1. By Dr. Lydia C. Medina
Ana G. Méndez Health Symposia Director
Vice Presidency for Planning & Academic Affairs
Some say the eyes are the window to the soul, but in fact they are the window to a person’s
physical health. This is true because abnormalities of the blood vessels in the retina can be
used to diagnosed and predict risk of systemic diseases, those that affect several organs or
the whole body.
The retina is a membrane that surrounds the eyeball and receives light from the lens and
converts it into signals that reach the brain and results in vision. Hypertension, heart disease,
stroke and diabetes are some of the most common causes of death, hospitalization and
disability in the developed world.
Analyzing digital photographs of patients' retinas and studying them to find narrowing or
ballooning of the small blood vessels is one of the initial steps. The majority of the systemic
diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, AIDS, Graves' Syndrome, lupus, atherosclerosis,
multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and sickle cell anemia among others, often cause
anomalous changes that can show up as red dots, small blood clots or flame shape
hemorrhages in the retinal tissue of the posterior pole of the eye.
Retinal vessels of the eyes are important because they are part of the brain's vascular
system, so they share anatomical features and respond similarly to stress and disease.
In fact, eyes are so transparent compared to the rest of the body that they are the only organ
2. that allows physicians to directly see blood vessels. The digital photography (retinal imaging)
approach is non-invasive, no blood is taken, and no incisions are made.
Based on these insights it seems evident that a good eye examination may be the key to your
health and wellness.
Miraculous Heart Cells
The heart is the most important muscle in our body. Its job is to deliver oxygen and
nutrients to your brain, muscles, bones and organs. The heart retrieves oxygen
from the air in our lungs and nutrients from the food that we eat.
The heart is made up of millions of special cells called cardiomyocyte cells.
Cardiomyocyte cells are longer than most muscle cells so they can expand and
contract together. This happens when molecules in the cell pull on little fibers in the
cell. When they do that together, larger sections of tissue react in the same way.
When sections of heart tissue do this with the correct timing, it makes the heart
beat!
The image to the side shows a field of cardiomyocites in a close-up of the heart, with a capillary running
through them. The capillaries are necessary to bring oxygen and nutrients to the cardiomyocite cells.
Chocolate - A healthy passion
Science has proved what ancient civilizations believed so long ago: chocolate has
healing powers. Research shows that eating chocolate and natural cocoa may
improve vascular health, blood pressure, cognitive health, blood flow, and skin
health. According to studies by the USDA, just two tablespoons of natural cocoa
have more antioxidant power than 4 cups of green tea, one cup of blueberries or
one and a half glasses of red wine. Flavanols, the compounds in chocolate found in
the cocoa bean, increase blood flow. A recent study found that 6.7 grams of dark
chocolate per day is all that is needed for a protective effect against inflammation
and subsequent cardiovascular disease*1. Another study showed that including
only thirty calories worth of flavanol-rich dark chocolate per day in a usual diet
significantly reduced blood pressure*.
Flavanols also help the blood flow to your skin, making your skin look more
hydrated. Cocoa may - at least temporarily - reverse smoking-related impairments
of blood vessel function. There are also cognitive benefits to increased circulation.
Think chocolate is bad for your teeth? Think again - it may actually be beneficial. A
study out of the University of Osaka Graduate School of Dentistry in Osaka, Japan
found that after four days of rinsing with a cocoa flavanol extract without other oral
hygiene methods (such as brushing or flossing) participants had decreased
bacteria and plaque on their teeth.
While some research is conducted with isolated properties and extracts from the
cocoa bean, several of the studies showing vascular health benefits uses dark
chocolate products straight from the supermarket shelf. New chocolates in the
marketplace may contain 90% cocoa or more, but even 60% is sufficient for
enjoying a smooth, not too bitter taste while still getting health benefits. Buying
such chocolate in portion-controlled formats, such as tasting squares, allows one to
enjoy the health benefits without overindulging in calories. One doesn't even need
to eat "chocolate" in the conventional sense to reap the health benefits of flavanols:
add natural cocoa powder into foods like oatmeal or yogurt or put it into recipes and
the health results will be the same.
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2
3. Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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1. Catholic University (2008, September 24). Dark Chocolate: Half A Bar Per Week May Keep Heart Attack
Risk At Bay. Science Daily
2. Effects of low habitual cocoa intake on blood pressure and bioactive nitricoxide: a randomized controlled
trial. JAMA. 2007 Jul 4; 298 (1): 49-60
3. Inhibitory effects of cacao bean husk extract on plaque formation in vitro and in vivo. European Journal of
Oral Sciences. 2004 Vol. 112, Issue 3, 249.
Artificial Heart Unveiled
A French doctor has unveiled what he described as the world's
first fully implantable artificial heart.
Three decades after the world's first human heart transplant, this revolutionary life-
size mixture of animal tissue, titanium and missile technology that its inventor says
perfectly replicates the human organ could save the lives of thousands of heart
patients, many of whom die while waiting for a heart donation. Pumping and
rippling in an lifelike way, the new heart is covered in specially treated tissue to
avoid rejection by the body's immune system and in particular the formation of
blood clots.
Thanks to the latest electronic sensor technology used in guided missiles, the heart
can also respond instantly to changes in blood pressure and flow and adapt the
heart beat rate accordingly. If you showed the electrocardiogram to a cardiologist
he would say 'that's a human heart.' Well no, it isn't: it's a prosthesis," said its
creator, Prof Alain Carpentier, head of research on cardiac grafts and prostheses at
Georges Pompidou hospital in Paris. Prof Carpentier has been working in the
utmost secrecy on the project for 15 years in conjunction with engineers from the
Franco-German defense and aerospace company EADS.
In particular, Prof Carpentier used his expertise as a world authority in artificial
heart valves to overcome the problem of blood clots - the main stumbling block in
other attempts to build an artificial heart. He did this by using specially sterilized
"bioprosthetic" pig cartilage and by replicating the exact same blood flow - or
hemodynamics - of the human heart that reduce blood clot risks. "The aim of this
heart is to allow patients to go from an impossible life where they can do just a few
steps from their bed to an armchair to a normal social life. They will even be able to
run - although naturally not a marathon," he said.
Weighing around a kilo, the only external part of the man-made organ is its battery
which has a five-hour charge life. Prof Carpentier said the new heart was
necessary given the chronic shortage of heart donors and growing heart patient
waiting lists. "I couldn't stand seeing young, active people dying aged 40 from
massive heart attacks," he said.
Heart disease is among the world's biggest killers, claiming 17 million lives per
year.
About 55 million euros (£44 million) has been spent creating the prototype. The
groundbreaking organ has already been successfully implanted in calves although
most tests have been done via computer simulation.
"The artificial heart is ready and now needs to be industrially made," said Prof
Carpentier, who added that none of its parts had shown any sign of "wearing out".
Assuming French medical authorities give the go-ahead, it will be tested on around
3
4. 20 volunteer heart patients within the next two and a half years. The heart will be
built by Carmat, a biomedical subsidiary of EADS, with funding from Oseo, the
French state bank that supports innovative companies, as well as from venture
capitalists.
By Henry Samuel in Paris
28 Oct 2008
Junk food causes a third of heart attacks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Diets heavy in fried foods, salty snacks and meat
account for about 35 percent of heart attacks globally. Their study of 52 countries
showed that people who ate a "Western" diet based on meat, eggs and junk food
were more likely to have heart attacks, while those who ate more fruits and
vegetables had a lower risk. The study supports previous findings that show junk
food and animal fats can cause heart disease, and especially heart attacks. Dr.
Salim Yusuf at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, and colleagues questioned
more than 16,000 patients, 5,700 of whom had just suffered a first heart attack.
They took blood samples and had each patient fill out a detailed form on their
eating habits. They divided the volunteers into three groups. "The first factor was
labeled 'Oriental' because of its high loading on tofu and soy and other sauces,"
they wrote in their report, published in the journal Circulation.
"The second factor was labeled 'Western' because of its high loading on fried food,
salty snacks, and meat intake. The third dietary factor was labeled 'prudent'
because of its high loadings on fruit and vegetable intake. "People who ate more
fruits and vegetables had a 30 percent lower risk of heart attack compared to
people who ate little or none of these foods, they found. People eating a Western
diet had a 35 percent greater risk of heart attack compared to people who
consumed little or no fried foods and meat. Those eating the "Oriental" diet had an
average risk of heart attack compared to the others.
The finding is important because it has not been clear if it is food per se or
something else driving heart attack risk. Rich diets may be associated with a richer
lifestyle that includes little or no exercise, for instance. But the researchers note
that heart disease is no longer an affliction only of the rich. "Approximately 80
percent of the global cardiovascular disease burden occurs in low- and middle-
income countries," they wrote. The tofu-rich diet could be neutral rather than
protective because it is high in sodium, they said. High sodium intake can raise
blood pressure and the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Common Cardiovascular Diseases
The four most common types of cardiovascular diseases are:
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Myocardial Infarction
• High Blood Pressure
• Stroke
• Heart Failure
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a condition in which proper circulation of blood
and oxygen is not provided to the heart and surrounding tissue. This result is due to
a narrowing of the small blood vessels, which normally supply the heart with blood
and oxygen. Coronary heart disease, a type of cardiovascular disease, is the
leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. The typical
cause of coronary heart disease is a condition known as atherosclerosis, which
4
5. takes place with plaque and fatty build up on the artery walls, narrowing the
vessels.
Myocardial Infarction also known as a heart attack occurs when the blood supply
to part of the heart is interrupted. This is most commonly due to occlusion
(blockage) of a coronary artery following the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque,
which is an unstable collection of lipids (like cholesterol) and white blood cells
(especially macrophages) in the wall of an artery. The resulting ischemia (restriction
in blood supply) and oxygen shortage. If this medical episode is left untreated for a
sufficient period, can cause damage and/or death (infarction) of heart muscle tissue
(myocardium). Classical symptoms of acute myocardial infarction include sudden
chest pain (typically radiating to the left arm or left side of the neck), shortness of
breath, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, sweating, anxiety , weakness, a feeling of
indigestion, and fatigue. Approximately one quarter of all myocardial infarctions are
silent, without chest pain or other symptoms.
High Blood Pressure, also called hypertension, means the pressure in your
arteries is consistently above the normal range. Blood pressure is the force of blood
pushing against blood vessel walls. It's written as two numbers, such as 120/80 mm
Hg. The top (systolic) number is the pressure when the heart beats. The bottom
(diastolic) number is the pressure when the heart is at rest. High blood pressure is
a consistently elevated pressure of 140 mm Hg systolic or higher and/or 90 mm Hg
diastolic or higher. The great danger is that you usually can't tell you have high
blood pressure! There are no signs and no one knows exactly what causes it. High
blood pressure can lead to hardened arteries, heart failure, stroke or heart attack.
A Stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in
the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. This can be due to ischemia (lack of
blood supply) caused by thrombosis or embolism or due to a hemorrhage. As a
result, the affected area of the brain is unable to function, leading to inability to
move one or more limbs on one side of the body, inability to understand or
formulate speech or inability to see one side of the visual field.A stroke is a medical
emergency and can cause permanent neurological damage, complications and
death. It is the leading cause of adult disability in the United States and Europe. It is
the number two cause of death worldwide and may soon become the leading cause
of death worldwide. Risk factors for stroke include advanced age, hypertension
(high blood pressure), previous stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIA), diabetes,
high cholesterol and cigarette smoking among others. High blood pressure is the
most important modifiable risk factor of stroke.
Heart Failure is a cardiac condition, that occurs when a problem with the structure
or function of the heart impairs its ability to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the
body's needs. Heart failure can cause a large variety of symptoms (chiefly
shortness of breath and ankle swelling) but some patients can be completely
symptom free. With appropriate therapy, heart failure can be managed in the
majority of patients, but it is a potentially life threatening condition, and progressive
disease is associated with an annual mortality of 10%. Heart failure is the leading
cause of hospitalization in people older than 65.
5
6. Chicken Pot Pie
Suggested by the American Heart Association
Serves 8
Ingredients for the chicken
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups frozen pearl onions, thawed
6 cloves crushed garlic
1 cup carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 tablespoon picked thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
1 cup celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced ½-inch thick
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon or 1 teaspoon dried
1 cup crimini or button mushrooms, quartered
1 bay leaf
4 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon turmeric
3 cups low-sodium chicken stock
2 teaspoons salt-free all-purpose seasoning
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 2” cubes
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup frozen sweet peas, thawed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped parsley
Ingredients for the crust
1 and 1/3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/2 cup trans fat free margarine spread
3 tablespoons ice water
Directions
Prepare the chicken. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil until hot. Stir in the
garlic, thyme, oregano, tarragon, bay leaf, turmeric, salt-free all-purpose seasoning, pepper, salt and
sauté for one minute. Add the onions, carrots, celery, and mushrooms and sauté for two minutes. Stir
in the flour and coat the vegetables well. Add the chicken stock and stir to blend well. Allow the mixture
to come to a simmer. Stir in the chicken and simmer for five minutes. Stir in the peas and parsley.
Remove from heat and pour the mixture into a 3-quart oval casserole. Cover loosely with foil and set
aside.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set aside. To make the crust,
placed the flour (and salt, if using) in a medium-sized bowl and add the margarine spread, cut into in
one-inch pieces. Cut the margarine spread into the flour with a fork or pastry cutter (this can all be done
in a food processor) until crumbly. Avoid over-working the dough. Add the ice water and mix (pulse in a
food processor) until the dough just comes together. Roll the dough between two pieces of film wrap
6
