Scott & White Researcher Dr. Catherine McNeal, Scientist, Physician, and Champion for Heart

An Aggie PhD by degree first, Dr. Catherine McNeal also completed medical school at TAMU's College of Medicine, where she did clinical training at Scott & White Clinic in Temple. Today, she does vascular research at Scott & White's Children's Cardiovascular Health Clinic in Temple. For her outstanding research work, Dr. McNeal has been the recipient of a multiyear grant from the American Heart Association. She also volunteers for and actively supports the American Heart Association, giving back in two ways, professionally, and personally. Truly Dr. McNeal is a great role model for women to achieve whatever academic and professional goals they set as young women. The American Heart Association puts the funds into grants, and community volunteers make up the Heart of American Heart Association.

To read the full story in the December 27, 2009 Bryan College Station Eagle, visit:
www.theeagle.com or

http://www.dawnleewakefield.com/nonprofit.html

Doctors Lechin, Lammoglia, and Hansen Featured in The Eagle's Bless Your Heart Ad, Sunday, December 20, 2009

Two cardiologists and one cardiovascular surgeon were featured in today's Eagle Bless Your Heart Ad: Dr. Marcel Lechin, Dr. Mario Lammoglia, and Dr. Andrew Hansen, respectively, were highlighted as part of the talented Heart team practicing at The Med in College Station.



Double-click the link below to read the story:
http://www.dawnleewakefield.com/blessyourheart3.pdf

Bryan-College Station "The Eagle" Features Go Red Committee Photo and Second Bless Your Heart Ad

Long-time Bryan community volunteer, Lee Roy Johnson, is profiled in Today's Bless Your Heart ad in The Eagle. Today the picture of health, Lee Roy stays busy enough for 3 people; apparently volunteering for heart health runs in the family. Photo of the "Go Red for Women" Heart luncheon committee, set for Feb. 3, 2010, includes Lee Roy and Carolyn's son, Craig Johnson, as publicity chair. Kathy Gregory of ANCO Insurance is luncheon chair and has a great team of volunteers working together. Barbara Bush will be the keynote speaker for the February luncheon.

For more info on any of the American Heart Association activities in the Brazos Valley, call Melissa Liddicoat, Corporate Marketing Director, today at 979-268-0068.

In today's Brazos "Life" Section, the volunteer team for the February 3, 2010 "Go Red for Heart" Luncheon is featured: Excerpt follows:
CHARITY

The 2010 American Heart Assocation Go Red for Women luncheon committee recently met at The Nest in College Station.

Committee members are: Craig Johnson, Pam Williams, Carolyn Ricca, Cathy Lyles, Alicia Ramirez, Mary "Mike" Hatcher, Rusleen Maurice, Reba Ragsdale, Kathy Gregory (chair), Fawn Preuss, Cindy Emola, Trevor Carney, Susan Olson, Lesley Becker and Melissa Liddicoat (AHA corporate market director).

The 2010 Go Red for Women luncheon will be Feb. 2 at the College Station Hilton. The keynote address will be delivered by Barbara Bush.

For sponsorship information, call 268-0068.

and the second Bless Your Heart Ad, featuring cardiac survivor Lee Roy Johnson is on page B-7. The profile follows here:

Lee Roy Johnson’s Heart Always in the Right Place

In a quiet Bryan neighborhood is an unassuming man of many talents—distinguished community and church volunteer, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and devoted Texas Ex. To look at him, you’d never know he suffered his first heart attack at age 35. Today, Lee Roy Johnson is a vibrant, dynamic 72 years old. Though he retired from a career at TAMU’s Physical Plant, Johnson regularly logs 12-hour days improving life for Bryan residents as President of the Sul Ross Neighborhood Association.

Heart disease ran in his family on his mother’s side, but Lee Roy showed none of the classic symptoms until one Sunday at lunch, shooting pains crossed his shoulders. This was in 1972, in Bryan, in the days when everyone went to Houston for heart problems. They called Dr. James Lindsey, who met Lee Roy at his office, ran an EKG, gave him a book, and encouraged him to exercise and eat ‘right’. At his wife Carolyn’s urging, Lee Roy cut the fat from his diet, and upped the exercise, becoming a faithful jogger, bicyclist and walker. Thirty years went by without episode; they thought he was in the clear.

Unexpectedly, Lee Roy was blindsided. The Johnsons had been through tremendous stress in 2002, as their daughter, Cindy, was recovering from brain surgery.
A genetic component of heart disease in his family and the stress of their daughter’s illness collided, painfully. In March 2002, Lee Roy suffered substantial chest pain, so they dashed to Bryan’s St. Joseph’s Hospital. No longer did patients have to travel to Houston for ‘the best’ in heart care. Cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Peter Napoli performed a 5-bypass procedure on Lee Roy. Thereafter, Dr. Ken Wigley became his cardiologist. For 7 years, Johnson has been episode-free. Medicine, diet, and exercise have kept him at the peak of health.

But, the best nonmedical healing came, he says, from his wife Carolyn, and the love of his family. Heart disease affects the whole family. In addition to their mutual faith in God, “Carolyn’s strength and loving devotion, Lee Roy says, “truly blessed my heart.”
—Dawn Lee Wakefield

Heart disease is more than a condition. It’s a name and face. It’s a husband, father, and friend. Lee Roy Johnson is a heart survivor because of the advances in research in heart disease and stroke, made possible by your contributions to the American Heart Association. This year, why not remember those you love with a gift in their honor, or in their memory, to the Bless Your Heart giving program today, in time for the holidays.
Visit www.brazosblessyourheart.org and give. Read more about local events benefiting American Heart at http://brazosvalleyheartteam.blogspot.com and add your heartfelt gifts to the fight against heart disease and stroke.
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Thanks to The Eagle for their event sponsorship and to Katie Fox of Fox Marketing & Design for her graphic design talents.

Bless Your Heart Giving Announced in the Bryan-College Station Eagle Story December 6th

Events seek to bless the heart
By MAGGIE KIELY

Officials from the Brazos Valley Heart Team are taking steps to recharge local interest in the American Heart Association by encouraging residents to participate in a series of fundraising events.

Starting Sunday until the end of the year, residents can donate to AHA through the Bless Your Heart program, officials said.

Program contributions will be accepted from individuals in honor or memory of someone special. In return, that person or their family will receive a card informing them someone gave a gift in their name.

Money raised locally is matched by the national AHA, said Melissa Liddicoat, corporate marketing director for the regional AHA. She said about 87 percent of the funds raised go directly back into the community for supporting heart disease education and research efforts.

Donna Adam, co-chair of the Brazos Valley Heart Team, said raising research money is crucial to preventing heart disease, and the Bless Your Heart program is one way for individuals to help save lives.

To donate online to the Bless Your Heart Program, visit this link:

https://ahawaco.ejoinme.org/?tabid=186320


Full story at:
http://www.theeagle.com/local/Events-seek-to-bless-the-heart

Published Sunday, December 06, 2009 12:07 AM
maggie.kiely@theeagle.com

Attention Ladies: Attitude is Everything in Fighting Heart Disease

This won't come as a surprise, but attitude really IS everything in your body's success in fighting illness, and as seen below in the latest AHA news release. Although it's easy for women to become depressed when heart disease or stroke forces them to change their lifestyles, women can fight back and utilize excellent rehabilitation programs available to help on the pathway to healing and wellness. It's also a reminder to not go through your heart health recuperation alone. The American Heart Association is active in the Brazos Valley and can put anyone in touch with the right people to help you find information on preventing heart disease and stroke, or programs designed to help you through the days after a stroke or heart procedure. With a wealth of knowledge and resources, you don't have to be alone. Call Melissa Liddicoat today at (979)268-0068 for more information and stay tuned for more information and announcements from the Brazos Valley Heart Team for events benefiting the American Heart Association in days to come.


Motivational “Women-Only” Cardiac Rehab Improves Symptoms of Depression

from Abstract 1480

Study highlights:

* Women who participated in a motivational cardiac rehab program designed for women experienced less symptoms of depression.
* The positive impact of the women-centered program remained six months after the 12-week study ended.
* Other research shows that positive emotions in men and women may protect from heart disease.



ORLANDO, FLA., Nov. 17, 2009 — Depressive symptoms improved among women with coronary heart disease who participated in a motivationally-enhanced cardiac rehabilitation program exclusively for women, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2009.

Depression often co-occurs with heart disease and is found more often in women with heart disease than in men. Depression also interferes with adherence to lifestyle modifications and the willingness to attend rehabilitation.

“Women often don’t have the motivation to attend cardiac rehab particularly if they’re depressed,” said Theresa Beckie, Ph.D., lead investigator and author of the study and professor at the University of South Florida’s College of Nursing in Tampa, Florida. “Historically women have not been socialized to exercise and their attendance in cardiac rehabilitation programs has been consistently poor over the last several decades. This poor attendance may be partly due to mismatches in stages of readiness for behavior change with the health professional approaching from an action-oriented perspective and the women merely contemplating change – this is destined to evoke resistance.”

Cardiac rehabilitation programs tailored to the needs of women and to their current level of readiness to change may improve adherence to such programs and potentially improve outcomes for women, she said.

The primary goals of the 5-year randomized clinical trial were to compare multiple physiological and psychosocial outcomes of women who participated in a 12-week stage-of-change matched, motivationally enhanced, gender-tailored cardiac rehabilitation program exclusively for women compared to women attending a 12-week traditional cardiac rehabilitation program comprised of education and exercise. Depressive symptoms of 225 women (average age 63) who completed this trial were examined after the interventions as well as after a 6-month follow-up period.

Participants completed the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale prior to beginning the intervention, one week after completing the intervention, and again six months later. The questionnaire asked them about how often in the past week they felt depressed, hopeful, lonely, happy and fearful.

Depression scores for the women participating in the traditional cardiac rehab dropped from 16.5 to 14.3 in 12 weeks, while scores in the augmented group dropped from 17.3 to 11.0 – “a significant decline compared to the traditional group,” said Beckie.

After a 6-month follow-up, the traditional rehab group had an average score of 15.2 and those in the women-specific program had an average score of 13. Beckie said “we found that improvements in depressive symptoms were sustained at the 6-month follow-up in the augmented group while those in traditional cardiac rehab were essentially unchanged. This intervention also led to significantly better attendance and completion rates than those in the traditional cardiac rehabilitation program.”

The intervention was guided by the transtheoretical model of behavior change and was delivered with motivational interviewing clinical methods. The motivationally-enhanced intervention began with an assessment of their stage of motivational readiness to change regarding three behaviors: healthy eating, physical activity, and stress management. The investigators then applied appropriate stage-matched strategies to promote the uptake of health behaviors.

“The stage-matched intervention used in conjunction with motivational interviewing applied the patient-centered principles of expressing empathy, rolling with resistance to change, respecting patient autonomy and supporting self-efficacy for change” Beckie said.

“We didn’t push them if they weren’t ready to make the changes,” Beckie said. “We have found that if some patients receive long lists of behaviors they are expected to change immediately — such as quitting smoking, eating healthier, exercising regularly — they are overwhelmed. Pushing such patients who are not ready can lead them to tune out or drop out. Instead, for these women, we acknowledged their ambivalence about change and gave them strategies to move toward being ready by reinforcing their own motivations for changing. It’s unrealistic to expect all patients to change their lifestyle all at once, right now in front of you.”

The woman-centered program is a more individualized approach to rehabilitation.

“You can’t treat everyone the same when it comes to changing health behaviors,” she said.
Beckie hopes these results will lead to symptoms of depression being assessed more often in women suffering from heart disease and to more motivationally augmented, women-specific rehabilitation options. The participants may not be completely representative of the national population because they all had health insurance.

Beckie’s co-author is Jason Beckstead, Ph.D. Author disclosures are on the abstract.

The National Institute of Nursing Research funded the 5-year study.



Statements and conclusions of study authors that are presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.americanheart.org/corporatefunding.

###

Image: Andy Newson / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

American Heart Association's Heart and Stroke Facts--A Free Guide to Learning More about Your Heart

Have you just come from your doctor's office and heard a group of new and unfamiliar terms about what's going on with your heart? Are you looking for a dictionary to help understand more about heart conditions and your path to treatment and recuperation?

Let's take a brief look at some of the words that are important to better understanding your heart.

Corornary arteries: Two arteries arising from the aorta that arch down over the top of the heart, branch and provide blood to the heart muscle.

The words "Heart Attack" are also described by the medical term, "myocardial infarction" and is also otherwise known as a "coronary thrombosis" and/or a "coronary occlusion". When that doesn't clear things up, it's as basic as "damage to part of the heart muscle due to an insufficient blood supply."

Cardiovascular system: Cardio is Latin for Heart; (as in cardio workout, one being good for strengthening your heart), and vascular meaning blood vessels, and the blood vessels are the channels in which oxygen-rich blood travels throughout your body, providing oxygen (fuel) to your muscles all over your body.

Carotid artery: those are two words we hear often. This is a "major artery in the body, one located on each side of the neck, and it carries blood from the heart to the brain."

Vertebral artery: this is another "major blood vessel in the neck carrying blood from the heart to the brain."

Speaking of blood flow in the body, veins are "a series of vessels that carry blood from all over the body back to the heart." Think of your heart as the central pumping unit of blood, carrying oxygen fuel, to every single muscle in your body, including your brain.

Then, arteries are the series of vessels that carry blood from the heart to the various parts of the body. Arteries have thick, elastic walls that expand as blood flows through them."

So, in terms of the heart, veins take the blood from all over the body to the heart, and arteries carry the blood out from the heart back to all over the body, newly replenished with oxygen.

When you have heart troubles, it's a matter of the blood not being able to go to and from the heart efficiently, completely, without running into obstacles. Plaque is "the deposit of fatty and other substances in the inner lining of the artery walls." Think of it as an accident backup in one lane of the freeway. You can't travel from here to there in that lane, so the blood has to slow down getting there effectively and spreads out and finds other lanes to travel through. The more plaque, the longer it takes to travel through (one car at a time) or not at all (standstill on the freeway). Unlike the freeway, the only way to keep your body flowing efficiently when plaque builds up permanently and firmly is...appropriately named, a 'bypass', hence the term bypass operations.

Stay out of freeway traffic jams and adopt a new low-fat, heart-healthy diet today.

Know as much as you can about your heart and how to keep it healthy or get back to a healthy lifestyle after you've neglected yourself for too long.

The glossary of terms published by the AHA is helpful, easy to understand, and best of all, it's free.

Visit the following site and download the AHA's Guide at the following address:

http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1056719919740HSFacts2003text.pdf

Future posts will describe very important events coming up in the Brazos Valley that will benefit research into understanding more about fighting heart disease and preventing stroke. Important research is being carried out at Texas A&M University as a direct result of funding given here in the Brazos Valley to the American Heart Association. Next time you're wondering what to give someone who "has everything" as a special gift for a birthday or holiday, think about The American Heart Association as a great place to remember your loved ones.

For more information on ways to give, contact Melissa Liddicoat, Corporate Market Director, at(979) 268-0068.

Photo images taken from the http://www.texasheartinstitute.org web site.

November 4th is Start! Eating Healthy Day

You don't have to wait until January 1st to make a new resolution to eat in a healthy manner. The American Heart Association has a new interactive nutrition plan and resources to guide you back to good eating habits.


Start! Eating Healthy Day - Wednesday, November 4, 2009!

The American Heart Association invites you to be a part of Start! Eating Healthy Day!
Use this day to make a commitment to your health!


Start! Eating Healthy Day is a part of Start!, the American Heart Association’s national cause campaign that calls on Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health through workplace walking programs to live longer, stronger, heart-healthier lives.

Great Holiday Recipes!
Daily Tips for making small changes to incorporate healthier food choices.
Ideas for celebrating Start! Eating Healty Day!
Check out this new interactive nutrition tool from the American Heart Association!

Start! Eating Healthy Day will help raise awareness for the importance of good nutrition and making the best eating decisions as well as providing education, tools and resources to individuals and companies.
Here are some ways that you can Start! Eating Healthy:
• Try a new healthy snack – you might like it!
• Bring your lunch with you to work, that way you can control what you eat and save money in the process
• Find a healthy recipe and prepare it for your family or friends; it’s great to get your loved ones involved in a healthier lifestyle
• Next time your at the grocery store, consider purchasing healthy snacks rather than unhealthy

Here are some great ways that your company can establish on-site healthy-eating options:
• Turn drink and snack machines off for a day – or only fill them with healthy drink and snack options
• Serve healthy food in the cafeteria for a week or even for a day
• Ask employees to bring in healthy brown bag lunches
• Invite a local speaker (nutritionist or dietitian) to speak about planning healthy eating for the work day and healthy meal planning for the family
• Give away apples or healthy snacks at your upcoming meeting

For more tips on how you and your company can Start! Eating Healthy, check out the Start! Eating Healthy Resource Fact Sheet
Start! Eating Healthy Day is a part of Start!, the American Heart Association’s national cause campaign that calls on Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health through workplace walking programs to live longer, stronger, heart-healthier lives.

Dr. James Rohack, AMA Head, in The Eagle, Sun. Oct. 25, 2009

Excepted from The Eagle story, published Sunday, October 25, 2009 12:09 AM in The Bryan-College Station Eagle

AMA Head Plays Key Role

By MATTHEW WATKINS
matthew.watkins@theeagle.com


Being president of the American Medical Association
during the health care debate, Dr. James Rohack of Bryan says, is "very humbling. I am kind of aware of where I am in history."

When President Barack Obama convened a meeting in May to discuss how the private sector could help reduce health care costs, Bryan resident Dr. James Rohack had a prominent seat at the table.

"I mentioned to the president that physicians will try to reduce the variation in care by coming up with best-practice guidelines so that when a patient comes to the ER with a headache, not everyone needs to get a CT scan," Rohack said.

But he said that the more than 200,000 physicians he represents as president of the American Medical Association needed something in return.

"I told the president that if you don't give us medical liability protection over being sued for not ordering the test, then we are going to keep ordering the test and we are not going to cut costs," he said....

To buy a copy of Stuart Villanueva's print and to read the full story, visit:
http://www.theeagle.com/local/AMA-head-plays-key-role

Brazos Valley Heart Team Organizes to Plan 2010 Heart Gala

The Brazos Valley Heart Team recently met to plan for the 2010 Heart Gala, to be held Friday evening, April 23, 2010 at Miramont Country Club. At the event we are will be pleased to honor our friend, Dr. J. James Rohack, local cardiologist, regional Scott & White Administrator, and current president of the American Medical Association. The meeting was held at the Hyatt Place in College Station and thanks to McAlister's Deli for catering our lunch.

The Brazos Valley Heart Team includes
Donna Adam
Donnis Baggett
Beverly Brown
Katie Fox
Jennifer Lea
Lacy Loeffler
Alicia Ramirez
John Simek
Netta Simek
Dawn Lee Wakefield
Melissa Liddicoat, AHA Corporate Marketing Director

More information will be posted soon about this exciting gala event for 2010.

Bayer Aspirin Quick Release Crystals and Heart Walk Sign-up Continues

Though not an official endorsement for a specific product by any organization or group, we just heard about Bayer Extra Strength Quick Release Crystals, and the convenient single-dose pouches. Each pouch contains 850 mg aspirin pain reliever and 65 mg caffeine pain reliever, so in case you need aspirin therapy in a quick delivery system, this one appears to be one of the best. We hear often about the benefits of aspirin in fighting heart disease and stroke. No endorsement here, but it's nice to know Bayer Quick-release crystals are out on the market.

Reminder: Sign up today for the 5K annual heart walk in Brazos County, set for Saturday, October 24, 2009. It's also national Make a Difference Day in communities across America, so do something good for yourself and for others--recruit a team to participate in the Brazos County Heart Walk.

To participate or for more information,
go to http://heartwalk.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=298326 and sign up today.

Registration for the walk begins at 8 am, with opening ceremonies at 8:30 am and the Start! Walk begins at 9 am. It's free to walk, but if you raise or donate $100, you'll have a great Heart Walk t-shirt for your contribution. The Heart Walkers hope to raise $90,000 in this single event, but additional donations are needed to reach that goal.

Presently, the top fundraisers include:
1. Sid Alexander
2. Annette Do
3. Terri Cooper
4. Mary Jo Hurley
5. Colleen Leatherman

and the top company rankings are

1. Anco Insurance, led by Sid Alexander
2. College Station Medical Center, lead by Terri Cooper
3. City of Bryan Police Department, leader Jason James and City of Bryan, leader Lesley Becker
4. US Post Office Bryan Postal Walkers, led by Timothy Hurley
5. American Heart "Walking for Tomorrow" team, lead by Laurie Ives


For more information on joining a team, sponsoring your own, or simply donating, contact:
Melissa Liddicoat
979-268-0068
melissa.liddicoat@heart.org

National sponsors of the Start! Heart Walk include Subway, Healthy Choice, and AstraZeneca pharmaceuticals.

Brazos Valley 2009 Heart Walk set for Saturday, October 24th, College Station

2009 Start! Brazos County Heart Walk
10/24/2009
8:00am -- 12:00pm

Location:
Research Park
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77845


The Heart Walk is an annual 5K non-competitive walking event designed to bring public awareness to physical activity and a heart-healthy lifestyle, while at the same time, raising the critical dollars needed to fund the life-saving mission of the American Heart Association. Walkers come out to support the fight against our community's leading cause of death — heart disease.
Participating in the Heart Walk is as easy as tying your shoes! You can walk as part of your company team, or form your own team with family and friends. By participating in the Heart Walk and raising money, you are helping to save the lives of friends and families.
To participate or for more information, go to heartwalk.kintera.org/bryancollegestationtx


For more information contact:
Melissa Liddicoat
979-268-0068
melissa.liddicoat@heart.org