Entry bubble Heart Attacks

By: Colleen | November 26, 2007 | Category: Health

Is it possible to have a heart attack at age 24? Because as I watched the Eagles give the Patriots a run for their money last night- it nearly happened. Suffice to say I went to bed merely heart-broken. Such is the life of a Philadelphia fan.

On a much more serious note, I was saddened to find out that a long-time friend of mine's father passed away this week from a heart attack. He was only 47. The news came as a real shock and wake-up call, particularly to my parents.

While my Dad is quite fit and healthy, his concern propted me to lead him to USA.gov. Conducting a search for "heart attack" revealed an abundance of information on various warning signs: shortness of breath, chest discomfort, upper body pain, and nausea. Other sites included prevention techniques: eating a balanced diet, getting plenty of exercise, maintaining regular doctor's visits.

There is also plenty of printed information to pass along to loved ones. The publications "Keeping your Heart Healthy" and "Aspirin for Reducing your Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke" provides key tips on preventing a heart attack and other cardiac diseases.

With proper lifestyle choices, heart attacks are stoppable. Tom Brady, however, might not be.

| Comments [1] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: attack   cardiac   colleen   disease   eagles   football   health   heart   patriots  

 

Entry bubble Food, Family, & Football

By: Sam | November 21, 2007 | Category: Home and Family

Colleen likes to say that Thanksgiving is for food, family, friends, and football.  I couldn’t agree more.  Except, I hail from the South where game day is on Saturday.  And this Saturday my GA Bulldawgs play the Ramblin’ Wreck from GA Tech.  With only 70 miles separating the schools, this annual slugfest gives the winner bragging rights at family dinners and neighborhood BBQs for the coming year.

Saturday also marks the last regular season game in college football.  With a season full of surprises (An undefeated Kansas? A 2-9 Notre Dame? ), one common thread is the amount of injuries the players sustain.  From concussions to torn ACLs, there’s not a week that goes by where one of your favorite players or Heisman candidates isn’t sitting on the sidelines injured.

Even though I don’t sweat it out on the gridiron every Saturday, I do try to workout  several times a week, particularly right before Thanksgiving.  And over time, I have succumbed to plenty of my own injuries.  So much so that I no longer associate the word rice with food but instead with rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

Some of my most common injuries are those pesky sprains and strains.  And for as long as I’ve been running, I can never remember the difference between the two.  Thankfully, this great sprains and strains Q & A publication helps me sort it all out and gives me great tips on how I can prevent them.     

Lately, sprains and strains haven’t been the only problems that keep me sidelined from my workouts.  Unfortunately, years of pounding the pavement haven’t been too kind on my knees.  I now try to switch up my workouts with more gentle aerobic exercises like walking or swimming (watch out Michael Phelps).

Feel free to share how you like to say fit, whether it’s by gardening or jogging, and what you do to prevent injuries.  Meanwhile, I’ll be gearing up for Saturday’s showdown in the ATL.  Go Dawgs!!!

| envelope Email This Entry | Tags: exercise   fitness   football   injuries   sports   thanksgiving   workout