Griffin Hospital in Derby to hold free heart health workshop

DERBY - The Griffin Center for Healthy Living will offer a free workshop to help individuals manage heart conditions starting Oct.16.

The Heart Health Workshop is a free, three-week workshop that provides health education on heart disease with an emphasis on the management of hypertension and elevated cholesterol.

The workshop will be held on Thursdays Oct. 16, 23, and 30 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Griffin Hospital.
Based on guidelines by the American Heart Association, this program educates and empowers individuals to care for their hearts through nutrition, exercise, body composition, and stress reduction education. 

Weekly speakers include a certified diabetes care and education specialist.

To register or for more information, visit griffinhealth.org/heart-health-workshop or contact The Griffin Center for Healthy Living Coordinator at 203-732-1369.

This free heart health program is part of Griffin’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of its community through free education, guidance and assistance in preventing and managing chronic disease, and in promoting overall wellness. 

Griffin’s mission is to empower individuals to make choices that change their lifestyles for the better, and to go beyond caring for individuals when they are not well by building a meaningful relationship, guiding, and coaching them to maximize their quality of life.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

 

Klarides-Ditria reminds residents of 'Wear Red Day' to highlight women's heart health

Friday, Feb. 4 is national “Wear Red Day” – an annual event to bring attention to women’s heart health. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease doesn’t just affect men. In fact, they report that 1 in 3 women die of heart disease and stroke each year. But heart disease can be prevented, with education and lifestyle changes. According to the American Heart Association, nearly 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented. Yet most people, especially women, don’t know their personal health numbers that are critical to determining their risk. Knowing your risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke is critical to improving community health. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common heart attack symptom in women is some type of pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest. However, those symptoms are not always severe or even the most prominent in women. Sometimes, women have a heart attack without chest pain. Women are more likely than men to have heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain, such as: Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort Shortness of breath Pain in one or both arms Nausea or vomiting Sweating Lightheadedness or dizziness Unusual fatigue Women's symptoms may occur more often when women are resting, or even when they're asleep. Mental stress also may trigger heart attack symptoms in women. I encourage you to talk with your doctor to learn more about heart health and the steps you can take to keep yourself healthy. For more information please visit the American Heart Association website here.

Sincerely,

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host free talk on diabetes, fall risk

Griffin Hospital will host a discussion Feb. 11 on diabetes and fall risk./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host a free discussion on diabetes and fall risk at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the hospital.

Studies have shown that older adults diagnosed with diabetes have a higher risk of falling and fall more often. They are also more likely to suffer a serious injury from a fall, including a broken hip.

Lifeline Program Coordinator at Griffin Hospital Vanessa Shimer will talk about why individuals diagnosed with diabetes are at a higher fall risk and what they can do to help protect themselves from debilitating fall injuries.

No registration is required. 

For more information, call Mary Swansiger, 203-732-1137.

The Diabetes Education & Support Group meets September-June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, challenges, and day-to-day dietary concerns. Individuals with diabetes and their caregivers are welcome to attend. 

The support group is part of Griffin’s ongoing effort to transform health care by not only treating illness, but also helping people stay healthy. 

Griffin actively empowers individuals to play an active role in their health and well being by providing them with information, tools and support to prevent, or proactively manage chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, depression and stress.

The hospital is at 130 Division St.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Faculty Physicians recognized for cholesterol control efforts

DERBY - Griffin Faculty Physicians has received the American Heart Association’s Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol™ Gold award in recognition of their commitment to reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke through improved cholesterol management.

High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for heart disease, heart attack and stroke, estimated to cause nearly 2.6 million deaths annually. 

Yet, a survey from the American Heart Association shows that nearly two-thirds of people who have high cholesterol don’t think they’re at high risk for a heart attack or stroke.

To help people better understand their risk and learn to manage their cholesterol, the Association launched its Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol. initiative in 2017. Since then, more than 900 health centers and systems have registered to participate.

To help practices achieve their goals, the Association provides all participants with a dedicated website featuring a free, evidence-based improvement program that includes tools and resources to help clinicians improve cholesterol control rates. 

To facilitate easy and seamless adoption of the program, the Association will provide access to trained support specialists within their community who can help identify specific program components to incorporate into clinical practice.

“High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for heart disease, yet still is undertreated. This program helps physician practices put a spotlight on this important risk factor and help patients achieve and maintain control of it,” said James Langabeer, Ph.D., Chair of the American Heart Association’s Ambulatory Quality Improvement Advisory Group and Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, McGovern Medical School. “We are so glad to see Griffin Faculty Physicians join this initiative to prioritize cholesterol control and ultimately improve heart health across the nation.”

Learn more at heart.org.

About Griffin Faculty Physicians

Griffin Faculty Physicians, a subsidiary of Griffin Hospital, is a multi-specialty physician group providing patient-centered, personalized care at locations throughout the area. 

Specialties include primary care, cardiology, endocrinology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, geriatrics, general and breast surgery, card-thoracic surgery, urology and obstetrics & gynecology. 

For more information, visit griffinfacultyphysicians.org.

Friday is National Wear Red Day to boost heart health awareness

Sharing from the Go Red for Women website:

"Support Go Red For Women by participating in National Wear Red Day® on Friday, February 2, 2018 and donate to help fund research during American Heart Month."

Brunch at Griffin Hospital in Derby offers health info, recognizes 'Caring Hearts'

Eunice Lisk, Director, Cardiac Rehabilitation at Griffin Hospital in Derby, introduces the Women's Heart Wellness Committee Saturday at the 12th annual Women's Heart Wellness and Caring Heart Award Brunch at the hospital.

Dr. Victoria Costales, Director, Griffin Hospital Center of Prevention and Lifestyle Management, talks about living a long and healthy life at the brunch Saturday. 

Costales referred to a book, The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner, (pictured at right) about places in the world where people live longer, what she called "longevity hotspots."


Please stay tuned for more in an upcoming issue of The Valley Voice newsletter.

Wear red today to promote heart health, raise awareness of disease

Today, Feb. 3, is National Wear Red Day.

February is American Heart Month. 

The American Heart Association urges everyone to wear red today to help raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and ways to prevent it. 

Crisco to host biomedical research trust funds awards event

State Sen. Joseph Crisco Jr.

HARTFORD – Four state medical researchers who have received nearly $1 million in state biomedical research grants will talk about their work in stroke prevention, heart disease, and colorectal cancer research when state Sen. Joseph Crisco Jr., D-Woodbridge, hosts the 2015 Biomedical Research Trust Fund Awards at 11 a.m. Friday. 

The event will be held in Room 1-A of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

The Biomedical Research Trust Fund was established by the Connecticut General Assembly in 2000 to fund biomedical research into tobacco-related illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. 

In 2010, the legislature expanded the scope of research to include Alzheimer's disease and diabetes research.


This is a press release from Crisco's office.

8 to be honored at 15th annual luncheon in Seymour

Event recognizes Women Making a Difference in the Valley

The Valley Women's Health Initiative will honor women from Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford and Shelton at the 15th Annual Women Making a Difference in the Valley Tribute Luncheon and Breast Cancer Fundraiser at noon Oct. 1 at the Inn at Villa Bianca, 312 Roosevelt Drive, Seymour.

The tribute recognizes outstanding women who have made positive contributions to the community and have demonstrated significant achievement in their fields of endeavor, both professional and volunteer.

This year’s honorees are: Anne Miller-Lynch of Ansonia, Caroline O’Bar of Beacon Falls, Grace Torres and Ruth Tuccio, both of Derby, Elizabeth Pisano of Oxford, and Antonietta Hallet and Susan Petrizzo, both of Shelton. 

A Special Recognition Award will be presented to Martha Dulla-Andrade of Grassy Hill Lodge for her contributions to the Valley and long-standing support of this event. 

Liz Kennard of Comcast will host this year’s event.

Valley Breast Health Care Fund

Proceeds from the event benefit the Valley Breast Health Care Fund. Established in 2001, this fund is an effort to ensure that no person, regardless of age or socio-economic condition, is denied screening mammograms or diagnostic testing for breast cancer.

Make a Difference and Pink Ribbon sponsors are sought for the event booklet. 

Benefits include a table at the event and recognition during the event. Sponsorships start at $30 for a business card sized ad.

Tickets for the event are $40 per person. Reservations are due by Sept. 15.

The event is sponsored in conjunction with Griffin Hospital, The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital, and Bigelow Tea of Fairfield.

To purchase a ticket or make a donation, call 203-888-3290 or email: katecosgrove7@yahoo.com., or send a letter to the attention of C. Cooper at Radiology Dept., Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., Derby, 06418.

To become a sponsor or place a congratulatory ad, call 203-233-7639 or email dott.g@comcast.net.

The Women’s Health Initiative, co-chaired by Kate Cosgrove of Oxford and Dr. Stephanie Wain of Griffin Hospital, is comprised of members of the community working toward a common goal of addressing and improving women’s health issues including breast cancer awareness. 

Committee members include Daun Barrett, Cary Carpino, Dolores Chew, Christine Cooper, Karen Cusick, Dorothy Gandy, Antonietta Hallet, Elizabeth Johnson, Lauren Kazzi, Peggy Marlowe, Frank Michaud, Mia Talamelli, Patricia Tarasovic, and Nancy Valentine. Committee membership is open to all interested persons.

About The Valley Women’s Health Initiative

The Valley Women's Health Initiative is a coalition of health agencies, community leaders, and volunteers from the Valley community working toward the common goal of addressing and improving women's health issues including breast cancer awareness and heart disease.

To join or for more information, visit griffinhealth.org/VWHI.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Griffin Hospital in Derby marks cardiac rehab week

This week, Feb. 8-14, is Cardiac Rehabilitation Week.

Women and Heart Disease Committee to host 10th annual event in Derby

DERBY - Lifestyle Medicine will be the topic of a talk at the Women and Heart Disease Committee's 10th annual Women and Heart Disease Program Feb. 12.

Guest speaker is Dr. Ingrid Edshteyn, known as the "Wellness Doctor." She will discuss Lifestyle Medicine and its implications for future health care.

Women and Heart Disease is a community initiative focused on education, outreach, and prevention.

Registration, raffle and social hour starts at 5 p.m.; dinner is at 6 p.m. The event will be held at Grassy Hill Lodge, 77 Sodom Lane.

Tickets are $35 a person. RSVP by Jan. 31 at 203-732-1523 or 203-732-7584.

February is American Heart Month.

Findings at research center in Derby suggest heart disease patients can safely ingest eggs

David Katz, M.D.

DERBY - Should coronary disease patients continue to receive advice from their health care providers to exclude eggs from their diets?

New short-term findings from a study by Dr. David Katz and his colleagues at the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center at Griffin Hospital in Derby provide suggestive evidence that it may be time to start questioning this advice.

Due to a general belief in the medical community that dietary cholesterol raises cholesterol levels in the blood, health professionals routinely advise patients with coronary disease to restrict dietary cholesterol from eggs and other sources. However, Katz cites a lack of consistent evidence that dietary cholesterol actually impacts blood cholesterol levels. 

He notes that recent epidemiological and clinical studies seem to show a lack of association between eating eggs and harmful cardiovascular effects.

In the last few years, Katz and his team have conducted two clinical trials of egg ingestion – one with healthy adults, and one with adults at risk for coronary disease – which showed daily egg intake over a span of six weeks had no adverse effects on cardiac risk factors in these adults.

Short-term findings from a recently completed study, published in the January 2015 issue of the American Heart Journal, demonstrated similar results - this time with adults with coronary artery disease. This study compared the effects on cardiac risk factors of six weeks of daily intake of either two eggs, ½ cup of a commercially-available egg substitute, or a high-carbohydrate breakfast (choice of bagels, waffles, pancakes, or cereal), as part of an otherwise unrestricted diet.

Results showed that after six weeks of either eggs or egg substitute, when compared to a high carbohydrate breakfast, participants’ endothelial function (the ability of their blood vessels to constrict and dilate properly with blood flowing through them) did not significantly change, i.e., it neither improved nor deteriorated significantly. Their body weight, body mass index, blood pressure, and serum lipids also did not significantly change, when compared to 6 weeks of a high carbohydrate breakfast.

“Our short-term findings, and the overall weight of evidence, argue against excluding eggs from heart-healthy diets, even among those with actual coronary disease,” Katz said. “There may be net harm to overall diet quality and health from excluding eggs from the diet.”

Good source of micronutrients
According to Katz, eggs, in contrast to other sources of animal protein, have relatively little total fat and proportionately little saturated fat. They provide protein at a relatively low cost, and are a good source of micronutrients. 

In addition, since protein is associated with satiety, eggs may be of benefit in weight control.

“This study highlights an important consideration: when coronary disease patients are advised to avoid or limit a food or food category, what do they eat instead?” Katz said. “While some alternatives to eggs, such as oatmeal, might offer benefits, others are far more suspect. Many popular breakfast choices are starchy and or sugary, and foods high in starch and sugar are potentially associated with increased morbidity and mortality. To our knowledge, there is no published population-level data to indicate that replacing eggs with these foods confers net benefit, or avoids net harm. Further research is much needed.”

These studies were conducted with funding from the Egg Nutrition Center. Katz and his team are now conducting a study of egg intake by people with Type 2 Diabetes, since diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and consuming excess high-carbohydrate foods can be particularly harmful for these individuals.


About American Heart Journal (http://www.ahjonline.com)

American Heart Journal has been a trusted resource for cardiologists and general practice physicians for more than 80 years. In addition to publishing results of important clinical investigations, the Journal addresses such topics as cost-effectiveness, design of clinical trials, reports of negative clinical trials, and the changing organization of medical care.

About Dr. David L. Katz (http://www.davidkatzmd.com)

David L. Katz, MD, MPH, FACPM, FACP, a board-certified preventive medicine physician, is the founding director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, and is currently serving as President of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Recipient of numerous awards, including an honorary doctorate and nominations for U.S. Surgeon General, Katz is recognized globally for expertise in nutrition, weight management and chronic disease prevention.

About the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center (http://www.yalegriffinprc.org)

The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center (PRC) was established in 1998 through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One of 26 Prevention Research Centers nationwide (http://www.cdc.gov/prc) representing academic/community partnerships, the PRC is engaged in interdisciplinary applied prevention research in collaboration with community partners, federal, state, and local health and education agencies, and other universities. The goal is to develop innovative approaches to health promotion and disease prevention that will directly benefit the public's health.

About the Egg Nutrition Center (http://www.eggnutritioncenter.org)

The Egg Nutrition Center (ENC) is dedicated to providing balanced, accurate information on eggs, nutrition, and health, and sponsors scientific research on this topic. Research grants are openly solicited and reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Panel of authorities in health research and clinical practice. Independent scientists guide many of the research projects and provide analysis and interpretation of scientific literature. The ENC is funded by the American Egg Board, which uses funds from egg farmers for promotion and research. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides oversight of its activities.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.