American Heart Association encouraged by CDC report, urges caution
October 18, 2011
Dallas, TX – The American Heart Association is encouraged by the reduction in the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) reported in the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. However, the association is concerned to see the disparities that remain with certain groups and urges all people to improve their health, as cardiovascular diseases remain the No. 1 killer of men and women.
The CDC reported a 0.7 percent drop in the prevalence of self-reported coronary heart disease – from 6.7 percent in 2006 to 6.0 percent in 2010. [Read more]
New Tactic for Controlling Blood Sugar in Diabetes Contradicts Current View of the Disease
September 5, 2011
Study finds inflammation may be part of the solution, not the problem
Boston, MA – Increased low-grade inflammation in the body resulting from obesity is widely viewed as contributing to type 2 diabetes. Going against this long-held belief, researchers from Children’s Hospital Boston report that two proteins activated by inflammation are actually crucial for maintaining good blood sugar levels – and that boosting the activity of these proteins can normalize blood sugar in severely obese and diabetic mice.
The research, led by Umut Ozcan, MD, in the Division of Endocrinology at Children’s, is reported in the October issue of Nature Medicine, published online September 4th. [Read more]
Rate of stroke increasing among women during, soon after pregnancy
July 31, 2011
Dallas, TX – The stroke rate for pregnant women and those who recently gave birth increased alarmingly over the past dozen years, according to research reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
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. [Read more]
First Lady, Agriculture Secretary Launch MyPlate Icon as a New Reminder to Help Consumers to Make Healthier Food Choices
June 3, 2011
Washington, D.C. – First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled the federal government’s new food icon, MyPlate, to serve as a reminder to help consumers make healthier food choices. MyPlate is a new generation icon with the intent to prompt consumers to think about building a healthy plate at meal times and to seek more information to help them do that by going to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov.
The new MyPlate icon emphasizes the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein and dairy food groups.
Reduce your risk for Heart Attack and Stroke
February 10, 2011
February is American Heart Month
Nashville, TN – Uncontrolled high blood pressure and high cholesterol are risk factors for heart attack and stroke. New information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows most Americans affected by these conditions are not managing them properly. As part of the observance of American Heart Month this February, the Tennessee Department of Health is reminding Tennesseans how to reduce these risk factors.
“There are a variety of low-cost, highly effective treatments available for high blood pressure and cholesterol,” said Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN. “Simple lifestyle changes can also help reduce our risk of these potentially deadly health conditions. We urge Tennesseans to talk with their healthcare providers about lowering sodium, fat and cholesterol in their diets, and finding a healthy level of physical activity.” [Read more]
Cost to treat Heart Disease in United States will triple by 2030
January 25, 2011
Dallas, TX – The cost to treat heart disease in the United States will triple by 2030, according to a policy statement published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
“Despite the successes in reducing and treating heart disease over the last half century, even if we just maintain our current rates, we will have an enormous financial burden on top of the disease itself,” said Paul Heidenreich, M.D., chair of the American Heart Association expert panel issuing the statement.
The panel estimated future medical costs based on the current rates of disease and used Census data to adjust for anticipated population shifts in age and race. The rigorous methods they devised didn’t double count costs for patients with multiple heart conditions. [Read more]
“Eat Well, Play More” Plan to reduce Obesity in Tennessee
September 18, 2010
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, released Tennessee’s comprehensive, statewide nutrition and physical activity plan, Eat Well, Play More Tennessee on Thursday, September 16th, 2010. This five-year plan, developed by the Tennessee Obesity Taskforce, provides a comprehensive roadmap to reduce obesity and chronic disease in Tennessee by 2015.
“Eat Well, Play More Tennessee is a call to action for all Tennesseans to take a more active role in improving their personal health and the health status of our state,” said Governor Bredesen. “We are setting a goal of improving the health of Tennessee, and I appreciate the work of the Taskforce members to help us accomplish that goal.”
Health Commissioner announces new resources for Tennessee Youth and Teachers
July 13, 2010
Nashville, TN — Commissioner of Health Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, announced today the addition of new sections for young people and their teachers on the Get Fit Tennessee website www.getfittn.com/kids to help the next generation of Tennesseans get fit.
The new site presents fitness and nutrition information for middle school students with bold graphics and engaging activities. Interactive games and trivia encourage kids to learn more about nutrition, proper portion sizes and new ways to move more throughout the day. [Read more]
How to Overcome Comforting Yourself with Comfort Foods
June 28, 2010
Comfort Foods (Tim Hawk, NJ.com)
Comfort foods have become a way of life these days. It’s not hard to understand why we need comfort foods. Our lives are full of stress. The crashing economy has scared most intelligent people silly. The thought that what we formerly believed was enough money to live on has now become barely adequate is enough to send anyone running to the ice cream carton or the macaroni and cheese bowl or the potato chip bag.
We seek comfort when we are stressed. We learned as babies that milk was comfort. When we were sick as children, we were comforted by chicken soup or ice cream or whatever Mom’s favorite cookie recipe was. We continued as teens to comfort our growing insecurity about our popularity with cheeseburgers, soft drinks and doughnuts. We entered college and survived on pizzas to overcome exam jitters. [Read more]
GOP Week in Review
March 6, 2009
Senate State and Local Government Committee approves election integrity bill and legislation honoring Republican Majority on State Election Commission
NASHVILLE, TN: Legislation protecting the integrity of elections in Tennessee overcame its first hurdle towards passage this week with approval by the Senate State and Local Government Committee. The bill requires voters to provide photo identification to guard against fraud and assure only U.S. citizens vote.
“Unfortunately, we know that voter fraud exists and that there are people who try to be dishonest in an election,” said Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), Chairman of the Committee and sponsor of the bill. “This bill aims to curtail such abuse by making sure those persons voting are who they say they are.” [Read more]
