Washington, D.C. – When it comes to sodium levels in food, consumers are asking the food industry for just a pinch. Nearly 7,000 consumers joined Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports, in a recent petition supporting regulatory efforts to set national, industry-wide targets to reduce sodium in processed and restaurant foods.

In comments filed today with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the consumer group commended the agency’s joint initiative with the Food Safety and Inspection Service to reduce sodium consumption in the United States. Highlighting the myriad of health risks linked to high sodium, Consumers Union urged the FDA to work towards a goal of limiting intake to 2,300 mg per day, while also encouraging children and those at risk for hypertension to consume no more than 1500 mg.

“Many American consumers are seeking a sensible solution to the growing levels of sodium in processed and restaurant foods” said Ioana Rusu, regulatory counsel for Consumers Union. “Unfortunately, the answer is not simply to put down the salt shaker, since an overwhelming majority of sodium intake comes from processed, pre-packaged foods.”

Americans’ excessive consumption of sodium has been linked to increased health risks. The Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 32 percent of adult Americans have hypertension, and roughly another third have pre-hypertension. Research has also shown that an excess intake of sodium plays a major role in the development of hypertension-related diseases, such as stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and kidney disease.

But it’s not as simple as picking healthier options over junk food. Sometimes lower-fat products can be higher in sodium than their full-fat counterparts to compensate for taste, making healthy grocery store choices even more difficult. Consumer Reports found that a serving of Ruffles Original Potato Chips had 10 grams of fat and 160 mg of sodium, while the baked version, with 7 fewer grams of fat, had 40 mg more sodium.

“Even consumers committed to a low-fat, healthier diet could inadvertently be consuming an excessive amount of salt. The health risks are too serious to continue the status quo of ever-increasing sodium. We look forward to working with the FDA to develop effective ways to reduce sodium levels and increase consumer choices,” said Rusu.

Cardiovascular disease is still the No. 1 killer of men and women, killing about 800,000 Americans each year, and nearly 20,000 right here in Tennessee. That’s more than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.But up to 80% of cardiovascular disease may actually be PREVENTABLE through healthy lifestyle choices.

The American Heart Association recommends

• Healthy eating: Low salt (1500 mg/day), low fat, 3-5 cups vegetables a day
• Exercise 30 minutes a day
• Healthy body mass index
• Control blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose
• Go smoke-free
• Listen to your body! If you feel something is not right, get it checked out.

For tons of great information on how to beat heart disease, visit the American Heart Association website at www.heart.org.

And remember this Friday is National Wear Red Day: everyone wear red to support the fight against heart disease in women.

Nashville, TN – Start the new year by making healthy lifestyle changes such as eating better, getting more physical activity and quitting smoking. While quitting can be difficult, it can be done, especially with the help of professional support. Tennesseans have a greater chance of quitting for good and keeping their New Year’s resolution with help from the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, a free coaching service available to all adult Tennesseans who wish to stop using tobacco.

“Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to improve your health and the health of your family, and we’re eager to support any Tennessean who wants to take up this challenge,” Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, said. “Research shows smokers who use counseling as part of their quit program have a better chance of quitting. We encourage all Tennesseans ready to start a tobacco-free life to take full advantage of the free resources the QuitLine provides.”

The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, available at 1.800.QUIT.NOW and online at www.tnquitline.com, offers personalized support for Tennessee residents who want to quit smoking by connecting them with trained quit coaches to guide them through the quitting process. Callers will receive ongoing professional coaching via individually scheduled calls with a quit coach personally assigned to them. This convenient and confidential service is free and available in both English and Spanish. The service is also available for the deaf and hard-of-hearing at TTY: 1.877.559.3816.

QuitLine callers have complimentary access to relapse prevention techniques, printed resource materials, information on nicotine replacement therapies and other services to aid in the quitting process.

Give yourself a raise: Besides being a killer, tobacco use is expensive! Most smokers directly spend more than $1,000 each year just on cigarettes and not counting the added costs of transportation, higher life and health insurance premiums and other indirect costs.

Give your body a break: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, quitting smoking has the following health benefits:

• Lowers risk of lung and other types of cancer
• Reduces risk for heart disease and stroke
• Improves respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath
• Reduces risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, a leading cause of death in the United States
• Reduces risk for infertility among women
• Reduces risk of low birth-weight babies for women who stop smoking while pregnant

The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine (1.800.QUIT.NOW or 1.800.784.8669) is a statewide toll-free telephone tobacco cessation treatment program made possible through the Tennessee Department of Health. Call or visit www.tnquitline.com today. There is no charge for services and clients have unlimited access to a quit coach through the QuitLine. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 10:00pm; Saturday 9:00am to 6:00pm and Sunday 10:00am to 4:00pm Central Time.

Researchers found people who maintained or reduced their blood pressure to normal levels by age 55 had the lowest lifetime risk for CVD (between 22 percent to 41 percent risk). In contrast, those who had already developed high blood pressure by age 55 had a higher lifetime risk (between 42 percent to 69 percent risk).

Using data from 61,585 participants in the Cardiovascular Lifetime Risk Pooling Project, researchers examined how changes in blood pressure during middle age affected lifetime CVD risk. Previous studies had considered a single measurement at a given age. In this study, age 55 was considered a mid-point for middle age.

Starting with baseline blood pressure readings from an average of 14 years prior, researchers tracked blood pressure changes until age 55, then continued to follow the patients until the occurrence of a first cardiovascular event (including heart attack or stroke), death or age 95.

“Taking blood pressure changes into account can provide more accurate estimates for lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease, and it can help us predict individualized risk, and thus, individualized prevention strategies,” said Norrina Allen, Ph.D., lead author of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. “Both avoiding hypertension during middle age or delaying the onset of the development of hypertension appear to have a significant impact on an individual’s remaining lifetime risk for CVD.”

Study Highlights

• Changes in blood pressure during middle age can affect lifetime risk for heart disease and stroke.
• People who maintain or reduce their blood pressure to normal levels during middle age have the lowest lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease, while those with an increase in blood pressure have the highest risk.
• Age and duration of blood pressure changes can help determine individualized lifetime risk for ― and prevention of ― cardiovascular disease.

Researchers also found

• Almost 70 percent of all men who develop high blood pressure in middle age will experience a CVD event by 85.
• Women who develop high blood pressure by early middle-age (average age 41) have a higher lifetime risk for CVD (49.4 percent) than those who have maintained normal blood pressure up to age 55.
• Women, in general, had higher increases in blood pressure during middle age.
• At an average age 55, 25.7 percent of men and 40.8 percent of women had normal blood pressure levels; 49.4 percent of men and 47.5 of women had prehypertension.
• The overall lifetime CVD risk for people 55 years or older was 52.5 percent for men and 39.9 percent for women, when factoring in all blood pressure levels.
• The lifetime risk for CVD was higher among Blacks compared with Whites of the same sex, and increased with rising blood pressure at middle age.

“Since the data suggests that both early elevations and changes over time in blood pressure measurements impact the future risk of CVD, people can take preventive steps early on to reduce their chances of heart attack or stroke,” said Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, M.D., Sc.M., co-author of the study and chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

“Maintaining a healthy diet, combined with exercise and weight control, can help reduce blood pressure levels and, consequently, your risk for CVD later in life.”

Co-authors are Jarett D. Berry, M.D., M.S.; Hongyan Ning, M.D., M.S.; Linda Van Horn, Ph.D., R.D.; and Alan Dyer, Ph.D. Author disclosures are on the manuscript.

Washington, D.C. – It’s natural for anyone trying to lose weight to want to lose it very quickly. But evidence shows that people who lose weight gradually and steadily (about 1 to 2 pounds per week) are more successful at keeping weight off. Healthy weight loss isn’t just about a “diet” or “program”. It’s about an ongoing lifestyle that includes long-term changes in daily eating and exercise habits.

To lose weight, you must use up more calories than you take in. Since one pound equals 3,500 calories, you need to reduce your caloric intake by 500—1000 calories per day to lose about 1 to 2 pounds per week.¹

Once you’ve achieved a healthy weight, by relying on healthful eating and physical activity most days of the week (about 60—90 minutes, moderate intensity), you are more likely to be successful at keeping the weight off over the long term.

Losing weight is not easy, and it takes commitment. But if you’re ready to get started, we’ve got a step-by-step guide to help get you on the road to weight loss and better health.

Even Modest Weight Loss Can Mean Big Benefits

The good news is that no matter what your weight loss goal is, even a modest weight loss, such as 5 to 10 percent of your total body weight, is likely to produce health benefits, such as improvements in blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugars.²

For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, a 5 percent weight loss equals 10 pounds, bringing your weight down to 190 pounds. While this weight may still be in the “overweight” or “obese” range, this modest weight loss can decrease your risk factors for chronic diseases related to obesity.

So even if the overall goal seems large, see it as a journey rather than just a final destination. You’ll learn new eating and physical activity habits that will help you live a healthier lifestyle. These habits may help you maintain your weight loss over time.

In addition to improving your health, maintaining a weight loss is likely to improve your life in other ways. For example, a study of participants in the National Weight Control Registry* found that those who had maintained a significant weight loss reported improvements in not only their physical health, but also their energy levels, physical mobility, general mood, and self-confidence.

Getting Started

Losing weight takes more than desire. It takes commitment and a well-thought-out plan. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started.

• Step 1: Make a commitment.
• Step 2: Take stock of where you are.
• Step 3: Set realistic goals.
• Step 4: Identify resources for information and support.
• Step 5: Continually “check in” with yourself to monitor your progress.

Step 1: Make a commitment

Making the decision to lose weight, change your lifestyle, and become healthier is a big step to take. Start simply by making a commitment to yourself. Many people find it helpful to sign a written contract committing to the process. This contract may include things like the amount of weight you want to lose, the date you’d like to lose the weight by, the dietary changes you’ll make to establish healthy eating habits, and a plan for getting regular physical activity.

Writing down the reasons why you want to lose weight can also help. It might be because you have a family history of heart disease, or because you want to see your kids get married, or simply because you want to feel better in your clothes. Post these reasons where they serve as a daily reminder of why you want to make this change.

Step 2: Take stock of where you are

Consider talking to your health care provider. He or she can evaluate your height, weight, and explore other weight-related risk factors you may have. Ask for a follow-up appointment to monitor changes in your weight or any related health conditions.

Keep a “food diary” for a few days, in which you write down everything you eat. By doing this, you become more aware of what you are eating and when you are eating. This awareness can help you avoid mindless eating.

Next, examine your current lifestyle. Identify things that might pose challenges to your weight loss efforts. For example, does your work or travel schedule make it difficult to get enough physical activity? Do you find yourself eating sugary foods because that’s what you buy for your kids? Do your coworkers frequently bring high-calorie items, such as doughnuts, to the workplace to share with everyone? Think through things you can do to help overcome these challenges.

Finally, think about aspects of your lifestyle that can help you lose weight. For example, is there an area near your workplace where you and some coworkers can take a walk at lunchtime? Is there a place in your community, such as a YMCA, with exercise facilities for you and child care for your kids?

Step 3: Set realistic goals

Set some short-term goals and reward your efforts along the way. If your long-term goal is to lose 40 pounds and to control your high blood pressure, some short-term eating and physical activity goals might be to start eating breakfast, taking a 15 minute walk in the evenings, or having a salad or vegetable with supper.

Focus on two or three goals at a time. Great, effective goals are:

• Specific
• Realistic
• Forgiving (less than perfect)

For example, “Exercise More” is not a specific goal. But if you say, “I will walk 15 minutes, 3 days a week for the first week,” you are setting a specific and realistic goal for the first week.

Remember, small changes every day can lead to big results in the long run. Also remember that realistic goals are achievable goals. By achieving your short-term goals day-by-day, you’ll feel good about your progress and be motivated to continue. Setting unrealistic goals, such as losing 20 pounds in 2 weeks, can leave you feeling defeated and frustrated.

Being realistic also means expecting occasional setbacks. Setbacks happen when you get away from your plan for whatever reason – maybe the holidays, longer work hours, or another life change. When setbacks happen, get back on track as quickly as possible. Also take some time to think about what you would do differently if a similar situation happens, to prevent setbacks.

Keep in mind everyone is different – what works for someone else might not be right for you. Just because your neighbor lost weight by taking up running, doesn’t mean running is the best option for you. Try a variety of activities – walking, swimming, tennis, or group exercise classes to see what you enjoy most and can fit into your life. These activities will be easier to stick with over the long term.

Step 4: Identify resources for information and support

Find family members or friends who will support your weight loss efforts. Making lifestyle changes can feel easier when you have others you can talk to and rely on for support. You might have coworkers or neighbors with similar goals, and together you can share healthful recipes and plan group exercise.

Joining a weight loss group or visiting a health care professional such as a registered dietitian, can help.

Step 5: Continually “check in” with yourself

Monitor your progress

Revisit the goals you set for yourself (in Step 3) and evaluate your progress regularly. If you set a goal to walk each morning but are having trouble fitting it in before work, see if you can shift your work hours or if you can get your walk in at lunchtime or after work. Evaluate which parts of your plan are working well and which ones need tweaking. Then rewrite your goals and plan accordingly.

If you are consistently achieving a particular goal, add a new goal to help you continue on your pathway to success.

Reward yourself for your successes! Recognize when you’re meeting your goals and be proud of your progress. Use non-food rewards, such as a bouquet of freshly picked flowers, a sports outing with friends, or a relaxing bath. Rewards help keep you motivated on the path to better health.

References

¹DHHS, AIM for a Healthy Weight, page 5. Available online:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/aim_hwt.pdf (PDF-2.17Mb)

²Reference for 5%: Blackburn G. (1995). Effect of degree of weight loss on health benefits. Obesity Research 3: 211S-216S. 2 Reference for 10%: NIH, NHLBI Obesity Education Initiative. Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. Available online: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_gdlns.pdf (PDF-1.25Mb)

Small food choices each day can add up to big changes – in body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and more – changes that can reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke and many other conditions.

A recent study shows that eating vegetables three to six times per week decreased heart failure risk by 26 percent in men and 27 percent in women, compared to those who ate vegetables less than once per week.

What choices can everyone make right now, today?

Here are American Heart Association guidelines:

• Baked, sautéed, steamed, roasted, grilled –but NOT fried.
• Fruits and vegetables: At least 4.5 cups a day
• Fish (preferably oily fish): At least two 3.5-ounce servings a week
• Fiber-rich whole grains: At least three 1-ounce-equivalent servings a day
• Sodium: Less than 1,500 mg a day
• Sugar-sweetened beverages: No more than 450 calories (36 ounces) a week
• Nuts, legumes and seeds: At least 4 servings a week
• Processed meats: No more than 2 servings a week
• Saturated fat: Less than 7% of total energy intake

More American Heart Association healthy eating tips and recipes can be found at www.heart.org/nutrition.

Dallas, TX – Emmy-nominated actress Elizabeth Banks directs and stars in the first-ever Go Red For Women short film “Just a Little Heart Attack,” inspired by the real-life stories of women who have been affected by heart disease.

The entertaining, yet poignant film, which can be viewed below, provides a powerful wake-up call to women across America to understand their risk for heart disease and empower them to put their health first.

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Just a Little Heart Attack” shares a glimpse into the seemingly normal routine of a busy mom caring for her family: preparing breakfast for her young children and loving husband (Colin Egglesfield, Something Borrowed); finishing the laundry; helping with homework; and getting an early start on her own busy work day. The morning is quickly turned on its side when Mom (Banks) finds herself stumbling through her kitchen as she ignores the warning signs of a heart attack. Banks uses her comedic talent to charm the audience while, ultimately, delivering an invaluable message about the possible consequences for women who ignore their risk of heart disease.

“As women, we take care of everyone in our lives: our husbands, our kids, our mothers, our fathers, but we never look at ourselves,” said Banks. “So this little film is about a super mom who takes care of everyone except herself and learns the lesson that she better look at herself, as well.”

The idea for the film’s script originated when Hollywood screenwriter Kate Kondell visited www.GoRedForWomen.org and read story after story of real women who had faced heart disease. “The script wrote itself from there,” said Kate. “Women like you and me are dying at the rate of one per minute, and most of us don’t even realize we’re at risk.”

A staggering one in three American women suffers from heart disease, yet only one in five believes she is personally at risk. This disconnect can leave many women unmotivated to act and even to treat heart disease.

“Unfortunately, there is a huge gap between awareness and action among women,” said Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, Go Red For Women spokesperson and Director of Women and Heart Disease, Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “Until women fully recognize their risk for heart disease – and take personal responsibility for preventing it – we will continue to lose the battle against the disparities of awareness, care and treatment among women.”

“Just a Little Heart Attack” can be seen on www.Facebook.com/GoRed. Go Red For Women asks you to Make It Your Mission to learn the facts about heart disease and inspire the women you love to do the same. Visit www.goredforwomen.org for more.

Go Red For Women is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and Merck & Co., Inc.

Yonkers, NY – Fats can be sneaky – they lurk in lots of everyday, packaged food items and can put people at risk for heart disease and other health issues. The October 2011 issue of ShopSmart magazine, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, found 15 popular packaged goods that are surprisingly high in fat and suggests low-fat swaps for each.

“Just because beach weather is over doesn’t mean that people are ready to give up on their diets,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. “A lot of packaged foods have a shocking amount of fat in them, so we did the dirty work of sifting out some high fat products and finding alternatives with as much as 89% less fat.”

Smart Swaps

Instead of: Terra Mediterranean Exotic Vegetable Chips (150 calories, 9 grams fat in 19 chips/ 1 oz, 1 gram sat fat)
Try This: Popchips Original Potato (120 calories, 4 grams fat in 23 chips/1 oz, 0 grams sat fat)
Fat reduction: 56% less fat

Instead of: Aunt Jemima Cinnamon French Toast Sticks (270 calories, 10 grams fat in 4 pieces (89 grams), 2.5 grams sat fat)
Try This: Aunt Jemima Homestyle French Toast (220 calories, 4.5 grams fat in 2 slices (118 grams), 1.5 grams sat fat)
Fat reduction: 55% less fat

Instead of: Pillsbury Place ‘N Bake Crescent Rounds (110 calories, 6 grams fat in 1 roll (28 grams), 2 grams sat fat)
Try This: Pillsbury Biscuits Buttermilk (50 calories, 0.7 grams fat in 1 biscuit (21 grams), 0.2 grams sat fat)
Fat reduction: 89% less fat

Instead of: Wish-Bone House Italian Dressing (110 calories, 10 grams fat in 2 tbsp, 1.5 grams sat fat)
Try This: Wish-Bone Mediterranean Italian Dressing (60 calories, 5 grams fat in 2 tbsp, 1 gram sat fat)
Fat reduction: 50% less fat

Instead of: Sabra Roasted Garlic Hummus (70 calories, 6 grams fat in 2 tbsp, 1 gram sat fat)
Try This: Cedar’s Garlic Lovers Hummus (40 calories, 1.5 grams fat in 2 tbsp, 0 grams sat fat)
Fat reduction: 75% less fat

Instead of: Nestle Baby Ruth (280 calories, 14 grams fat in 1 bar (60 grams), 8 grams sat fat)
Try This: York Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Patties Miniatures (150 calories, 4 grams fat in 4-piece serving (55 grams), 3 grams sat fat)
Fat reduction: 71% less fat

Instead of: Cheez-It Baked Snack Crackers (150 calories, 8 grams fat in 27 crackers (30 grams), 2 grams sat fat)
Try This: Cheez-It Baked Snack Crackers Scrabble Junior (140 calories, 5 grams fat in 26 crackers (30 grams), 1.5 grams sat fat)
Fat reduction: 38% less fat

Instead of: Rice-A-Roni Spanish Rice (260 calories, 8 grams fat in 1 cup, 1.5 grams sat fat; prepared with margarine and tomatoes)
Try This: Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice Spanish Style (200 calories, 2.5 grams fat in 1 cup, 0 grams sat fat)
Fat reduction: 69% less fat

Instead of: Smartfod White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn (160 calories, 10 grams fat in 1 ounce, 2 grams sat fat)
Try This: Pirate’s Booty Aged White Cheddar Rice and Corn Puffs (130 calories, 5 grams fat in 1 ounce, 1 gram sat fat)
Fat reduction: 50% less fat

Instead of: Tostitos Multigrain Tortilla Chips (150 calories, 7 grams fat in 8 chips (1 ounce), 1 gram sat fat)
Try This: Baked Tostitos Scoops (120 calories, 3 grams fat in 14 chips (1 ounce), 0.5 grams sat fat)
Fat reduction: 57% less fat

What to look for at the store

Keep an eye out for these words on the label when you’re at the store. But pay attention to serving sizes! A true serving can be pretty small, so even if the label says “low fat,” you might be getting more fat and calories than you think.

Fat Free: Less than 0.5 grams of fat
Low Fat: A maximum of 3 grams of fat
Reduced Fat: At least 25 percent less fat than a similar food has
Trans-fat Free: Less than 0.5 grams of trans fat

About ShopSmart Magazine

Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon Consumer Reports’ celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. The magazine features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists.

ShopSmart is ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. ShopSmart is available by subscription at www.ShopSmartmag.org.

Yonkers, NY – An investigation by Consumer Reports Health reveals that the practice of healing hearts has become a money-making machine that too often favors profits over science. The report shines a light on excessive testing and overtreatment, taking special note of the overuse of angioplasty.

To help consumers make informed decisions about their cardiac care, Consumer Reports Health is providing several consumer tools including Ratings for 323 surgical groups that perform heart bypass surgery in the U.S., Ratings for heart screenings, and a heart-risk calculator.

The 11-page report forms the cover story of the September issue of Consumer Reports magazine. It is also available online at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.

The marketing of high-tech cardiac screening is pervasive, says the report, and is being promoted by some hospitals, medical centers, and other groups to cash in on consumers’ fears. Baby boomers are turning 60 and heart disease remains the top killer of U.S. adults, so it’s no wonder that Americans are concerned about their aging hearts.

“Consumers should be on guard because of the potential for exploitation,” said John Santa, M.D., M. P.H., director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. “Americans are rightly concerned about their heart health but they’re being inundated with confusing and often misleading messages from marketers trying to cash in on their fears. Consumers should be skeptical of any advertising or promotion they receive from organizations or individuals who are providing heart tests or treatments.”

Too Many Tests, Too Many Treatments

Too many tests are being administered to healthy people. A recent survey by Consumer Reports Health found that nearly half (44 percent) of people without heart risk factors or symptoms reported undergoing a heart-specific screening test such as an electrocardiogram, exercise stress test, or ultrasound of carotid arteries, even though such tests aren’t recommended for healthy people.

Inappropriate tests can in turn lead to unnecessary treatments such as angioplasty, an invasive procedure to clear blockages in the coronary arteries when dietary changes and exercise, plus drugs, would be just as effective and much safer. “We’re seeing hospitals and heart centers in the United States pursuing a ‘mass marketing’ approach to angioplasty,” said Santa. “It can be a lifesaving approach in the midst of a heart attack but can be risky and not effective in people without significant symptoms.”

The push to overtest and overtreat heart disease, explains the report, stems in part from outdated notions of the disease as a kind of plumbing problem. Doctors would often test for blockages and then clear them with angioplasty. “Medicine doesn’t change quickly or easily,” says Steven Nissen, M.D., chairman of the department of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.

Nissen says that the health-care system isn’t helping because it tends to favor expensive procedures. “Physicians are reimbursed far more for a 20-minute angioplasty than an hour-long discussion. Those financial incentives inevitably drive clinical decisions. That’s why patients have to do their own due diligence to get the best care,” says Nissen.

If testing reveals blockages, angioplasty or bypass surgery might be warranted. But even then, a patient should weigh his or her options, and possibly seek a second opinion. If you’re a patient with heart disease and you need a cardiac surgeon, says Santa, there is reliable data to draw on. This year Consumer Reports Health is adding more than 100 heart surgical groups to its Ratings.

Patients who are considering a surgical group should check to see if the group in question is rated by Consumer Reports Health. If not, it’s best to ask whether the group reports to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), which gathers information from more than 90 percent of the roughly 1,100 surgical groups in the U.S. that perform cardiac surgery.

Tools To Help Consumers Make Informed Decisions

Consumer Reports Health has created several new tools to help consumers make informed decisions about cardiac care including the following:

Ratings for Heart Surgeons: Through a collaboration with The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), CRH is able to provide Ratings for 323 surgical groups that perform heart bypass surgery.

“In the past decade, there has been a dramatic reduction in mortality among heart surgery patients, and much of that improvement is due to surgeons’ willingness to track their own performance. Participation in the STS National Database provides the surgeons with frequent feedback to help them compare their local results with national benchmarks,” said Fred H. Edwards, M.D., who helped establish the Database in 1989 and is now director of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Research Center.

(Click on Doctors & Hospitals tab at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org)

Ratings for Heart Screenings: There’s a vast array of heart tests, some of which are new and high-tech. To better understand these tests and gauge which ones are appropriate, consumers can access Ratings that are specifically tailored to an individual, taking into account age, gender, and risk level. Consumer Reports Health emphasizes that everyone should be sure to have their blood pressure and weight measured at every doctor visit. (www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org/hearttests)

Heart-risk calculator: An interactive online tool that allows an individual to gauge the age of their heart by providing key health information. The app-like tool also estimates one’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next ten years. (www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org/heartrisk)

Researchers gathered data from a large national database of 5 to 8 million discharges from 1,000 hospitals and compared the rates of strokes from 1994-95 to 2006-07 in women who were pregnant, delivering a baby and who had recently had a baby.

Pregnancy-related stroke hospitalizations increased 54 percent, from 4,085 in 1994-95 to 6,293 in 2006-07.

“I am surprised at the magnitude of the increase, which is substantial,” said Elena V. Kuklina, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the study and senior service fellow and epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention in Atlanta, GA. “Our results indicate an urgent need to take a closer look. Stroke is such a debilitating condition. We need to put more effort into prevention.

“When you’re relatively healthy, your stroke risk is not that high,” Kuklina said. “Now more and more women entering pregnancy already have some type of risk factor for stroke, such as obesity, chronic hypertension, diabetes or congenital heart disease. Since pregnancy by itself is a risk factor, if you have one of these other stroke risk factors, it doubles the risk.”

For expectant mothers, the rate of stroke hospitalizations rose 47 percent. In pregnant women and in women who had a baby in the last 12 weeks (considered the postpartum period), the stroke rate rose 83 percent. However, the rate remained the same for stroke hospitalizations that occurred during the time immediately surrounding childbirth.

Pregnant and post partum women ages 25 to 34 were hospitalized for stroke more often than those who were younger or older.

Furthermore, high blood pressure was more prevalent in pregnant women who were hospitalized because of stroke.

In 1994-95, among pregnant women with stroke, researchers found high blood pressure in:

• 11.3 percent of the pregnant women prior to birth;
• 23.4 percent of those at or near delivery; and
• 27.8 percent of those within 12 weeks of delivery.

In 2006-07, they discovered high blood pressure among stroke patients in:

• 17 percent of those pregnant;
• 28.5 percent of those at or near delivery; and
• 40.9 percent of women in the postpartum period.

It’s best for women to enter pregnancy with ideal cardiovascular health — without additional risk factors, Kuklina said. Next, she suggests developing a comprehensive, multidisciplinary plan that gives doctors and patients guidelines for appropriate monitoring and care before, during and after childbirth.

A major problem is that pregnant women typically aren’t included in clinical trials because most drugs pose potential harm to the fetus. Therefore, doctors don’t have enough guidance on which medications are best for pregnant women who have an increased risk for stroke.

“We need to do more research on pregnant women specifically,” said Kuklina, who found only 11 cases of pregnancy-related stroke in her review of previously published literature.

Co-authors are: Xin Tong, M.P.H.; Pooja Bansil, M.P.H.; Mary G. George, M.D., M.S.P.H.; and William M. Callaghan, M.D., M.P.H. Author disclosures are on the manuscript.

The study received no outside funding.