Southern California. "We put our health second. To have a big house, we're willing to put up with smog and a big drive. We sacrifice our longevity for short-term gains."
 Laugh Away Heart Disease
The American College of Cardiology reports that laughter "performed" 15 minutes a day may help in reducing the risk of heart disease. People with heart disease were 40% less likely to laugh in a variety of situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease. People with heart disease tend to respond less humorously to life's everyday challenges and opportunities. They generally laugh less and display more anger and hostility, according to research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
 Events & Happenings
Colorado Pedestrian Summit Colorado Walks is hosting the 2007 Colorado Pedestrian Summit in Vail, September 20-22 at the Marriott Hotel. The Summit will bring together elected officials and citizens from communities throughout Colorado with teams of professionals representing health, fitness, schools, and
Learn CPR There are many locations around Colorado that offer CPR instruction and certification. Learn the simple skill that can mean the difference between life and death.
Get the Blues for a Healthier Heart
By Jenifer Bowman, MS, RD Registered Dietitian with Heart Center of the Rockies
Blue, purple and red colored fruits and vegetables, especially berries - blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries and strawberries are a rich source of heart healthy phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are natural substances produced by plants that are thought to play a role in the defense system of the plant; protecting it from insect and fungal invasions. Phytonutrients are powerful antioxidants – neutralizing free radicals that cause cell damage linked to chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, macular degeneration and arthritis.
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KNOW YOUR NUMBERS
When it comes to your heart health, numbers count. There are the standard ranges of measurements for cholesterol, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, weight and body mass index all of which play a role in keeping your heart in tip-top shape. Once you've been told your numbers, compare them with these charts. By knowing where your numbers are and where they should be, you'll be more prepared to meet your goals!
So, we need to ad this to the Know Your Numbers page:
Download Dr. Ashmore's Know Your Numbers, Body Mass Index, and Personal Worksheet Charts by clicking here.
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No Genetic Link To Heart Disease Risk|
 A recently released study says that genetic testing failed to find any gene mutations that predict a higher risk of heart disease. Scientists at Yale University worked up the genetic profiles of nearly 1,500 people for the study. More than half the patients had come to a hospital having suffered a heart attack or other acute symptoms, while the others had experienced no heart trouble.
Add 20 Good Years To Your Life
 The top three causes for death in the U.S. are heart disease, cancer and stroke. 9NEWS Consumer Reporter Mark Koebrich spoke with Denver cardiologist Dr. Richard Flanigan, who has seen the diseases claim hundreds of lives -- many because they had problems with blood pressure. Flanigan says it is important that when we all reach the age 75, we have strong hearts and healthy bodies. He and his daughter, Dr. Kate Flanigan Sawyer, have written a soon-to-be-published book entitled "Longevity Made Simple - How To Add 20 Good Years To Your Life."
Chemicals In Chocolate As Effective As Hypertension Drugs
 Good news, chocolate lovers! German researchers are reporting that foods rich in cocoa appear to reduce blood pressure. The drop in blood pressure among participants who consumed cocoa products for at least two weeks was in the same range as achieved by a person taking drugs commonly prescribed to control high blood pressure.
Surprising Risks To Your Heart
 The usual suspects that raise the risk of heart disease (smoking, hypertension, cholesterol) apparently don’t tell the whole story. There are three surprising risks that you and your doctor may not know about, says Stephen T. Sinatra, a board-certified cardiologist and the co-author of "Reverse Heart Disease Now." For example, did you know that sugar is actually more dangerous than cholesterol when it comes to causing heart disease?
At-H ome Fitness Boot Camp
Cardiovascular exercise is critical to heart health, weight management and improving the efficiency of the heart and lungs – and no gym membership is needed! Peak Physique personal trainer Shannon Sidwell shares some great tips and ideas for creating a boot camp at home, including how to emphasize both resistance training and cardiovascular work for ideal results. Read more of her suggestions at:
Aspirin Could Be Beneficial To Older Women
 A 24-year study of nearly 80,000 women is suggesting that aspirin in low to moderate doses may lower the risk of death in women, especially those who are older and prone to heart disease. Experts do caution, however, that the results are not definitive and that women should not take aspirin as a health preventive without talking to their doctor. In the study, women who took aspirin had a 25 percent lower risk of death compared to those who never took it.
A 'Good Fat' Diet Helps Heart Patients
 For the 8 million Americans who’ve had a heart attack and want to prevent a repeat, new research suggests a Mediterranean-style diet high in olive oil and other "healthy" fats is just as good as the classic American Heart Association low-fat diet. Both the Heart Association and the Mediterranean diets are low in saturated fat (less than 7 percent of total calories) and cholesterol (less than 200 milligrams a day). The typical American's diet contains twice those levels or more, says one expert.
Study Shows Chest Presses To Be The Key To CPR
 According to new research, chest compression, and not mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, appears to be the key in helping a person recover from cardiac arrest. A study done in Japan showed that people were more likely to recover without brain damage if rescuers focused on chest compressions rather than rescue breaths. Some experts even advised dropping the mouth-to-mouth part of CPR altogether.
********* MARCH 2007 ********
March Is National Nutrition Month Eat Smart For A Strong Heart 
This month is an ideal time to learn more about how to easy and delicious it can be to eat for a healthy heart by choosing foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
Save time on your next trip to the supermarket by creating your own customized heart healthy grocery list. From seafood to soy milk, the American Heart Association’s food certification program helps ensure you’ll make the best choices for your heart.
And when it’s time to reward yourself, you can now do so with trans-fat free Girl Scout cookies.
So why not turn over a new leaf this spring by learning about all the heart-healthy food choices out there, and putting that knowledge into action for a healthier you!
Colorado Is Tops In Cardiovascular Health
 It’s just one more reason to love our state…a recent survey of more than 350,000 people throughout the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that only residents of the Virgin Islands had lower rates of heart attacks and heart disease than residents of Colorado. Area doctors agree that Colorado’s healthy, outdoor-and-exercise-loving lifestyle is a key factor in the survey’s results. Several of the states with the highest heart disease rates lie in the Southeastern states known for high-fat diets. Read more about the survey at DenverPost.com and USAToday.com.
 Maintain A Bright Smile For A Happy Heart
 A recent study conducted with patients at the Eastman Dental Hospital in London, England found that treatment of severe periodontal disease was associated with improved blood flow and more elasticity of arteries. Six months after treatment, the benefits in oral health were related to improvement in endothelial function. The endothelium is the delicate inner lining of the blood vessels. For more about the study, click here.
To learn more about the effect of oral health on overall health, including the heart, visit the American Dental Association website.
American Women Facing An Epidemic
 According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women, claiming the lives of about 480,000 women each year. First Lady Laura Bush and Nancy Reagan hope to raise awareness of the cardiac disease epidemic facing American women, and recently visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to hear firsthand accounts of how the disease is affecting women’s lives. "Most women think of heart attacks and heart disease as a man's disease, so they are later to go to the emergency room if they start to suffer any of the symptoms," Bush said, and added that the latest research shows that women tend to have different symptoms from men.
The American Heart Association has released new guidelines pertaining to women’s heart health, citing that all American women are in danger of heart disease or stroke and should be more aggressive about lowering their risk – and that includes asking their doctors about daily aspirin use.
More information about women and cardiovascular disease can be found in a recent issue of “Circulation,” a publication of the American Heart Association.
Heart Health On The Job
 A newly published study in the Archives of Internal Medicine concludes that napping at work seems to reduce risks for fatal heart attacks, especially among men, by combating job stress. The AP reports that "Those who napped at least three times weekly for about half an hour had a 37% lower risk of dying from heart attacks or other heart problems than those who did not nap." Read more about the study at USAToday.com
Do corporate CEOs go about losing weight differently than those not working in executive positions? Maybe. “Getting Back Into Shape The CEO Way,” explores whether or not spending thousands of dollars to shed those extra pounds makes it any easier. Read the full article at USA Today.com.
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