Meridian Health

Health Briefs

Four Ways to Save Your Heart

There's more than one secret to a longer life. Researchers have now identified in women four healthy habits that prevent sudden cardiac death, which occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating:

  • Don't smoke.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Exercise at least 30 minutes a day at a moderate or high intensity.
  • Eat a healthy Mediterranean diet. "That includes eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and nuts," says Ihab Girgis, M.D.,director of electrophysiology at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Each action reduces a woman's risk for sudden death, says the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Done altogether, they slash the threat by as much as 92 percent.

 

More Calcium Isn't Always Better for Bones

The celebs with milk moustaches aren't lying: Calcium builds strong bones. But that may not be the whole story.

In one new study, women who got less than 700 mg of calcium per day were at higher risk for breaking a hip than women who got more. However, exceeding 750 mg per day didn't appear to have additional bone-boosting benefits, according to the study.

The Institute of Medicine and other health agencies currently recommend 1,000 mg a day for men and women ages 19 to 50, and 1,200 mg for women older than 50.

"While getting more than 750 mg of calcium a day may not affect your bones, calcium also helps your blood clot and your nerves send and receive signals," says Joel Fechisin, M.D., of Ocean Medical Center.

 

Weight-Loss Surgery Can Cure Type 2 Diabetes

Surgery to shrink or bypass the stomach is no easy fix. But for some, it really pays off. New research finds that weight-loss surgery can reverse type 2 diabetes in the severely obese.

Doctors studied more than 80,000 diabetes patients who underwent weight-loss surgery. Between 62 percent and 83 percent were cured of their disease.

"Weight-loss surgery is a serious decision, but it maybe right for you if you are severely obese and can't lose weight with diet and exercise alone," says Jonathan Reich, M.D., of Southern Ocean Medical Center.

"Risks are minimal at a Center of Excellence facility like Southern Ocean. Talk with your doctor about your options."

 

MyPlate: Healthy Eating Made Simple

After many years as a kitchen and classroom staple, it's time to say goodbye to the classic food pyramid. Now meet MyPlate: the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) new way to show you how to easily build a balanced meal.

"To follow the MyPlate visual, fill half a small dinner plate with a rainbow of fruits and veggies —heavier on the vegetables," says Lizett Marza, M.D., of Riverview Medical Center. "Pick a lean protein to take up slightly less than one-fourth of it, and add whole grains to make up the rest. Pair with a glass of fat-free or low-fat milk."

Along with the release of the new MyPlate guidelines, the USDA unveiled ChooseMyPlate.gov, which features straightforward rules for healthy eating, personalized eating plans, and other helpful resources.