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Issue 153 December 2016

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577

“It’s great to be alive – and to help others!”

President: Dan Dallaire (704) 796-0628

Pres. Emeritus: Roger Brewster (843) 281-9808

Vice President: Ruth Keilen (843) 685-3378

Hospital Liaison: Jamie Herman (843) 692-1885

Secretarial Team: Bob & Allyne Holland (843) 236-5937

Treasurer: Bob May (843) 742-5085

Sunshine Committee: Dana Polatschek (843) 222-3667

Visiting Captain: Dennis Tummino (843) 236-7369

Greeters: Bob & Nancy Kilby (864-542-3564, or 4487)

Newsletter Editor: Mary Lou O’Brien (843) 742-5085

Inspiring hope and improving

the quality of life for heart

patients and their families

through ongoing peer-to-peer

support

*If you have information

of interest to our members for our

next newsletter, you can call me at

(843) 742-5085 or email me at

marylou7@sccoast.net

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Dear Mended Hearts members:

Thanksgiving is a special time for families. Some need our help

and support. Let’s share our positive outlook with our neighbors,

friends, and family. They might be going through a tough time and

you can be that ray of sunshine.

Thanks to all of you for all of your support in 2016.

Don’t forget our Christmas party Monday, December 12th

at

4:00PM! It will be held at Mercy Hospice and a good time will be had

by all. Come join us in our celebration. If you have any questions,

contact Mary Lou at 843-742-5085 and don’t forget to bring a

wrapped $10 gift (per person) if you want to take part in the “Chinese

gift exchange”.

Merry Christmas and God bless you all.

Dan Dallaire, President Chapter 117

Monthly Visits GSMC

November: Patients: 82 Families: 50

Days Missed: 0

a.m.

Mended Hearts Meetings for

December and January Holiday Party – Mon. Dec. 12, 4 PM

Mon. November 14, 11:30 a.m.

Our President’s Letter for November 2016

Mended Hearts Member Birthdays

January

1/1 – Dennis Tummino

1/11 - Allen Migliaccio

1/20 - Joan Valencic

1/21 - Bill Palmer

1/22 – Larry Zub

1/23 - Bill Frondi

1/25 – Carol Nelson

1/29 - Thomas Mills

December

12/10 - Rise Williams

12/14 – Sandy Kramer

12/25 - Theresa Connelly

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South Strand/Georgetown Satellite of Mended

Hearts Chapter 117

will hold its monthly meetings at 12 noon on the

fourth Tuesday of the month at Tidelands Health

Waccamaw Hospital, Murrells Inlet (1st floor

classroom). For more information contact Ruth

Keilen at (843) 685-3378 or by email at

rkeilen@mercyhospice.org.

Contact Information for your Mended Hearts

Mid-Atlantic RD and ARD:

Gerald H. Kemp, Jr.

Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region

215 Oakwood Ave., York, SC 29745

Tel: (803) 684-9512

ghkempjr@hotmail.com

Bill Carter

Assistant Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Region

2222 Cardigan Drive, Aiken, SC 29803

Tel: (803) 270-2496

wmcar1939@gmail.com

The Horry County Literacy Council is in

the process of moving to its permanent location at

923 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach on the First

United Methodist Church campus.

Training is available for volunteers who

wish to tutor those who have a learning disability

such as dyslexia or for those who want to learn to

speak English. For more information email

literacyhc@gmail.com. Volunteering extends your

lifetime!

Experts Clarify Definition of a Heart-

Healthy Diet

The key to improving one’s diet lies in adapting

recommendations based on cultural, economic

and taste preferences.

In the midst of

mixed messages

around food, experts

help clarify exactly

what it means to have

a heart-healthy diet

and how to adapt

those guidelines

based on personal

preferences.

Published in the American Heart

Association journal Circulation, this statement

reviewed the latest dietary recommendations to help

clarify the age-old question: What is a healthy diet?

While guidelines have remained relatively

consistent, few Americans’ food intake meets the

current definition of a healthy, well-balanced diet.

Based on the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines

for Americans, a healthy eating pattern is rich in

vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and includes

low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish, legumes, nuts,

and non-tropical vegetable oils (i.e., cooking with

olive oil instead of coconut or palm oils). A healthy

diet also limits intake of sweets and desserts, sugar-

sweetened beverages, red meats and processed

foods.

Heart health organizations like the American

Heart Association and the American College of

Cardiology also highlight the importance of

consuming enough dietary fiber and reducing intake

of saturated fat, sodium and sugar by choosing

wholesome, nutrient-rich foods. They also endorse

the many benefits of the DASH diet, which limits

sodium intake to reduce blood pressure, and the

Mediterranean diet, which has been shown to

improve cardiovascular health.

However, the key to improving diets, as

authors explain, is for Americans to adapt

recommendations based on their unique cultural,

economic and taste preferences. For example, whole

grains can include breads, tortillas, barley, brown

rice, quinoa, and cooked cereals. Proteins can

include anything ranging from lean beef and pork to

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eggs, nuts and seeds. Experts believe that choosing

our favorite foods from this wide array of healthy

options can help us stick to a healthy diet over time.

The challenge is that very few Americans currently

adhere to dietary recommendations. National survey

data from 2009–2010 shows that the bulk of our

calories come from foods like burgers, desserts,

sugar-sweetened beverages, chips and pizza. In fact,

researchers found that these foods accounted for

43% of our daily caloric intake. Data from 2007–

2010 shows that most Americans don’t eat enough

fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy, yet exceed

recommended limits for sugar, saturated fat and

sodium consumption.

To help more Americans meet dietary

guidelines, experts recommend a variety of tools

available online designed to help people improve

their diet and lifestyle. Daily Food Plans is a tool

that helps create a meal plan based on personal

preferences and weight loss goals, while tools like

MyFitnessPal and the Super Tracker develop

personalized nutrition and physical activity plans to

improve health.

By clarifying guidelines and providing tools

to help Americans improve their diet, experts hope

to make progress in improving overall health and in

preventing heart disease—the No. 1 killer of men

and women in the United States.

Questions for You to Consider

What is a heart-healthy diet?

A heart-healthy diet is full of fruits, vegetables,

beans and whole grains and includes low-fat

dairy, fish and nuts as part of a balanced diet. It’s

important to limit intake of added sugars, salt

(sodium) and bad fats (saturated and trans fats).

What is the Mediterranean diet?

The Mediterranean diet is a way of eating rather

than a formal diet plan. It features foods eaten in

Greece, Spain, southern Italy and France, and

other countries that border the Mediterranean

Sea.

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes eating

foods like fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, high-

fiber breads and whole grains, and olive oil.

Meat, cheese, and sweets are very limited. The

recommended foods are rich with

monounsaturated fats, fiber, and omega-3 fatty

acids.

The Mediterranean diet is like other heart-

healthy diets in that it recommends eating plenty of

fruits, vegetables, and high-fiber grains. But in the

Mediterranean diet, an average of 35-to-40% of

calories can come from fat. Most other heart-

healthy guidelines recommend getting less than

35% of your calories from fat. The fats allowed in

the Mediterranean diet are mainly from unsaturated

oils, such as fish oils, olive oil, and certain nut or

seed oils (such as canola, soybean, or flaxseed oil).

These types of oils may have a protective effect on

the heart. For more information, read this overview

of the Mediterranean diet.

Find this CardioSmart article and more cardiologist-reviewed

news, patient tools, and videos at www.CardioSmart.org.

Sleep Deprivation Can Build Up

In the United States, sleep deprivation is

now considered a public health epidemic. The

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that 50

million to 70 million people are affected by

disorders of sleep or wakefulness.

When a person gets less sleep than he or

she needs, over time, that deprivation builds up and

can cause serious problems.

6 signs of sleep deprivation

The signs of sleep deprivation can range

from mildly annoying to serious, affecting just one

person, or the lives of many. Some of the signs that

there's a sleep issue going on include the following:

1. Lack of enjoyment in activities that one usually

finds enjoyable.

2. Difficulty in communicating clearly

3. Sleepiness during daily activities.

4. Slow reaction times.

5. Trouble with decision making.

6. Irritability and anger.

The National

Institutes of Health

(NIH) suggests that

adults, including the

elderly, get between

7-8 hours of sleep,

while teenagers

need approximately

9-10 hours of sleep

each night. School-

aged children need at least 10 hours a day. The

amount of sleep that an individual requires varies,

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depending on factors like age, activity level, and

other health issues.

5 effects of sleep deprivation

Over time, occasional bad sleep and

continued poor sleep can build up, and affect life in

some severe ways. These include:

1. Chronically sleep-deprived individuals are at risk

of weight gain, which can lead to physical issues

and unhappiness in general;

2. Hormone levels can be disrupted, particularly the

stress hormone cortisol, and the appetite-regulating

hormone, leptin;

3. Weakened immunity to illness;

4. Decreased alertness and reaction time can lead to

accidents, for individuals who are driving, or just

going about their day. WebMD notes that getting

just 1.5 hours less sleep than needed can lead to a

32 percent reduction in alertness.

5. Increased mortality risk for those adults who get

less than six hours of sleep each night. WebMD also

reports that sleep is a bigger risk factor for early

death than smoking or high blood pressure.

The bottom line is that getting enough

sleep is important to living a healthy and productive

life. Unplugging from the ever-connected society

and putting off TV time can go a long way toward

helping individuals get more sleep.

Good sleep habits encourage rest:

If you do the same things every night

before you sleep, you can expect to fall asleep faster

and sleep deeper; called sleep hygiene, these

considerations make sleeping better:

- Don't eat large meals before bed.

- Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol

before bedtime. Chocolate milk is no good because

it has caffeine.

- Establish a bedtime routine. Read in a

chair for a time before bed, for example. Brush your

teeth. Put on pajamas. Whatever you do, make it a

regular part of your sleep routine.

- Don't read in bed, play with your phone

or watch television in bed. The bed should be

associated with sleep.

- Consider not reading the news or your

favorite websites before bed. You want to retire

with a calm mind.

During the day, you can exercise to help

you feel tired at night. Be sure you are exposed to

natural light, which maintains a healthy sleep and

wake cycle.

Hitting snooze confuses body:

You set the alarm for 7 a.m. but hit the

snooze button a couple of times before you actually

get up.

According to Robert S. Rosenberg,

medical director of the Sleep Disorders Centers of

Arizona, this bad habit actually makes you more

sleepy and groggy.

The extra sleep you are getting is

fragmented, Rosenberg told CNN. You are starting

a new sleep cycle, but you won't have time to finish

it in the 10 minutes before the alarm goes off again.

The result is called sleep inertia -- that

groggy, disoriented feeling upon waking. It can take

an hour and a half to recover from this

disorientation. Even a shower or coffee won't help

much, Rosenberg says.

According to the Wall Street Journal's Dan

Ariely, the best plan is to get up at the alarm and

stay up. In a few months, it will become automatic.

Pages: 091.txt.

A Hospital Truth:

If you are in the hospital under

observation, you are NOT under Medicare.

There is an assortment of reasons that you

could stay at a hospital overnight and still not be

covered under Medicare Part A.

According to Medicare.gov, suppose you

go to the Emergency Room and the doctor sends

you to the Intensive Care Unit so that you can be

monitored closely. You stay the night, get better and

go home the next

day. That's not

covered under

Medicare Part A.

Your doctor's

services will be

covered under

Medicare Part B,

but not your

hospital expenses. Why? You haven't been

admitted, you have just been observed. Thus, you

are an outpatient.

Even if you stay for two days, the full two

days may not be covered if you stay in the hospital.

You must be admitted both days to have inpatient

status. If one day is for observation, Medicare Part

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A will NOT pay. Medical Part B will pay for your

doctor's services.

Outpatient surgery can sometimes result in

a night in the hospital if, for example, your blood

pressure is high. But if the doctor hasn't specifically

written an order to admit you, then Medicare Part A

still classifies you as an outpatient and will NOT

pay. Medicare Part B will pay for doctor and

outpatient tests but not the bed.

In some cases, a doctor may admit you but

the hospital can change your status to outpatient. In

that situation, your doctor must agree and the

hospital must tell you in writing that you status has

changed. Medicare Part A pays NOTHING.

Medicare Part B pays doctor and outpatient

services. Pages: 143.txt

Experts Highlight the Importance of

Managing Drug Interactions with Statins

Widespread use of cholesterol-lowering statins

brings the issue to light.

With widespread use of cholesterol-lowering

statins, managing potential interactions with other

drugs is a must, as highlighted in a recent statement

from the American Heart Association.

Published in Circulation, this statement

provided recommendations for the management of

drug interactions with statins, which has become a

growing concern among heart patients.

Over the past few decades, statins have

become widely used in people with and without

heart disease to help lower cholesterol and prevent

life-threatening heart events. The problem is that

most heart patients are also taking other drugs,

many of which have positive and/or negative

interactions with statins. For example, when statins

are taken in combination with other drugs, it can

increase likelihood of muscle pain—the most

common side effect associated with statin use.

Certain drug combinations can also increase risk of

bleeding and other potentially serious

complications. However, combining statins with

other drugs can also have beneficial effects, like

reducing risk for blood clots.

So in their recent statement, experts from the

American Heart Association list all known

interactions between common heart drugs and

statins, based on previous research. They also

include recommendations for which combinations

of drugs may be useful or considered safe, and

which should be avoided. The goal was to raise

awareness for this important issue and provide clear

recommendations that providers can implement in

their day-to-day practice.

Ultimately,

authors conclude that

interactions between

statins and other heart

medications are often

unavoidable. The key,

however, is ensuring

that patients and

providers are aware of

these effects and

manage them appropriately. Thus, when patients are

taking statins, it’s essential that their medications

are reviewed at each and every visit. By routinely

updating medication lists, providers are able to

catch all potential interactions as early as possible

and make adjustments when necessary.

Questions for You to Consider

What are statins?

Statins are drugs used to lower cholesterol. They

help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL or

“bad”) cholesterol and raise high-density

lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol, which

can help prevent heart attack and stroke. Statins

prevent your body from making new cholesterol

and may help reduce the amount of plaque

already built up on artery walls.

What are the risks associated with high

cholesterol?

High cholesterol can cause atherosclerosis, the

build-up of plaque on artery walls. This

accumulation of deposits can cause serious

complications, such as chest pain, heart attack

and stroke. High cholesterol is largely

preventable and treatable, so getting screened and

making healthy lifestyle choices can go a long

way in controlling cholesterol levels.

Find this CardioSmart article and more cardiologist-reviewed

news, patient tools, and videos at www.CardioSmart.org.

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Chuckle

A young man with his pants hanging half off

his butt, two gold front teeth & a half inch thick

gold chain around his neck, walked into the

local welfare office to pick up his check.

He marched up to the counter and said, "Hi.

You know, I just HATE drawing welfare. I'd really

rather have a job. I don't like taking advantage of

the System, getting something for nothing."

The social worker behind the counter said,

"Your timing is excellent. We just got a job opening

from a very wealthy old man who wants a chauffeur

and bodyguard for his beautiful daughter. You'll

have to drive around in his 2016 Mercedes-Benz CL

& he will supply all of your clothes."

"Because of the long hours, meals will be

provided. You'll also be expected to escort the

daughter on her overseas

holiday trips. This is

rather awkward but you

will also have to satisfy

her sexual urges as the

daughter is in her 20's

and has a strong sex

drive.

The guy, wide-

eyed, said, “You’re

making this up!"

The social

worker said, "Yeah, well

. . . you started it."

Some Irish Chuckles

Sally O'Malley is home making dinner, as

usual, when Tim Finnegan arrives at her door.

"Sally, may I come in?" he asks

"I've somethin' to tell ya".

"Of course you can come in, you're always

welcome, Tim. But where is my husband?”

“That's what I'm here to be telling ya, Sally.

There was an accident down at the Guinness

brewery…”

"Oh, God no!" cries Sally. "Please don't tell

me."

"I must, Sally. Your husband Shamus is

dead and gone. I'm sorry."

Finally, she looked up at Tim. "How did it

happen, Tim?"

"It was terrible, Sally. He fell into a

vat of Guinness Stout and drowned."

"Oh my dear Jesus! But you must tell me

truth, Tim. Did he at least go quickly?"

"Well, Sally... No. In fact, he got out three

times to pee.”

*****

Mary Clancy goes up to Father O’Brady

after his Sunday morning service, and she’s in tears.

He says, "So what's bothering you, Mary my

dear?"

She says, “Oh, Father, I’ve got terrible

news. My husband passed away last night”.

The priest says, “Oh, Mary, that’s terrible.

Tell me, Mary, did he have any last requests?”

She says, "That he did, Father."

The priest says, "What did he ask, Mary?”

She says, “He said, ‘Please Mary, put down

that damn gun.’…”

*****

A drunk staggers into a Catholic church,

enters a confessional booth, sits down, but says

nothing. The Priest coughs a few times to get his

attention, but the drunk continues to sit there.

Finally, the Priest pounds three times on the wall.

The drunk mumbles, "ain't no use

knockin', there's no paper on this side either!"

*****

An Irishman who had a little too much to drink is

driving home from the city one night and, of course

his car is weaving violently all over the road. A cop

pulls him over.

“So,” says the cop to the driver, “where have

ya been?”

“Why, I've been to the pub of course,” slurs

the drunk.

“Well,” says the cop, “it looks like you've

had quite a few to drink this evening.”

“I did all right,” the drunk says with a smile.

“Did you know,” says the cop, standing

straight and folding his arms across his chest, “that

a few intersections back, your wife fell out of your

car?”

“Oh, thanks heavens,” sighs the drunk. “For

a minute there, I thought I'd gone deaf.”

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