Health and Wellness

  Men and women tend to deal with life changing circumstances differently. Heart disease is no exception, and the issues men experience often are not specifically addressed. “Cultural expectations are that men shouldn’t show any emotions because that’s somehow perceived as weak,” said Heather Tulloch, PhD, a psychologist with Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation at the Ottawa Heart Institute. “As a result, many don’t reach…

 1) NICOTINE PATCHES WILL INTERFERE WITH MY MEDICATIONS. FALSE – Nicotine patches are safe to use with all medications. SMOKING interferes with almost all medications. 2) I HAVE TRIED TOO MANY TIMES BEFORE, I CLEARLY CANNOT SUCCEED. FALSE – Having tried before is a predictor of success. The more often people have tried to quit, the more likely they are to finally succeed. Practice…

The Quit Smoking Program (QSP) is a nurse-led clinic that provides you with one-on-one support during your attempt to quit. The program provides a non-judgmental and supportive environment where a “quit plan” is tailored to meet your individual needs. Anyone may self-refer to the program, or be referred by a healthcare provider. The cost is covered by OHIP. What to Expect We hold Information…

A good night’s sleep restores energy, improves performance and generally makes you feel better. Getting the right amount of sleep is also important for good heart health. A South Korean study of more than 47,000 adults found that people who sleep about seven hours a night have significantly fewer calcium deposits in their arteries. These deposits narrow blood vessels, stiffen artery walls and can…

All of us have experienced anxiety, sadness, frustration or other negative emotions. While they can cause mental distress, they can also take a toll on your heart health, especially if these feelings are persistent or frequent. Understanding and dealing with our moods is important for both preventing cardiovascular disease and for improving recovery. The Ottawa Heart Institute’s “10 Tips for Emotional Health” are designed…

How does one manage stress? Sometimes, it’s as simple as changing our outlook towards an event or situation. We spend so much time worrying about “what might happen,” rather than “what is happening right now,” said Esther Doucette, Social Worker at the Heart Institute. Doucette suggests that sometimes we need to change our outlook to experience events in a less stressful way. While we all…

According to a recent Harvard University study, each year 1.65 million people die worldwide from high-sodium diets that lead to heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular disease. The review of existing research found that most people eat far more salt than recommended, and salt is a major contributor to high blood pressure—a primary cause of cardiovascular disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 2…

After Hope Sarfi had bypass surgery last year, she had good support from family and friends. They helped her out where they could, some learned about her condition and they listened to her concerns—everything you could want from those closest to you. But she felt something was missing. That something was sharing experiences with others who had gone through the same thing. The people…