FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2002
Contact: Bill Seiler bseiler@umm.edu 410-328-8919
Alexandra Bessent abessent@umm.edu 410-328-9260
Karen Warmkessel kwarmkessel@umm.edu 410-328-8919

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL NEWS STORY IDEAS FOR “HEART MONTH”

BROKEN HEARTS GET A BREAK TO HEAL THEMSELVES

A heart transplant may be the last lifesaving chance for a person whose heart can’t pump enough blood, but there’s a shortage of donor organs. That shortage has forced cardiac surgeons to consider alternatives. Tiny pumps, called ventricular assist devices, have been used for years as a short-term bridge to transplant, to keep a patient alive until a new heart becomes available. Bartley Griffith, M.D., chief of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center, says new generations of these machines may be appropriate for long-term use. Griffith is part of a study to determine if these pumps work well enough in some people to give the damaged heart time to get stronger and heal, eventually making a transplant unnecessary. –Bill Seiler

“I DO” IS GOOD FOR YOU

Want to live longer and be happier? Consider getting married. According to medical experts, marriage can actually be good for your health. People in a stable marriage live longer, are happier and are less prone to illness than their single counterparts, according to David Mallott, M.D., a University of Maryland psychiatrist. He adds that married people also are less likely to commit suicide or develop serious emotional problems. Even after the first blush of romance fades, couples provide companionship and "soothing support," which promotes emotional and physical well being. Dr. Mallott says the bond is so strong that in some cases when an elderly person dies the grieving spouse dies shortly thereafter. “Living with somebody, and problem-solving with somebody is better overall for most people,” he said. “We probably all underestimate the power of the relationship.” –Karen Warmkessel

SOMETHING SWEET FOR YOUR SWEETIE MAY BE HEALTHY, TOO

No need to feel guilty about giving chocolate for Valentine’s day. A bite of chocolate can release serotonin and endorphins into the body—substances that can help you to relax, lift your mood and reduce pain. Chocolate also contains phenols, an ingredient found in red wine, tea and vegetables that can help reduce the risk of coronary disease. And, according to Herbert Muncie, M.D., who chairs the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Department of Family Medicine, chocolate is not a major source of caffeine. A candy bar has about as much caffeine as one-fifth of a cup of coffee. To top it off, even though chocolate can be high in sugar and calories, it contains no cholesterol. –Alexandra Bessent

EXPERTS SEE WOMEN’S HEART DISEASE RISK AS SERIOUS THREAT

Heart disease is the number one killer of women, yet most women think it’s a man’s disease. Death rates overall from coronary heart disease have been dropping, but not as much among women. University of Maryland cardiologist Mary Corretti, M.D., says new data suggest death rates in women may soon rise again. A recent Surgeon General’s report shows an increase in serious risk factors for heart disease among women and girls, including being overweight, lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits. In the past 20 years, the percentage of overweight children has doubled and the percentage of overweight adolescents has nearly tripled. Smoking is one of the leading causes of early heart attacks in younger women who have no other health problems or cardiac risk factors. Dr. Corretti says it’s never too early or too late to adopt a heart healthy diet, begin an exercise program, and quit smoking. –Bill Seiler

SHAKE THAT SALT HABIT

Sodium plays an essential role in regulating fluids in the body. But studies of diverse populations have shown that high sodium intake increases the risk of high blood pressure. Although the human body requires only about 500 mg of sodium a day, the average American ingests between 6,900 and 9,000 mg a day. University of Maryland cardiologist and hypertension expert Elijah Saunders, M.D., says too much salt in the body can be particularly risky for people sensitive to sodium, such as those with a family history of hypertension and African Americans. Adding extra salt to most foods is unnecessary since many prepackaged, prepared foods already contain a lot of sodium. “A good rule of thumb is that if you can taste the salt in your food, then there is too much of it,” says Dr. Saunders. –Bill Seiler

HEART-FELT FOOD FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

The way to your lover’s heart this Valentine’s day doesn’t have to be a meal laden with fat and calories, nutritionists say. So skip the filet mignon with béarnaise and baked potato smothered in butter and sour cream. Serve your sweetheart a heart-healthy meal rich in antioxidants, fatty acids and fiber, says Anne Marie Ferruso, clinical nutrition supervisor at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center. She suggests serving salmon, tuna or swordfish, which provide omega-3 fatty acids, and steamed asparagus or broccoli, which are high in antioxidants. Add couscous, wild rice pilaf or brown rice for fiber, and top off the meal with a low-fat chocolate angel food cake with fruit compote or strawberries. And for a gift, Ferruso suggests fresh or dried fruit dipped in chocolate as a healthy alternative to candy. –Karen Warmkessel

Please call Media Relations for help to develop any of these ideas: 410-328-8919

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This page was last updated on: May 20, 2008.